Private equity portfolio firm Omnia Exterior Solutions, one of the roofing industry’s early entrants into the ‘growth through acquisition’ business model, has acquired James & Whitney Company, a residential roofing and exteriors company operating in Maine and New Hampshire. 

The partnership marks Omnia’s eighth consummated partnership in 2024 and the final acquisition of the year, the company said in a Dec. 5 news release. Omnia, formed in 2023 by New York-based CCMP Growth Advisors, LP, has expanded into 11 brands since its inception.   

Omnia relayed that James & Whitney Co., a relatively new enterprise, was founded by partners Eric James and Steve Whitney eight years ago. Each merged their contracting companies into a partnership that was now taking the next step by entering a private equity portfolio firm. 

In describing how James & Whitney Co.'s founders complemented each other’s skills, it was reminiscent of the 'ideal' company Omnia’s Chairman Jim Ziminski described he would want to work with during a 2023 interview with Roofing Contractor magazine shortly after he and his partner Mike Blumenfeld launched the portfolio company.

“One of the things I heard was a lot of the owners are cashing out, but their workers, the people who helped build the business, felt like, ‘What about me? Where [do] I fit in this thing,’” Ziminski said back then. “And, one of our tenants was we wanted to make sure those folks had opportunities to invest and also get some options in the business so they were financially engaged in the success of the overall platform.”

Ziminski said of Omnia’s latest acquisition, “James and Whitney’s commitment to a 5-star experience aligns with our mission. We’re excited to welcome one of the best roofing and remodeling companies in the Northeast to our platform and look forward to the benefits this partnership will bring.”

Omnia said that Ryan McCaslin has been named president of James & Whitney Co. and that he and Ziminski are bullish on the acquisition’s long-term success. 

“Our team, our people, and the way we operate offer unique advantages to Omnia partners,” he said. “Our people are so good, there’s a lot of depth and talent and a key objective for us has always been to help as many people as possible – clients and employees; this really is all about them.”

For more information, visit omniaexteriorsolutions.com.