Brian Dunsirn

Brian Dunsirn is the founder, President, and a Partner of Dunsirn Partners, LLC, a private equity firm he established in 2003 to provide established businesses with strategic management and financial support. Since 2004 he has served as Chairman and CEO across the firm's portfolio companies, taking an unusually operational, hands-on role rather than a purely financial one. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Cardinal Stritch University.

His investing approach is rooted in a long operating career in the paper and packaging industry. Dunsirn began with roughly 10 years of experience in narrow-web printing before founding Dunsirn Industries, which he ran as Founder, President, and CEO for 14 years (approximately 1988–2001). Under his leadership Dunsirn Industries — a slitting and rewinding services business for paper, film, and foil — grew from a startup into a roughly $70-million company.

In 2001 he sold Dunsirn Industries to Avery Dennison Corporation. Following the sale, he completed the integration of the two companies while simultaneously leading a $100-million global division at Avery Dennison, giving him large-company operating and integration experience to complement his entrepreneurial background.

Since founding Dunsirn Partners, the firm has completed two platform acquisitions, four add-on acquisitions, two start-up businesses, and two divestitures. Dunsirn leads a small leadership team (historically including partners such as Tom Prosser, Michael Pepke, Walter Weigel, and Mark Nielsen) that combines operating management, engineering, banking, legal, and turnaround expertise.

• Invests in established, profitable middle-market manufacturers and value-added distributors, with a strong concentration in specialty packaging, paperboard/folding cartons, and printing/converting.
• Targets companies roughly $15M–$100M in enterprise value (revenues cited around $20M–$150M) — control acquisitions and build-ups, not minority/seed venture bets.
• Emphasizes businesses that "can benefit from new, innovative market ideas to provide growth," and situations requiring operational turnarounds and hands-on management.
• Differentiator is operator-led ownership: Dunsirn personally serves as Chairman/CEO of portfolio companies, so the thesis favors deals where his packaging/printing operating expertise can add value rather than pure financial engineering.
• Deal types span platform acquisitions, add-on/bolt-on acquisitions, and de novo start-ups, reflecting a build-and-improve rather than quick-flip orientation.