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Platform · Commercial access & security

Cobalt Service Partners

Alpine Investors' buyer of founder-owned commercial door, dock, access-control and security-integration companies. Formed November 2023; 21 acquisitions in 32 months; announces every one of them itself. If a Cobalt email lands in your inbox, this is who sent it and what happens next.

HQ New York, NY (124 E 14th St; brands run locally) Formed November 2023 Sponsor Alpine Investors Updated Sept 25, 2026 Editor Patrick Chown
Commercial doorsAutomatic entrancesSecurity integrationAccess controlLoading docksLow voltage / AV21 companies · 18 statesBuys 20–100-person companies
Before you take the call

The editor’s read

Opinion, built only from the cited public record below. Not from any Caldecott engagement.
  1. This is the one Alpine platform that announces every deal. 21 acquisitions, 21 announcements, most with a named founder, a quote and a statement of who stays. That is the opposite of Apex's silence, and it makes Cobalt the easiest Alpine buyer to read: the pattern below is theirs, in their words. Cobalt newsroom
  2. Expect to be replaced, politely. In 12 of 21 deals the founder moved to 'special advisor' or retired at close and Cobalt installed a CEO or GM; at Piedmont the CEO who sold has since been replaced too, typically an ex-Marine, Navy or Army officer with an MBA (Hogan, Grossman, Josue Gonzalez, Nowlin, Pratt). Cobalt runs an executive-recruiting team for exactly this. If you want to stay, say so early; the ones who stayed (i-Tech, System Integrations, LEK, CGL) kept sales or finance roles under a new CEO. Deal record · Team page
  3. Brand stays, systems change. Cobalt's own page: 'you keep your brand, your team, and your culture'. Also on the record: a platform-wide ServiceTitan deal, a Director of Integration, an EVP of Transformation and a Value Creation Associate whose posting describes a standardized 'menu of value creation levers' applied to each acquisition. Both are true. Why Cobalt · ServiceTitan · Value Creation posting
  4. They look at your turnover before they look at your EBITDA. Jerry Fields (IDC) says Cobalt had analysed his data and found technician turnover 'far below the average' before praising the company; Hoffman's Digi interview says the first months are 'more observing than doing'. Clean up tenure and customer-retention numbers before the first call. Fields essay · SecurityInfoWatch
  5. The clock is young and there is no recap yet. Fund IX (2023 vintage) bought in November 2023. On Alpine's pattern, the next event is a recap or continuation vehicle around 2027–29, not a sale next year. Rollover equity taken now goes in early, which is the good side of the cap table; it also means a long hold. Launch release · See clock
  6. Two segments, two bosses. Doors and entrances report to Mike Hopkins (ex-SEAL); security integration to Chris Wise (Security 101 founder, appointed June 2026). Sellers of security companies now get an industry veteran at the top; door sellers get an operator from outside the trade. Ask which regional president you'll report to and whether that person has run a company like yours. Wise appointment
  7. No numbers. Cobalt has never stated revenue, EBITDA, headcount or deal terms. Every figure on this page about size is either a per-company figure from an announcement (Digi 100+, Acme 70, IDC 50, AEW 50) or an inference. Anyone quoting Cobalt's multiple or structure is guessing.
  8. Employee sentiment at the brands is thin and uneven. Cobalt itself has no Glassdoor reviews; Piedmont runs 4.6 (14 reviews) and Digi 1.6 (10, mostly pre-dating the deal). Too few data points to read as a platform signal yet. See ratings

The people

Who you’ll actually deal with

Cobalt is small enough that its whole head office fits on one team page, and it publishes one — with photos, titles and bios for about 60 people. The pattern: a Co-CEO from Alpine's own investing team owns M&A, an ex-Congressman Co-CEO owns operations, and the deal team is bankers and PE associates in their late twenties and thirties working out of New York. Below them sit two Group CEOs (doors; security), four regional presidents, and a bench of ex-military CEOs Cobalt hires to run the companies whose founders leave.

  1. 1 · Sourcing
    finds you
    Outreach comes from Cobalt directly (Piedmont's CEO: 'the right partner found us'). Sellers also arrive through advisors (Infinity Capital, Exit Stage Left, Sandra Jones) and, increasingly, through the founder network of the 21 companies already in.
  2. 2 · Execution
    closes you
    LOI, confirmatory diligence, close. Cobalt's own page says 45–60 days from LOI. Counsel is Kirkland & Ellis; the Alpine-standard QoE and legal process applies.
  3. 3 · Integration
    absorbs you
    A Director of Integration and an EVP of Transformation run a written value-creation plan; ServiceTitan is the platform-wide system; finance moves to Cobalt's regional business partners.
  4. 4 · Operations
    runs you
    You (or the CEO Cobalt hires for you) report to a regional president, under a Group CEO for doors or security. The M&A team moves on.

The M&A team

Corporate Development · New York

Who finds you, who closes you. A Co-CEO owns M&A outright, with an EVP hired from Kohlberg & Company running a team of two directors, three associates and an analyst. Nearly every one of them came from banking, PE or advisory.

