About Us Image

Our Story

Calera was founded in 1991 to help a family who had built one of the worlds’ most successful private companies invest in other founder-led companies. From the outset, Calera realized that partner companies are looking for a lot more than capital.  They are looking for a partner who shares their vision for the future, appreciates their company’s culture, and has the resources and expertise to build a legacy of enduring value. We call this “transformational growth.”  Thirty-three years, six funds, and seventy companies later, it’s still what we do—one portfolio company at a time.  We focus on three sectors where we have extensive experience. This helps us provide high-value, hands-on expertise to our partner companies.  

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Our Name

Calera is a form of limestone used to build everything from the Great Pyramids to the most distinguished buildings in the world. The name reflects our focus on building strong, industry-leading businesses that stand the test of time.

Our Purpose

To partner with founders, owners, and management teams to build businesses of enduring value.

Our Values

Calera’s values are grounded in our commitment to supporting the needs of the founders and management teams with whom we partner.

For over thirty years, we have lived and worked by a set of deeply held values: integrity, full alignment, never settling, full transparency, and a long-term focus.  These values are the foundation of our culture and guide us in building businesses of enduring value.

unwaivering integrity icon Unwavering Integrity

We believe integrity is the life blood of all enduring partnerships. We deeply value the trust our partners put in us and seek to earn it every day through our actions.

full alignment icon Full Alignment

We work in close collaboration with our partners, ensuring that our objectives, strategy, and incentives are tightly aligned.  We succeed when every member of the partnership contributes what they do best.

never settling icon Never Settling

We hold ourselves to the highest standards in everything we do, always raising the bar for ourselves and our partners to help them deliver the best services and products to their customers.   

complete transparency icon Complete Transparency

We continually track and share our processes and results with our partners so that together we improve and achieve better outcomes.

in it for the long run icon In It for the Long Run

We are not in it for short-term returns.  We’re here to build companies of enduring value, which requires all-in commitment, sustained investment, and an unflagging focus on results. 

Our Team

Our thirty-four years of success is rooted in the strength of our team.  Our team brings to every investment extensive domain expertise, as well as deep bench strength in operations, strategy, finance, M&A, and management.  By partnering with us, portfolio companies grow their businesses and leadership teams far beyond what they can do on their own.

Investment Team and Operating Partners

Our investment team takes the lead in identifying investment opportunities, partnering with portfolio company founders and executives, and ensuring the company’s success. Our operating partners support the investment team.

Operations Team

Calera’s operations team supports all activities of our growth.

Executive Partners

The execution of Calera’s “winning playbook” is supported by senior executives with decades of experience leading world-class organizations.

 

Current CEOs

The CEOs of our portfolio companies are exceptional leaders, whether from the original founding company, or hand-selected by Calera for their sector expertise and ability to drive transformative growth.

 

Select Advisory Directors

Calera works in partnership with management to hand-pick third party operating executives who can bring unique experience and perspective to board discussions. This is not window dressing – our independent board members have proven to be an engaged, supportive and highly valuable resource to management.