VETERAN-OWNED · PACIFIC-NORTHWEST-BASED · TRADES FOCUSED
We acquire and steward skilled trades businesses in the Pacific Northwest.
Connect With UsAbout Cedarline
Cedarline was founded by Gregory Gerard, a 14-year Navy Special Operations veteran born and raised in Portland, Oregon. After years leading elite teams across the world, Greg returned home with a clear mission: to acquire and steward PNW-based businesses that enrich their communities. Greg's background as an enlisted bomb technician gives him a deep appreciation for trades workers who are skilled with their hands and take pride in their craft.
Cedarline is founder-led, with a small circle of aligned investors and advisors. We move deliberately, stay accountable to the businesses we partner with, and measure success by more than a balance sheet.
"You can be the best technician out there, but if the team doesn't trust you, then your skills are wasted."— Greg, Founder & Managing Principal
Our Thesis
Thousands of skilled trades owners across the Pacific Northwest are approaching retirement with no succession plan. These are profitable, essential businesses that deserve the right steward — not a private equity roll-up.
Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, roofing — these aren't disrupted by software. Communities will always need skilled tradespeople, and the shortage of qualified workers only deepens the moat around established operators.
Margin and mission aren't opposites. Investing in your people — their pay, safety, and growth — builds the retention and reputation that drives compounding returns. We grow businesses responsibly.
Acquisition Criteria
If you're a trades business owner thinking about retirement or your next chapter, we'd genuinely love to talk. We're open to a single acquisition or partnering with multiple owners over time.
We focus on established small businesses with consistent revenue in this range. Size matters less than stability, team quality, and fit.
Electrical, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, landscaping, general contracting, and related fields. The Pacific Northwest is our primary focus.
The people doing the work are the business. A solid crew and positive culture matter as much as the financials — we're acquiring a team, not just a customer list.
We work well with owners planning retirement or a life change — on their timeline, not ours. We honor what you've built and will protect that legacy through and beyond the transition.
Our Promise
This isn't a pitch. It's a commitment — to the owners who trust us with their life's work, and to the employees who show up every day.
Margin improvement through exploitation isn't our model. We grow by investing in our teams, improving operations, and expanding service capability — not by trimming payroll or squeezing benefits.
The people doing the work built what you're selling. Fair wages, safe conditions, and real opportunities for advancement aren't perks — they're how we build something that lasts and retains talent.
We're from here. We plan to stay here. Our measure of success includes whether the businesses we own make the communities they serve genuinely better off — not just whether they hit a multiple.
The Team
Cedarline is founder-led by Greg, but built to operate as a team. We engage experienced advisors, operators, and specialists across finance, operations, and the trades — and we're actively growing our bench of people who share our values.
14-year Special Operations Navy veteran. Portland, Oregon native. Focused on finding, acquiring, and responsibly stewarding businesses that serve their communities and the people in them.
We work with a network of experienced deal advisors, former operators, legal counsel, and industry specialists who guide our diligence, structuring, and post-acquisition growth planning.
We're building Cedarline thoughtfully. If you're passionate about entrepreneurship through acquisition, small business, or the skilled trades — we'd love to hear from you.
Let's Talk
Whether you're a business owner thinking about your next chapter, a prospective investor, or someone who wants to be part of what we're building — we'd love to hear from you.
Book a Call with Greg