Tyler Hoffman
Co-Founder & Co-CEO · owns M&A
Owns every deal. The launch release split the job: Hoffman buys, Gonzalez runs.
Background
Alpine lifer: interned on Alpine's investing team as an undergraduate, joined after graduation, then went operating — ran Foothold and built it into Radicle Health (Alpine Software Group) as Group CEO, 2018–23. The launch release assigned him M&A; Gonzalez took organic growth. Signs the announcements on Cobalt's site.
Business Wire launch release; Alpine Q&A; Cobalt team page
3 public appearances ↓
Jose Emanuelli
EVP of M&A
Runs the deal team day to day. Your LOI negotiation is with him or Hoffman.
Background
Nearly a decade in M&A, most recently as an investor at Kohlberg & Company (middle-market PE). Hired into the EVP seat after the first wave of deals; the M&A Associate posting names him and Hoffman as the mentors.
Cobalt team page; Built In NYC job posting
Sourcing · finds you
Drew Dolan
VP of Partnerships
The likeliest first contact: the warm email or conference handshake.
Background
More than a decade of sales and partnerships across physical security and enterprise technology. Listed under 'Growth', not 'M&A', on Cobalt's site; the title matches the outreach role at peer platforms. Reporting line inferred.
Cobalt team page · role in deal flow Unverified
Dora Ruzic
Director of Corporate Development
Builds the target list. If your company is in a spreadsheet at Cobalt, it is probably hers.
Background
Public and private-markets investor; her bio says she spent her career 'building M&A pipelines' for technology and services companies. Croatian-born.
Cobalt team page · LinkedIn search returns an 'Artemis Origination' profile of the same name, not confirmed
Nathan Arthur
Director of Corporate Development
Runs deals end to end; the second senior voice you'll hear after Emanuelli.
Background
Almost ten years of M&A for PE-backed platforms in childcare and building materials: a serial add-on buyer.
Cobalt team page
Execution · closes you
Tyler Smith
Director of M&A
Runs LOI-to-close: the diligence list, the model, the third-party advisors.
Background
M&A advisory and investing in industrials and business services. Aggregators still call him Senior Associate; Cobalt's site says Director. The M&A Associate posting has associates reporting to him.
Cobalt team page; Built In NYC posting; ZoomInfo/TheOrg titles lag
Micah Burman
M&A Associate
Builds the model and the diligence trackers you'll be answering.
Background
M&A advisory and investing across consumer and commercial services; a Rabobank investment-banking associate before Cobalt Unverified.
Cobalt team page · LinkedIn search returned a Rabobank profile of the same name, not confirmed
Scott Mirenberg
M&A Associate
Execution associate on diligence and closing.
Background
M&A advisory and investing across consumer and healthcare services.
Cobalt team page · not indexed on LinkedIn search
David Russell
Corporate Development Analyst
Populates the data room requests and the comps.
Background
Manhattan College; MS Finance, Notre Dame. The junior seat on the team.
Cobalt team page · a 'David Russell – Alpine Investors' LinkedIn result exists but is unconfirmed
Deal support
Anai Patel
Chief Financial Officer
The finance side of diligence; your QoE and working-capital peg get read here.
Background
Started in London; successive M&A and finance roles across industrials and business services. Runs the finance function that reads your QoE and books the deal.
Cobalt team page
Elysha Mallon · Lauren Goebel
Technical Accountant · Accounting Integration Lead
Purchase accounting, then your first month-end on Cobalt's chart of accounts.
Background
A decade-plus of public accounting (Mallon); audit and integration for PE-backed companies (Goebel). Purchase accounting and the first close of your books under Cobalt.
Cobalt team page
Kirkland & Ellis (outside counsel)
Buyer's legal counsel
Drafts your purchase agreement. Expect a big-firm paper.
Background
No in-house deal counsel is listed on Cobalt's team page; Kirkland & Ellis was named as Cobalt's counsel on the Digi deal (2024). Alpine's usual firm.
Business Wire, Digi release

After you sign

Integration, transformation and the operating structure

Who takes over once the wire lands. Cobalt has a dedicated Director of Integration, an EVP of Transformation, a ServiceTitan implementation lead and an executive-recruiting team whose job includes hiring the CEO who replaces you.

Anthony Gonzalez
Co-Founder & Co-CEO · owns operations
Runs the platform you're joining. Quoted on nearly every deal about 'recruit, retain and develop technicians'.
Background
Ohio State and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver; Stanford GSB MBA; COO of a Santa Barbara startup; U.S. Representative for Ohio's 16th district, 2019–23. Launch release gave him organic growth; he is the Co-CEO quoted on technician recruiting and on most acquisition posts.
Business Wire launch release; Cobalt team page; Acquired podcast (2022)
2 public appearances ↓
Dyia Aboasha
President
Day-to-day head of the platform; the operating cadence you'll be run on.
Background
Former management consultant and strategy/operations executive with a decade-plus in software and services. Chief of Staff Kennedy David (ex-PE diligence advisory) sits with him. Reporting line inferred from title.
Cobalt team page · line Unverified
Rachel Mickelson
EVP of Transformation
Owns the value-creation plan written for your company before close.
Background
Engineer, then consultant to industrial companies on strategy and M&A. 'Transformation' is the integration-plus-improvement function at PE platforms.
Cobalt team page
Houston Hardy
Director of Integration
Runs your first 100 days: systems, finance, people, on a written plan.
Background
Private wealth management, then Darden MBA. The Value Creation Associate posting reports to him and describes a 'standardized menu of value creation levers' and 'translating pre-close plans into post-close execution'.
Cobalt team page; Greenhouse posting (Value Creation Associate)
Chris Kalna · Alex Janssens · Colby Keefe
VP of Technology · ServiceTitan Implementation Lead · Systems Integration Lead
Move you onto ServiceTitan and Cobalt's data stack after close.
Background
Kalna is an ex-consulting partner and PE tech executive; Janssens came from ServiceTitan itself. Cobalt signed a platform-wide ServiceTitan partnership in April 2025 covering all brands.
Cobalt team page; ServiceTitan press release
Ginna Doyle
Chief People Officer
Your benefits, handbook and recruiting move under her team.
Background
Kellogg MBA; earlier in talent and operations at an esports startup, and before that an actress in New York. Runs a 13-person people team: executive recruiting, field recruiting, GTM recruiting, HR for partner companies.
Cobalt team page
Jonny Goffredi · Madalena Benson
Director of Executive Recruiting · Executive Recruiting Lead
Recruit the CEO who replaces you if you're leaving. Meet them early.
Background
Goffredi co-led the PE practice at Charles Aris Executive Search. In 13 of 21 companies a Cobalt-installed CEO or GM now runs the business, usually a veteran or MBA.
Cobalt team page; deal announcements
Group CEOs · your boss after close
Michael Hopkins
Group CEO, Entrance Solutions
Your boss if you sell a door or entrance company.
Background
Navy SEAL platoon medic for over a decade; then ran operations for a telemedicine startup. Hired mid-2025 to run the door/entrance segment (Piedmont, ADW, IDC, AEW, Entrance Tech, NDC, Acme).
Cobalt team page; Chris Wise appointment post
Chris Wise
Group CEO, Security Solutions
Your boss if you sell a security integrator. The most experienced operator on the page.
Background
Co-founded Security 101 and built its franchise model; nearly a decade as a senior executive at one of the industry's largest firms; four decades in security. Appointed June 23, 2026 to run the security segment (Toepfer, HSS, i-Tech, Digi, Digital Provisions, FTS, SAS, System Integrations, Galaxy, DSI, STS360, LEK, CGL, NC Sound).
Cobalt announcement, Jun 2026 · LinkedIn not indexed under his name
Regional presidents
Andrew Herchek
Regional President, Northeast
Runs the Northeast brands (Galaxy, CGL, Digital Provisions).
Background
Came in through Galaxy from East Range Group, where he scaled industrial-services companies; HBS MBA.
Cobalt team page
Nick Ouimet
Regional President, South
Runs the Southern brands.
Background
Founded a restaurant brand, then operating roles across auto services and home services.
Cobalt team page · LinkedIn not indexed
Russ Palmer
Regional President, West
Runs the West (IDC, SAS, DSI).
Background
COO of a nationwide service-and-construction business; nearly a decade as an Army Blackhawk pilot.
Cobalt team page · LinkedIn search returned a different Russ Palmer
Rick Speidell
Regional President, Southeast
Runs the Southeast (Piedmont, i-Tech, NC Sound, HSS, LEK).
Background
Senior roles at Siemens Infrastructure and ADT Commercial.
Cobalt team page · two candidate LinkedIn profiles, neither confirmed
Regional finance
Regan Bennett · Russell Brewer · Dustin Balakars · Vince Delille
Regional Finance Business Partners (South, West, Entrance) · Director of FP&A, Security
Your monthly numbers go to one of them before they go anywhere else.
Background
The finance layer between your P&L and Cobalt's CFO. Every region and segment has one.
Cobalt team page

