Gary N. Lewis is the founder and Managing Partner of Aquila Equity Partners, a private investment firm with a differentiated approach as “entrepreneurial business builders”. Aquila partners with growth-focused management teams and operating businesses which generate between $500k and $10mm in EBITDA. In addition to his role with Aquila, Gary serves as Chairman / Board Member for several operating companies and as an Operating Partner for Cascade Partners, a leading middle market investment banking advisory firm. He brings greater than 20 years of private equity investing, investment banking and operational experience to each firm, including involvement in approximately $8 billion in transaction and advisory assignments.
Gary began his career in investment banking with Banc of America Securities in New York City. While working in the firm’s Global Industrials and Services Group, he assisted middle market and Fortune 500 clients with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures and capital-raising transactions.
After Banc of America Securities, Gary spent the next 8 years as a private equity investor with Michigan-based Bainbridge Ventures, and Chicago-based Winona Capital and Goense Capital Partners. During this time, he invested in and worked with growth-focused middle market companies across a variety of industries, including consumer / retail, healthcare, niche manufacturing and labor-based business services. Gary was responsible for deal origination, transaction execution, and post-closing strategic and operational support of portfolio companies, including serving in interim executive roles. In addition, he previously held an operating role as a Vice President of Acquisitions and Business Development with a healthcare services company providing care for patients along the post-acute care continuum.
In 2013, Gary moved home to his native Michigan and, prior to starting Aquila, spent several years in middle market investment banking. During this time, he advised entrepreneurial- driven & family owned businesses primarily operating in the consumer / retail, healthcare, business services and value-added distribution industries.
Gary graduated from Kalamazoo College with a B.A. in economics. He also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and has studied at L’Ecole Superieure de Commerce in France.
Outside of his professional life, Gary and his wife spend most of their time keeping up with their two active boys. Gary is also a huge sports fan, especially rooting for teams from Detroit or Michigan. In addition, he enjoys skiing, biking, playing basketball and squash at the Detroit Athletic Club, and traveling with his family.