Aaron Cozart

Aaron Cozart is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Navigant Oak LLC, a private holding company and family office based in Northville, Michigan. Navigant Oak was founded in 2015 by CEO Greg Boll after he sold his share in Cummins Bridgeway, a joint-venture distribution company with Cummins Inc. Aaron and fellow Managing Partner Ethan Allen -- both sons-in-law of Greg Boll -- lead the firm's acquisition and operational activities. The firm manages a southeast Michigan family's portfolio of businesses and investments, with active stakes in over 20 companies and growing.

Before co-founding Navigant Oak, Aaron built a career in industrial sales, business development, and strategic planning at Cummins Bridgeway, LLC. There he worked directly with Midwest-based manufacturers needing power solutions for their equipment and led an initiative to migrate industry partners to "Tier 4," a federally mandated emissions standard. He progressed through several roles at Cummins including Business Development Coordinator, Sales Manager for Natural Gas Products, and Manager of Industrial OEM Business, accumulating over 15 years of experience in sales management and operational leadership.

Aaron graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2008 with concentrations in Public & Environmental Affairs and Business Administration. Beyond his role at Navigant Oak, he serves on the boards of several portfolio companies, including as a Board Member at Stored Energy Systems (SENS) and as a Board Observer at Componere Fine Catering and Western Jet Aviation. He is also an Owner-Director of Navigant Motor Group, the firm's powersports dealership platform.

Navigant Oak pursues control equity investments in smaller middle-market companies that can be operated autonomously. The firm positions itself as a long-term owner rather than a short-duration financial sponsor. Key tenets of their approach include:

• Patient capital: Navigant Oak takes a flexible, long-horizon approach with no pressure to exit on a fixed timeline, making them an attractive partner for family-owned and founder-led businesses.
• Operational continuity: The firm seeks to maintain what has historically worked in acquired businesses, especially in cases where an owner wishes to gracefully exit while ensuring the longevity and culture of the company they built.
• Autonomous operations: Portfolio companies are empowered to run independently under their existing management teams, with strategic oversight and resources from the Navigant Oak platform.
• Sector focus: Manufacturing, sales and distribution, commercial real estate, food services, aviation services, energy storage, and powersports/automotive retail.
• Geography: Primarily Midwest and Sun Belt markets, though not exclusively.