Voices from the sponsor

Alpine Investors · on the record

Sponsor people who have explained how they buy, in their own words. Only the ones with recordings. No Alpine partner has spoken publicly about Cobalt specifically; the playbook they describe for Apex is the one Cobalt runs.

Graham Weaver
Founder & CEO, Alpine Investors
Founded Alpine from his Stanford GSB dorm in 2001. Cobalt's Co-CEO Hoffman started on Weaver's investing team. Weaver's recorded rules: buy the sub-$5M-EBITDA founder company competitors ignore, install a CEO, measure employee NPS before and after.
7 podcasts and letters on how Alpine buys ↓

Reporting lines are inferred from titles on Cobalt's team page, job postings and announcements, not from an org chart Cobalt has published. Wrong? Correct this profile.

What the job postings say about the deal team (2025–26)

The M&A Associate role (New York, $180–200K total) reports to Tyler Smith with mentorship from Hoffman and Emanuelli and 'focuses on execution and deal support rather than sourcing'. The Value Creation Associate ($140–160K) reports to the Director of Integration and builds 'a standardized menu of value creation levers' and 'rigorous tracking systems' for each acquisition — the plan that exists for your company before you close. No sourcing-quota language (meetings per quarter, conferences) appears in Cobalt's postings, unlike Apex's. M&A posting · Value Creation posting

What they’ve said out loud

18 items · flagged where they explain how they buy
  • 2024-06-25
    Cobalt acquires 'people-first' commercial security integrator How they buy
    SecurityInfoWatch (interview) · Hoffman on the first months after a deal: 'listen, learn, and build relationships… do more observing than doing'; the installed CEO's job is the information exchange between companies.
  • 2024-05-16
    Jerry Fields on leadership, retirement and choosing Cobalt How they buy
    Cobalt site (first-person) · Seller essay · Every other bidder 'wanted to dismantle' IDC; Cobalt had analysed his data and found turnover far below industry average; fishing trip kept; he stepped back to 'cheer from the sidelines'.
  • 2023-12-06
    Spotlight on Chris Mitchell, President and CEO of Piedmont How they buy
    Cobalt site (first-person) · Seller essay · Cobalt reached out cold in 2023; 'we weren't necessarily looking'; sold to avoid transferring ownership 'on someone else's terms'; contrasts Cobalt's pitch with 'robotic' ones.
  • 2025-08-16
    Tyler Hoffman on lessons learned after leading Radicle Health How they buy
    Alpine Investors Q&A · Hoffman's own account: Alpine intern → investing team → operator; become an expert in the market by talking to founders, not spreadsheets; pair fresh MBAs with industry veterans.
  • 2025-04-15
    ServiceTitan announces strategic partnership with Cobalt
    ServiceTitan press release · Hoffman and VP Technology Chris Kalna: ServiceTitan is 'the backbone of our tech stack' across all brands. What your systems will look like after close.
  • 2025-07-09
    Cobalt Service Partners taps ServiceTitan How they buy
    ServiceTitan case study · 12 brands 'purchased with the intent of maintaining the brand'; unified systems across locations.
  • 2026-06-23
    Cobalt appoints Chris Wise as Group CEO of Security Solutions
    Cobalt site · Gonzalez on how Cobalt picks leaders (performance, then 'values and character'); Wise on keeping 'the practitioner at the center'. Confirms the two-segment structure.
  • 2022-08-02
    From NFL to startup COO to Congressman
    Acquired podcast · Podcast · Gonzalez's pre-Cobalt story: Colts, Stanford GSB, startup COO, Congress. Nothing on Cobalt; useful for who he is.
  • 2023-12-06
    PE firm launches access control platform, buys Piedmont
    SDM Magazine · Trade-press pickup of the launch. Also Security Sales & Integration and Locksmith Ledger.
  • 2026-02-19
    Cobalt year in review and STS360
    Cobalt site · Cobalt's own 2025 tally: six deals, 18 total. The only self-published scorecard.
  • 2026-01
    Alpine 2025 year in review
    Alpine Investors · Cobalt: 6 acquisitions in 2025, 17 since launch. Alpine: 190 deals closed, 18,000 sourced, 42 executive placements.
  • 2025-05-27
    Building Alpine How they buy
    Invest Like the Best, EP.425 · Podcast · Weaver: sub-$5M EBITDA founder companies are '90% of the market'; install veterans and MBAs as CEOs; eNPS before and after each deal; 5x MOIC north star.
  • 2024-08
    People-Driven Private Equity at Alpine How they buy
    Capital Allocators, EP.391 · Podcast · The playbook: CEOs and M&A at the portfolio-company level.
  • 2024-12-10
    How to Scale Bright Spots How they buy
    In Search of Excellence, E141 · Podcast · 'I am in the talent business'; direct-to-founder sourcing scaled as a bright spot.
  • 2024-07
    Win the Day, Ep.200 How they buy
    Podcast (transcript) · New CEOs run listening tours; wants huge markets with add-on runway.
  • 2024-10
    Letter #229: Graham Weaver How they buy
    A Letter a Day · Compilation · the 2008 lesson: buy competitors when they're down too.
  • 2022-07-22
    Masters in Business
    Bloomberg (Barry Ritholtz) · Podcast · CEO-in-Training program, PeopleFirst.
  • 2023-06
    Fund IX letter to LPs
    Alpine Investors · 'We are in the talent business.' Fund IX is the fund that owns Cobalt.

