Three Generations of Leadership

Our Founder
George L. Ohrstrom was born the son of Danish immigrants in Ford River, MI in 1895. He attended the University of Michigan and then joined the American Expeditionary Services in World War I, distinguishing himself as the last American aviator to shoot down an enemy plane before the armistice in 1918.

George Ohrstrom began his career in finance working at P.W. Chapman & Co., a Chicago-based brokerage firm. In 1926, George Ohrstrom founded the company bearing his name and focused on investment banking, brokerage and real estate development. In 1929, Ohrstrom sponsored the construction of the Bank of Manhattan building at 40 Wall Street, which, at the time, was the tallest building in the world.

By 1946, the firm shifted focus to the business of principal investment and began to acquire small industrial companies using a leveraged buy-out model. GLO & Co. focused on well-managed companies with high quality products, operating in markets that George Ohrstrom and his investors understood well. GLO & Co. purchased these well-run businesses and provided both the operating autonomy and incentive structure to allow these companies to flourish which, in turn provided a return to investors.

George Ohrstrom was an entrepreneur and a financier. His management philosophy shaped the businesses that the firm purchased over the years, and continues to guide the way in which we conduct our business today. (See Acquisition Philosophy)

GLO & Co. Evolution
In 1958, George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. joined GLO & Co. and during the ensuing years, worked with a small group of private investors, to acquire and successfully build up several businesses. Most notable among this group of companies was Roper Industries, Inc. purchased in 1982. Over the following 10 years, GLO & Co. supported management through a variety of growth stages and development plans in an effort to position the company for the public markets. In 1992, Roper was once again listed on the public markets and, although no longer under the auspice of GLO & Co., we have retained two seats on Roper's Board of Directors.

Sadly, on October 6th, 2005, George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. passed away at his home in Virginia from pneumonia. George Jr. will be remembered fondly at this firm for his leadership, entrepreneurial style, and outstanding business insight.

Today, under its third generation of family ownership, the firm is led by Wright Ohrstrom.

GLO & Co. Today
Today, four investment professionals staff GLO & Co. In the years ahead, we will continue to execute our simple, yet proven strategy, to "buy and build."