Wind Point promotes Joe Lawler to managing director

Wind Point Partners promoted Joe Lawler to the position of managing director. Lawler joined Wind Point in 2009 and has been involved in consumer products investments. He also has been involved in investment team recruiting and professional development. Lawler leads Wind Point’s investments in Stir Foods, which makes soups, sauces, dressings and fresh salsa for the retail, industrial and food service customers, and Tropicale Foods, a Hispanic frozen novelties company. He also led Wind Point’s acquisition and exit of Evans Food Group.

Press Release

Wind Point Partners (“Wind Point”), a Chicago-based private equity firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Joe Lawler to Managing Director. Since Joe joined Wind Point in 2009, he has been active in Wind Point’s investments and value creation within the food and consumer products industries. In addition to Joe’s contributions as an investment professional, he has played an instrumental role in other areas of importance for Wind Point including investment team recruiting and professional development.

Nathan Brown, Wind Point Managing Director, commented, “We are thrilled to officially welcome Joe to Wind Point’s leadership team in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the overall success and continued growth of our firm. For several years now, Joe has made partner-level contributions to the firm with respect to the sourcing of investment opportunities and executive relationships.”

Paul Peterson, Wind Point Managing Director, added, “Over the last 10 years, Joe has played a key role in the firm’s food and consumer products investments, having been involved in over 20 transactions and successfully facilitating more than seven leadership transitions with business owners and entrepreneurs.”

Joe currently leads Wind Point’s investments in Stir Foods, a leading custom manufacturer of soups, sauces, dressings, and fresh salsas for retail, industrial and foodservice customers, and Tropicale Foods, a leading Hispanic frozen novelties company. Recently, Joe led Wind Point’s acquisition and successful exit of Evans Food Group, a leading global producer of branded and private label pork rinds, which was awarded 2019 Private Equity-Backed Portfolio Company of the Year by the Illinois Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.

Alex Washington, Wind Point Managing Director, stated, “Joe has always focused on the success of the firm as a whole. He embodies the integrity and strong collegiality that serve as core tenets to Wind Point’s culture and values. Joe is genuine and that comes across right away in his interactions with our broad network of investors, executives and business owners.”

Prior to joining Wind Point, Joe was an Analyst in the Investment Banking division of William Blair & Company. He holds an MBA, with distinction, from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a BS in economics and finance, summa cum laude, from Boston College.
About Wind Point Partners
Wind Point Partners is a Chicago-based private equity investment firm with approximately $3 billion in assets under management. Wind Point focuses on partnering with top caliber management teams to acquire well-positioned middle market businesses where it can establish a clear path to value creation. The firm targets investments in the consumer products, industrial products and business services sectors. Wind Point is currently investing out of Wind Point Partners IX, a fund that was initiated in 2019. For more information, please visit www.windpointpartners.com.