Missing one? Tell us and it’s added within 48 hours. Run this platform? Come on the show and explain how you buy; the episode goes here.

Who they bought

The founders, in their own words · where they are now

21 founders on the public record · 6 stayed · 11 left · 4 not stated. Quotes are from Cobalt's announcement of each deal. 'Now' is what the public record shows today; LinkedIn buttons open the person's profile or a search for them.

Gary Hinton
Owner (since 2012) · North Carolina Sound (NC Sound) · Pikeville, NC (Winston-Salem, Wilmington)
“I wanted a partner who would protect our culture, invest in our people, and strengthen the relationships.” Cobalt, Jul 2026
Left Strategic Advisor; Dan Pratt listed as CEO of NC Sound on Cobalt's team page. Cobalt team page
The company’s story · sold Jul 13, 2026 →
Ron Ludvigsen
Co-founder (1998) · CGL Electronic Security (with CGL Technologies of PA) · Westwood (Boston), MA · Pittsburgh, PA
“Cobalt made it clear employees were most important. Their focus is growing, not cutting costs.” Cobalt, May 2026
Stayed Leadership role initially, then advisory; Mike McGuirk becomes CEO (MA). Chris Wetzel stays CEO of the PA business. Cobalt announcement
The company’s story · sold May 18, 2026 →
Erik Lubinger
Co-founder & CEO · LEK Technology Group · Prattville (Montgomery), AL
“I believe partnering with Cobalt is the best next step for our team and our customers.” Cobalt, Mar 2026
Stayed Staying as CEO 'initially', per the announcement. Cobalt announcement
The company’s story · sold Mar 19, 2026 →
Bobby Khullar
Founder · STS360 · Dallas, TX
“It brings a deep sense of pride and relief knowing the business is in thoughtful, capable hands.” Cobalt, Feb 2026
Left Special Advisor during transition; no successor CEO named publicly yet. Cobalt announcement
The company’s story · sold Feb 19, 2026 →
Chad Barnett
Founder · Digital Systems Installation (DSI) · Ogden, UT
“Together with Cobalt, we are accelerating innovative solutions to longstanding industry needs.” Cobalt, Feb 2026
Left Special Advisor; Rick Williams listed as CEO, DSI National. Cobalt team page
The company’s story · sold Feb 2, 2026 →
Michael McDade
Founder · Galaxy Integrated Technologies · Waltham (Boston), MA
“Cobalt's track record and values mirror the culture we have worked hard to create.” Cobalt, Aug 2025
Left Transitioned out; John Gulezian (formerly EVP) is CEO. Cobalt announcement
The company’s story · sold Aug 21, 2025 →
Derrick & Jeff Ledford
Co-founders · System Integrations · Lebanon (Nashville), TN
“They came alongside us, focusing on the areas where we needed help the most, without disrupting what we do best.” Cobalt, Aug 2025
Stayed Derrick and Jeff Ledford stayed as VP Sales / VP Finance; Reagan Brown is CEO per Cobalt’s team page. Company pages, Sept 28, 2026
The company’s story · sold Aug 21, 2025 →
Tom O'Brian
Owner since 2020 · Acme Lock & Door · Cincinnati, OH (OH, KY, IN)
“Cobalt shared our core belief: if you take care of your people and your customers, the rest takes care of itself.” Cobalt, May 2025
Left Bradley Drury was named CEO at close; Cobalt’s team page now lists Dan Lumpkin as GM. Company pages, Sept 28, 2026
The company’s story · sold May 21, 2025 →
Doug Leener
Founder (1981) · Superior Alarm Systems (SAS) · Canoga Park (Los Angeles), CA
“They'll provide us with the resources of a much larger company, while respecting the integrity and uniqueness of our local operation.” Cobalt, May 2025
Left Gradual retirement; son Jared Leener stayed as Director of BD & Sales; Adam Grossman is now CEO. Company pages, Sept 28, 2026
The company’s story · sold May 15, 2025 →
David Schmitz
Owner/leader (joined 2001) · Flores Technical Services (FTS) · Dallas, TX
“Cobalt's culture and integrity were in alignment with ours, which was non-negotiable for me.” Cobalt, Mar 2025
Left Special advisor at close; Ryan Goard is now CEO and the site is rebranded “Cobalt FTS”. Company pages, Sept 28, 2026
The company’s story · sold Mar 10, 2025 →
Ben Loyd
Owner (third generation) · Nashville Door Closer (NDC) · Nashville, TN
“Most of the offers were not in the best interest of my team or customers…then I met with Cobalt.” Cobalt, Dec 2024
Left Transitioned out of day-to-day at close; Blake Hogan installed as CEO. Cobalt announcement
The company’s story · sold Dec 17, 2024 →
Jim Sieren
Founder · Entrance Technologies · Eagle River, WI (WI and MI)
“Unlike other potential acquirers that would have swallowed Entrance Tech up and disrupted everyone's day-to-day, we chose Cobalt.” Cobalt, Dec 2024
Left Retired at close. Kevin Galek continues as General Manager. Cobalt announcement
The company’s story · sold Dec 3, 2024 →
Bill Holcomb & Jay Walt
Founder (retiring) & co-owner (staying) · Automatic Entrances of Wisconsin (AEW) · Waukesha, WI
“The arrival of Cobalt into the marketplace offered a respectful approach to the culture we had fostered.” Business Wire, Sep 2024
Left Bill Holcomb retired at close; Jay Walt stayed, now styled Senior Advisor with CEO tenure dated 1979–2025 on Cobalt’s page. Company pages, Sept 28, 2026
The company’s story · sold Sep 23, 2024 →
Brian Selltiz & Brian Schulman
Co-founders · Digital Provisions · Ronkonkoma (Long Island), NY
“Take care of the employees, take care of customers, and then the company will thrive.” Cobalt, Jul 2024
Stayed Selltiz stayed on sales; Schulman advisory. Josue Gonzalez installed as CEO (Cobalt team page). Cobalt team page
The company’s story · sold Jul 11, 2024 →
Josh Herron
Founder & President · Digi Security Systems · Tulsa, OK (Oklahoma City, Dallas)
“Over a hundred companies sought our partnership, but Cobalt stood out as fully dedicated to the same thing we are—people.” Business Wire, Jun 2024
Stayed Remained President at announcement. Digi has since opened a Springdale, AR office (Digi website). Digi website
The company’s story · sold Jun 25, 2024 →
Eric & Michelle Tutton
Co-founders · i-Tech Security and Network Solutions · Clemmons (Winston-Salem), NC
“We were particularly impressed by the cultural fit between the i-Tech and Cobalt teams.” Cobalt, Jun 2024
Now i-Tech’s rebuilt About page lists a leadership team under CEO Chris Nowlin with no Tutton; no departure has been announced. Company pages, Sept 28, 2026
The company’s story · sold Jun 5, 2024 →
Jerry Fields
Co-founder & CEO · Industrial Door Company (IDC) · Sacramento, CA
“None of the firms that expressed interest were interested in every part of IDC—they all wanted to dismantle it.” Cobalt site, May 2024
Left Stepped back toward retirement ('cheering from the sidelines'); Cobalt's team page lists Tad Henderson as CEO of IDC. Cobalt site
The company’s story · sold Apr 9, 2024 →
Chris Mitchell
President & CEO (investor since 2016); founder Pat Keane · Piedmont Door Solutions · Charlotte, NC (9 branches: NC, SC, GA, AL, TX, FL, MD)
“This partnership enables us to go faster and bigger than we ever imagined would be possible.” Business Wire, Dec 2023
Now Seller-side CEO Chris Mitchell moved from CEO to Strategic Advisor on the Cobalt platform (Alpine, Jun 2025); Roger Costa is CEO per Cobalt’s team page. Founder Pat Keane left at the 2016 sale to Mitchell’s group. Company pages, Sept 28, 2026
The company’s story · sold Dec 6, 2023 →
Tony Marquis
Founder (2003) · Homeland Safety Systems (HSS) · Shreveport, LA
Now Announced as continuing; Cobalt's team page now lists Ann Day as CEO of HSS. Marquis's current role not published. Cobalt team page
The company’s story · sold Apr 9, 2024 →
Ron Lund Jr.
Owner & President · Toepfer Security · Waukesha, WI
Now Cobalt's company page says he 'served as President for 14 years until selling the business to Cobalt in 2024', which reads as a transition out. No current role published. Cobalt company page
The company’s story · sold Apr 9, 2024 →
Ed Gaffney
Founder (2005) · Automated Door Ways (ADW) · Columbus, GA
Stayed Announced as continuing with ADW; no later public update found. Business Wire, Apr 2024
The company’s story · sold Apr 9, 2024 →

