We partner with exceptional operators to build market-leading professional services platforms in the AEC industry

Investment Criteria

We are not a traditional private equity fund. We are strategic partners with a differentiated approach,
uniquely positioned to help management teams grow their businesses.

    • Engineering & architecture

    • Geotechnical services

    • Construction management & project controls

    • Geospatial & surveying

    • Testing, inspection and forensic services

    • Regulatory compliance

    • Inspection & remediation

    • Alternative energy

    • Water/wastewater

    • Air quality

    • Owners' representation

    • Maintenance & restoration

    • Low-voltage systems integration

    • Building installations & commissioning

    • Utilities

    • Telecommunications

    • Power distribution

    • Gas pipeline systems

    • Homeowners association (HOA) management services

    • Landscaping services

    • Plumbing & HVAC services

    • Specialty contracting

    • Restoration

  • We partner with founders and family-owned businesses to provide strategic capital: in addition to capital, we provide strategic guidance, operational support and M&A execution

  • While we can make investments of any size, our typical platform investment ranges from $3 million to $15 million of EBITDA. We will pursue add-on acquisitions of any size.

  • Our distinctive "Buy-Build-Grow" value creation playbook capitalizes on organic market growth and exploits market fragmentation through M&A

  • We support our partner companies by leveraging our decades of experience driving operational improvements, growth acceleration and strategic transformations

  • We have a flexible investment mandate with the ability to make majority or minority investments

Team Leadership

  • George Pierson

    PARTNER

    A two-time CEO with multiple successful exits and an operating advisor to multiple private equity firms, George has been an operator and investor for decades. George focuses on strategic initiatives and tactical operations crucial to adding long-term value to organizations. With an accomplished background in engineering, operations, law, business and leadership, George has advised and led numerous companies through strategic transformations, resulting in operational improvements, stronger client service, greater employee retention, and increased share value.

    As CEO of Parsons Brinckerhoff, George led the resolution of Boston’s “Big Dig” and the sale to WSP. During his tenure as CEO and Executive Chairman of The Kleinfelder Group, George led a transformation, including the institution of performance-based principles of ARA – the alignment of authority, responsibility, and accountability – that resulted in its share price increasing more than 20x. In addition, George has worked with several private equity firms in advisory and board roles resulting in several successful platform investments.

    George has a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School; an MBA with Honors from St. Mary's College of California; an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley; and a B.S. summa cum laude in civil engineering from Bucknell University. He is a licensed professional engineer in California and has been admitted to practice law in California, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

  • Dan Williams

    PARTNER

    With more than twelve years of private equity experience, Dan has completed more than 20 M&A transactions and invested over $1 billion across the AEC industry. Prior to entering the private equity industry, he began his career in investment banking.

    Dan was previously a senior investment professional at Wind Point Partners, a middle-market private equity firm based in Chicago, where he and George first partnered together in scaling The Kleinfelder Group. Concurrent with the success of Kleinfelder, Dan and George continued investing in and scaling multiple other infrastructure services platforms. He has served on numerous boards and works closely with management teams in implementing key strategic and operational initiatives.

    Dan has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. from Indiana University where he was an Evans Scholar.

Our Track Record

Aggregate Shareholder Value Created

$2.5 Billion

Aggregate Shareholder Return

400%+

Aggregate
EBITDA Increase

300%+

Why We’re Different

  • Different Approach

    We take a unique approach to private equity by offering "strategic capital"—a blend of industry expertise, operational experience, and financial resources that sets us apart. We believe in empowering and supporting our management teams to operate autonomously, without imposing another layer of management. Our distinctive "Buy-Build-Grow" value creation plan is meticulously crafted before each transaction, ensuring a clear path to growth. As sector specialists with deep subject matter expertise, we are able to move quickly and with confidence, and provide more than just capital.

  • Different Priorities

    With patient capital, we avoid the pressures typical of traditional private equity funds. While the sole focus of most traditional private equity funds is to maximize EBITDA in 3 to 5 years, we believe long term value creation must prioritize employees, clients, and profits equally. We ensure that all stakeholders share equitably in value creation by structurally aligning interests. Our commitment to employee ownership and performance incentives fosters a sense of ownership and dedication while rewarding value creation. We emphasize continuous learning and professional growth opportunities, cultivating positive, supportive cultures within our partner companies while honoring the legacies built by their founders.

  • Different Partnership

    Our partnership philosophy at ARA—Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability—emphasizes management autonomy with support when it's needed. We offer a collaborative, non-intrusive alternative to traditional private equity, providing the resources of a large institutional firm while remaining nimble and free of excessive pressures, administrative burdens or red tape. Our partner companies benefit from direct access to key decision-makers with decades of both operating and investing experience. Finally, we are steadfast believers in equal alignment of interests, structured with one class of equity across all partner companies, ensuring simplicity and equal success.

Core Tenets

Management Autonomy

We are not another layer of management, but rather a strategic partner to management providing advice, tactical support and flexible capital as needed to help their businesses grow.

Equal Alignment

We only use simple, straightforward capital structures in our investments, never employing complex financial tactics to prioritize our returns over those of our partners. We all win together.

Honesty | Integrity | Transparency

Many firms say this, others mean it, but ARA weaves it into the very fabric of our investment structures and governance programs.

Most importantly, love what you do and who you do it with.

Collaborative Partnership

  • Owners

    A differentiated approach to private equity based on partnering with good people and exceptional teams, aligning interests to share in value creation together, and providing strategic support to help you scale your business.

    Let us share our decades of experience with you.

  • Executives

    We are always seeking to build relationships with strong operators. Whether looking for roles within our current partner companies or strategic capital to build a platform, please reach out to see how we can work together.

    We have the experience and resources to help you succeed.

  • Intermediaries

    Our core tenets of honesty, integrity and transparency guide our actions. Put simply, we say what we mean and we do what we say.


    Please contact us for relevant opportunities. We will be responsive and efficient, and we gladly compensate full market referral fees.

  • Investors

    We weave our core tenets into the fabric of our partnership agreements. We don’t hide behind information rights or governance - all of our investors participate on our Boards and receive the same information we receive.

    We invite you to speak with our past teams and investors.

Contact Us