Ownership and where they are in the cycle

Who’s above you on the cap table
Ownership clock · editor’s inference from fund records
Bought fromAlpine Fund IX2023 vintage · $4.5B
Platform formedNov 2023Piedmont close; announced Dec 6
Recap / CVNone yetPitchBook shows acquisition debt only
Likely next event2027–294–6 years after buy, Alpine pattern
2023 Fund IX buys Piedmont 2024 10 add-ons 2026 Group CEOs in place 2027–29 Likely window

What it means for a seller. Cobalt sits in Fund IX, Alpine's $4.5B 2023 flagship, and was formed within six months of that fund closing. A ten-year fund with a five-year investment period puts the natural liquidity window at four to six years after the platform buy, so 2027–29. Alpine's precedent with Apex (Fund VII, 2019 → continuation vehicle 2023) says the event is more likely a recap or a continuation vehicle into Alpine's own next vehicle than a sale to a stranger; the Heroes Fund Alpine was marketing in 2026 exists to do exactly that. PitchBook records an acquisition-debt facility but no equity recap. Room to grow: 21 companies in 18 states with two thin segments and no national brand; the runway is regional density, which is the 20–100-person company it has been buying. Rollover taken now is early money in a young platform; it is also money with no visible exit before 2027. Launch · Fund IX · PitchBook · Heroes Fund

  • 2019–23
    Alpine runs the Apex playbook in residential services
    Apex Service Partners (2019), Orion (commercial HVACR), Vertex (roofing). Cobalt is the same model pointed at commercial access and security. Alpine
  • 2023-06
    Alpine closes Fund IX at $4.5B
    The fund that owns Cobalt. Source
  • 2023-11
    Cobalt formed with the Piedmont Door Solutions acquisition
    Announced Dec 6, 2023 on Business Wire. Tyler Hoffman and Anthony Gonzalez installed as Co-CEOs; Hoffman via Alpine's own team, Gonzalez from Congress. No equity commitment figure disclosed. Source
  • 2024
    Ten add-ons in twelve months
    Four on Business Wire (ADW, Toepfer, IDC, HSS in April; Digi in June; AEW in September), the rest on Cobalt's own site. Kirkland & Ellis as counsel. Newsroom
  • 2025–26
    Segment structure and acquisition debt
    Group CEO of Entrance Solutions hired mid-2025 (Hopkins); Group CEO of Security Solutions June 2026 (Wise). PitchBook's latest deal type is 'Debt – Acquisition' with no lender or size disclosed Unverified. PitchBook

What they’ve bought

Add-ons per year · company-stated
0510 1 10 6 4 2023202420252026

Counted by Cobalt's own numbering ('Nth acquisition since December 2023') on announcement date; DSI closed December 2025 and was announced February 2026. 2026 is year-to-date at Sept 25. CGL Electronic Security and CGL Technologies of PA were bought together and count once. Cumulative: 21 (Cobalt, Jul 13, 2026; PitchBook lists 21). Sources: Cobalt newsroom, Alpine 2025 review.

Transactions on the public record

21 with a public announcement or record of 21 (Cobalt's own count; PitchBook 21; Tracxn 8; Mergr 4). Each one has its own page: what was announced, by whom, and what the founder said. Cobalt has announced all 21 of its acquisitions itself — four on Business Wire in the first year, the rest on its own site — and 17 of the 21 releases name the founder, quote them, and say whether they stay. Its 'Our Companies' pages give a close month for each, which runs one to two months before the announcement. The record is unusually complete for a buyer this size; the gaps are money (no terms, no size) and outcomes after year one.

DateCompanyWhereTradeAnnounced byFounder
Jul 13, 2026North Carolina Sound (NC Sound) story →Pikeville, NC (Winston-Salem, Wilmington)Systems integration: AV, security, communicationsCobalt (own newsroom)Gary Hinton · quoted · left
May 18, 2026CGL Electronic Security (with CGL Technologies of PA) story →Westwood (Boston), MA · Pittsburgh, PAAccess control, video, intrusion, life safetyCobalt (own newsroom)Ron Ludvigsen · quoted · stayed
Mar 19, 2026LEK Technology Group story →Prattville (Montgomery), ALSecurity integration and structured cablingCobalt (own newsroom)Erik Lubinger · quoted · stayed
Feb 19, 2026STS360 story →Dallas, TXSecurity integrationCobalt (own newsroom, with 2025 year-in-review)Bobby Khullar · quoted · left
Feb 2, 2026Digital Systems Installation (DSI) story →Ogden, UTSurveillance and security systems, industrial/manufacturingCobalt (own newsroom); SecurityInfoWatchChad Barnett · quoted · left
Aug 21, 2025Galaxy Integrated Technologies story →Waltham (Boston), MASecurity and low-voltage integrationCobalt (own newsroom); Alpine year in reviewMichael McDade · quoted · left
Aug 21, 2025System Integrations story →Lebanon (Nashville), TNSecurity and low-voltage systemsCobalt (own newsroom); Alpine year in reviewDerrick & Jeff Ledford · quoted · stayed
May 21, 2025Acme Lock & Door story →Cincinnati, OH (OH, KY, IN)Commercial locks and doors, ~70 employeesCobalt (own newsroom)Tom O'Brian · quoted · left
May 15, 2025Superior Alarm Systems (SAS) story →Canoga Park (Los Angeles), CAEnterprise security integrationCobalt (own newsroom)Doug Leener · quoted · left
Mar 10, 2025Flores Technical Services (FTS) story →Dallas, TXSecurity integration (schools, healthcare, DoD contractors, semiconductor)Cobalt (own newsroom)David Schmitz · quoted · left
Dec 17, 2024Nashville Door Closer (NDC) story →Nashville, TNCommercial doors, hardware, locksmithingCobalt (own newsroom)Ben Loyd · quoted · left
Dec 3, 2024Entrance Technologies story →Eagle River, WI (WI and MI)Commercial pedestrian and automatic doorsCobalt (own newsroom)Jim Sieren · quoted · left
Sep 23, 2024Automatic Entrances of Wisconsin (AEW) story →Waukesha, WIAutomatic doors, ~50 employeesCobalt (Business Wire); Alpine newsroom; Security Systems NewsBill Holcomb & Jay Walt · quoted · left
Jul 11, 2024Digital Provisions story →Ronkonkoma (Long Island), NYK-12-focused security integrationCobalt (own newsroom)Brian Selltiz & Brian Schulman · quoted · stayed
Jun 25, 2024Digi Security Systems story →Tulsa, OK (Oklahoma City, Dallas)Commercial security integration, 100+ employeesCobalt (Business Wire); seller's advisor Infinity Capital Partners; Alpine newsroomJosh Herron · quoted · stayed
Jun 5, 2024i-Tech Security and Network Solutions story →Clemmons (Winston-Salem), NCCommercial security and network integrationCobalt (own newsroom)Eric & Michelle Tutton · quoted
Apr 9, 2024Homeland Safety Systems (HSS) story →Shreveport, LASecurity systems for schools and correctional facilitiesCobalt (Business Wire); Alpine newsroomTony Marquis
Apr 9, 2024Industrial Door Company (IDC) story →Sacramento, CACommercial/industrial doors, overhead doors, loading-dock equipmentCobalt (Business Wire); Alpine newsroomJerry Fields · quoted · left
Apr 9, 2024Toepfer Security story →Waukesha, WISecurity systems integration; roots as an 1862 lock-and-safe companyCobalt (Business Wire); Alpine newsroomRon Lund Jr.
Apr 9, 2024Automated Door Ways (ADW) story →Columbus, GAAutomatic and manual commercial doorsCobalt (Business Wire); Alpine newsroomEd Gaffney · stayed
Dec 6, 2023Piedmont Door Solutions story →Charlotte, NC (9 branches: NC, SC, GA, AL, TX, FL, MD)Commercial pedestrian doors, automatic doors, access hardwareAlpine Investors and Cobalt (Business Wire)Chris Mitchell · quoted

Cobalt publishes a complete list of its companies with city, close month and website, and a founding-story page for each. Brands: Piedmont Door Solutions, Automated Door Ways, Toepfer Security, Industrial Door Company, Homeland Safety Systems, i-Tech, Digi Security Systems, Digital Provisions, Automatic Entrances of Wisconsin, Entrance Technologies, Nashville Door Closer, Flores Technical Services, Superior Alarm Systems, Acme Lock & Door, System Integrations, Galaxy Integrated, Digital Systems Installation, STS360, LEK Technology Group, CGL Electronic Security, North Carolina Sound. Sold to Cobalt? Tell us how it went.

Where they’ve bought

35 locations · 35 brands · 18 states · from Cobalt's company pages and the brands' own websites, Sept 25, 2026

Every brand's headquarters plus the branch addresses the brands publish themselves: Piedmont's nine offices, Digi's four, NC Sound's three. Pins are colored by close month from Cobalt's own company pages. Cobalt runs no consolidated careers feed, so there is no job-count layer yet; that is the next crawl.

Through · shown

Click a pin: the announcement, the founder, and the company’s own pages open from there.

Where the density is

Three clusters. The Carolinas (Piedmont HQ and two branches, i-Tech, NC Sound's three offices); Dallas–Fort Worth (Piedmont, Digi, FTS, STS360: four security or door operations in one metro); and Wisconsin (Toepfer and AEW in Waukesha, Entrance Tech in Eagle River). Boston has two (Galaxy, CGL). California has three (IDC, SAS, and Piedmont has none).

What the two segments look like

Seven door/entrance companies and fourteen security integrators. The security side has been the whole story since mid-2024: of the last twelve deals, eleven are security or low-voltage. Cobalt's June 2026 hire of a security Group CEO followed the mix.

Where the whitespace is

Nothing in the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West beyond Ogden, the Upper Midwest beyond Wisconsin, Florida beyond one Piedmont branch, or the Northeast beyond Boston and Long Island. Alpine's other platforms fill in by tuck-in density; expect Cobalt to buy where it already is.

How the count reconciles

21 companies, 35 addresses. Multi-branch brands: Piedmont (9), Digi (4), NC Sound (3). Close months are Cobalt's own; the announcements ran one to two months later. No brand website says 'part of Cobalt' on its homepage except FTS, Galaxy and Toepfer.

Location directory

All 35, by state · click a state to expand
North Carolina6 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
North Carolina SoundPikeville2026-06
Cobalt company page (close); announced Jul 13, 2026 · geocoded at city level		0
North Carolina Sound – WilmingtonWilmington2925 Boundary Street, Unit 292026-06
NC Sound website · geocoded at city level		0
North Carolina Sound – Winston-SalemWinston-Salem114 Fayette Street2026-06
NC Sound website		0
Piedmont Door SolutionsCharlotte628 Griffith Road, Ste G2023-11
Cobalt company page (close); announced Dec 6, 2023 · geocoded at city level		0
Piedmont Door Solutions – Greensboro/RaleighKernersville556 Arbor Hill Road2023-11
Piedmont locations page		0
i-Tech Security and Network SolutionsClemmons9415 N. NC Hwy 1502024-05
Cobalt company page (close); announced Jun 5, 2024 · geocoded at city level		0
Texas5 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Digi Security Systems – DallasDallas10451 Brockwood Rd2024-06
Digi website		0
Flores Technical ServicesDallas13531 Floyd Circle2025-01
Cobalt company page (close); announced Mar 10, 2025		0
Piedmont Door Solutions – DallasMesquite4111 US Highway 80 E, Suite 3042023-11
Piedmont locations page · geocoded at city level		0
Piedmont Door Solutions – HoustonHouston16770 Hedgecroft Drive, Suite 7042023-11
Piedmont locations page · geocoded at city level		0
STS360Dallas14229 Proton Rd2026-02
Cobalt company page; announced Feb 19, 2026		0
Wisconsin3 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Automatic Entrances of WisconsinWaukesha1712 Paramount Court2024-08
Cobalt company page (close); announced Sep 23, 2024		0
Entrance TechnologiesEagle River2024-10
Cobalt company page (close); announced Dec 3, 2024 · geocoded at city level		0
Toepfer SecurityWaukesha2215 Corporate Drive2024-03
Cobalt company page (close); announced Apr 9, 2024		0
Georgia2 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Automated Door WaysColumbus307 38th Street2024-02
Cobalt company page (close); announced Apr 9, 2024		0
Piedmont Door Solutions – AtlantaDawsonville67 American Way, Suite 1602023-11
Piedmont locations page · geocoded at city level		0
Alabama2 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
LEK Technology GroupPrattville180 Medical Center Dr.2026-02
Cobalt company page (close); announced Mar 19, 2026		0
Piedmont Door Solutions – BirminghamPelham993 Yeager Parkway2023-11
Piedmont locations page		0
California2 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Industrial Door CompanySacramento10235 Systems Pkwy, Suite B2024-04
Cobalt company page; announced Apr 9, 2024 · geocoded at city level		0
Superior Alarm SystemsCanoga Park2025-03
Cobalt company page (close); announced May 15, 2025 · geocoded at city level		0
Oklahoma2 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Digi Security SystemsTulsa11333 E 51st Pl2024-06
Cobalt company page; Business Wire Jun 25, 2024		0
Digi Security Systems – Oklahoma CityOklahoma City4325 SW 21st St2024-06
Digi website		0
Tennessee2 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Nashville Door CloserNashville2301 Cruzen Street2024-11
Cobalt company page (close); announced Dec 17, 2024		0
System IntegrationsLebanon233 Legends Drive, Suite 1002025-07
Cobalt company page (close); announced Aug 21, 2025 · geocoded at city level		0
Massachusetts2 locations
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
CGL Electronic SecurityWestwood2026-03
Cobalt company page (close); announced May 18, 2026 · geocoded at city level		0
Galaxy Integrated TechnologiesWaltham301 Second Avenue, Unit 2, Suite 1012025-07
Cobalt company page (close); announced Aug 21, 2025 · geocoded at city level		0
South Carolina1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Piedmont Door Solutions – ColumbiaLexington235-B Dooley Road2023-11
Piedmont locations page		0
Florida1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Piedmont Door Solutions – FloridaLake Worth2223 2nd Ave N, B1132023-11
Piedmont locations page · geocoded at city level		0
Maryland1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Piedmont Door Solutions – Baltimore/DCColumbia8989 Herrmann Drive, Suite 1502023-11
Piedmont locations page · geocoded at city level		0
Louisiana1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Homeland Safety SystemsShreveport724 W 61st Street2024-04
Cobalt company page; announced Apr 9, 2024		0
Arkansas1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Digi Security Systems – SpringdaleSpringdale5766 N Thompson St2024-06
Digi website (post-close branch; date is Digi's)		0
New York1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Digital ProvisionsRonkonkoma2024-06
Cobalt company page (close); announced Jul 11, 2024 · geocoded at city level		0
Ohio1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Acme Lock & DoorCincinnati2025-04
Cobalt company page (close); announced May 21, 2025 · geocoded at city level		0
Utah1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
Digital Systems InstallationOgden3319 Lincoln Ave.2025-12
Cobalt company page (close); announced Feb 2, 2026		0
Pennsylvania1 location
BrandCityAddressTradesAcquiredOpen roles
CGL Technologies of PAPittsburgh2026-03
Cobalt announcement May 18, 2026 (bought with CGL) · geocoded at city level		0

Source: Cobalt's 'Our Companies' pages (city, close month, website) and each brand's own contact/locations page for street addresses, pulled Sept 25, 2026. Addresses without a street were geocoded at city level. No job feed exists for Cobalt brands; the jobs column is zero until one is built.

What happened after they bought

Five acquired companies · public signals · Sept 25, 2026

Each company Cobalt bought still has its own website, Glassdoor page and announcement. Read together they show what the founder can't. Thin for now: most of these deals are under two years old.

Company · boughtBrand todayCustomersEmployeesFounderRegistry signal
Piedmont Door Solutions
Charlotte · Nov 2023		Independent brand; nine branches; no Cobalt mention on the homepage.Reviews page maintained on its own site.Glassdoor 4.6 (14), 93% recommend: 'honest leadership', 'high-performance environment'.Chris Mitchell (CEO at deal, wrote the 'why Cobalt' essay) is gone from Cobalt's team page; Roger Costa listed as CEO. No announcement of the change Unverified. Founder Pat Keane's role not public.Not checked.
Digi Security Systems
Tulsa · Jun 2024		Independent; site lists Tulsa, OKC, Dallas and a new Springdale, AR office.1,000+ customers at deal (Business Wire).Glassdoor 1.6 (10), 0% recommend; 'high turnover', 'overbearing management'. Most reviews pre-date Cobalt Unverified. Two Digi HR people moved into Cobalt HQ roles.Josh Herron announced as staying President. No later public update.Not checked.
Industrial Door Company
Sacramento · Apr 2024		Independent; no Cobalt mention on the homepage.—~50 at deal; founder said turnover was 'far below' industry average.Jerry Fields stepped back; Tad Henderson listed as CEO on Cobalt's team page.CSLB licence number shown on site; not checked.
Nashville Door Closer
Nashville · Nov 2024		Independent.——Ben Loyd out at close; Blake Hogan (ex-Marine, Bunker Labs CEO) installed as CEO.Not checked.
Flores Technical Services
Dallas · Jan 2025		One of three brand sites (with Galaxy and Toepfer) that mentions Cobalt.School districts, healthcare, DoD contractors, semiconductor (announcement).—David Schmitz special advisor; Ryan Goard listed as CEO.Not checked.
What the five say together

Brand continuity is real on the surface: no rebrands, no 'a Cobalt company' lockups. Leadership continuity is not: in all five a Cobalt-hired CEO now runs the company; the seller is an advisor or gone.

The earliest warning light

None yet. The oldest deal is under three years old and the only negative Glassdoor cluster (Digi) largely pre-dates Cobalt. Revisit at 24 months per brand.

What isn't checked yet

State contractor and alarm licences, BBB files and Google review velocity per brand. That is the listener's job once the profile is live.

Point-in-time reads. Sold one of these companies? Your review fills in what the data can't.

How they buy

Public record only
Stated target

'Market-leading commercial access and security businesses' with 'strong reputations, loyal customers, and teams that care deeply': commercial doors, overhead doors, security gates, access control, video surveillance. No size or fleet buckets published. Contact via cobaltsp.com/contact.

Size in practice

Announced targets run from a one-founder shop grown to a regional operator (Entrance Tech) to 100+ employees (Digi). Named headcounts: Digi 100+, Acme 70, IDC 50, AEW 50. Founded 1862–2021; median founding year ~1998. Sub-$5M EBITDA per Weaver's stated Alpine sweet spot Unverified.

Brand & integration (stated)

'Your company keeps its brand intact, your team continues operating locally.' Support in recruiting, technology, finance, compliance, training hubs, peer network. Why Cobalt

Brand & integration (observed)

Platform-wide ServiceTitan (Apr 2025); Director of Integration and a written value-creation plan per deal; regional finance business partners; installed CEOs in 13 of 21 companies; two Group CEOs by segment from mid-2025/2026.

Structure clues

No terms ever disclosed. Founders are described as 'partnering', which in Alpine's other platforms means majority control with rollover Unverified. Cobalt's page: 'some owners choose to stay on in an advisory or leadership role; others transition out.' Acme (2025) shows Cobalt will buy from a non-founder owner group.

Time to close

'Typically within 45–60 days' from LOI, per Cobalt's own page. Digi: advisor says closed June 5, release June 25. Close months on Cobalt's company pages run 1–2 months before announcements.

What sellers said (press quotes)

Fields (IDC): other bidders 'all wanted to dismantle it'. Loyd (NDC): 'most of the offers were not in the best interest of my team… then I met with Cobalt'. Herron (Digi): 'over a hundred companies sought our partnership'. Mitchell (Piedmont): 'the right partner found us at the right time'.

Sell-side advisors seen

Infinity Capital Partners (Digi); Exit Stage Left Advisors (ADW); Sandra Jones and Company (Toepfer); Tressler & Associates, counsel (NDC); McAfee & Taft, counsel (Digi). Cobalt: Kirkland & Ellis. Most deals name no advisor: founders dealing direct.

Employee signal

Public ratings · closest thing to post-close truth
Cobalt corporate · Glassdoor
—0 reviews
Profile exists; no reviews yet
Cobalt corporate · Indeed
—95 salaries
Technicians ~$26/hr; no rating shown
Piedmont Door Solutions · Glassdoor
4.614 reviews
93% recommend · honest leadership · demanding
Digi Security Systems · Glassdoor
1.610 reviews
0% recommend · turnover · mostly pre-Cobalt

No litigation, regulatory action or licence discipline involving Cobalt Service Partners found in public search Unverified. Brand-level licence and BBB checks not yet run.

From sellers

Anonymous · verified to us, never to them

No verified reviews yet. Sold to Cobalt, or signed an LOI and walked? Twelve structured questions, five minutes, anonymous. Nothing you write is shown until three sellers have answered.

From the field

Moderated · your name is shown, your email isn’t

Nothing on the record yet. First-hand experience with this buyer belongs here.

Add to the record

Worked with this buyer, competed with them, or know something the public record misses? Comments are held until an editor reads them; name and email are required, only the name is shown. Comments are the writer's own view, not Caldecott's.

Sources

Everything above, dated Sept 25, 2026

Alpine launches Cobalt (Dec 2023)

Alpine newsroom: launch (names Fund IX)

Four acquisitions (Apr 2024)

Digi Security Systems (Jun 2024)

Automatic Entrances of Wisconsin (Sep 2024)

Cobalt newsroom (all announcements)

Cobalt 'Our Companies' (close dates, cities)

Cobalt team page (people, headshots)

Why Cobalt (stated model, 45–60 days)

Chris Wise appointment (Jun 2026)

Jerry Fields essay

Chris Mitchell spotlight

SecurityInfoWatch: Hoffman interview

SecurityInfoWatch: DSI

Security Sales & Integration

SDM Magazine

Security Systems News

Infinity Capital (Digi advisor)

ServiceTitan partnership

Alpine Q&A: Tyler Hoffman

Alpine 2025 year in review

Alpine Fund IX

M&A Associate posting

Value Creation Associate posting

PitchBook company profile

TheOrg (aggregator)

Glassdoor: Piedmont

Glassdoor: Digi

Glassdoor: Cobalt

Capstone security M&A update (Feb 2026)

CT Acquisitions integrator multiples (2026)

FMI door-services PE brief (Mar 2026)

Unverified at publish: any revenue, EBITDA or headcount for the platform; deal terms, rollover or earnouts; the acquisition-debt lender and size; reporting lines; LinkedIn identities for Ruzic, Burman, Russell, Speidell, Palmer; whether Drew Dolan's 'Partnerships' role is M&A sourcing; current roles of Gaffney, Lund, Marquis, Herron beyond the announcements.