Endurance Capital Acquires WDI Company
April 1, 2026
Endurance Capital—a Plymouth, Minnesota-based firm focused on making long term investments in private businesses—has acquired WDI Company, a custom wood manufacturer headquartered in Forest Lake, Minnesota.
Founded in a barn over 80 years ago, WDI has grown into a leading custom wood manufacturer specializing in the design and production of high-quality custom wood products serving building product distributors, contractors, and specialty retail markets. The company is particularly well known for its prefabricated window trim kits – which are custom manufactured to match exact window dimensions and arrive pre-finished and ready for installation—helping contractors significantly reduce installation time while improving consistency and quality.
In addition to its window trim solutions, WDI manufactures pre-coped interior trim and millwork systems, designed to simplify interior trim installation for professional contractors and remodelers. The company also produces custom wood boxes, displays, and specialty packaging products used by companies across a wide range of industries for premium retail packaging, product displays, and promotional items.
Under the leadership of former owner and CEO, Jim Kohler, WDI Company has built a strong reputation for craftsmanship, innovation, and customer service while serving customers throughout the United States.
Jim’s son and longtime general manager, Nick Kohler, has joined the ownership group and will succeed his father as CEO of WDI. Nick has played a key leadership role in WDI’s operations for many years and will continue to lead the company’s team and strategic growth.
Jim Kohler said:
“Leading WDI Company has been one of the great privileges of my life. As I began thinking about the future of the company, it was important to find a partner who values our employees, customers, and the reputation we have built over many years. Endurance Capital shares those values, and I am confident they are the right partner for the next chapter of WDI. I am especially proud to see Nick step into the CEO role and continue building on the foundation we created.”
Nick Kohler added:
“WDI has always been a company built on strong relationships and pride in craftsmanship. Our team has developed products that help customers work faster and achieve better finished results. Partnering with Endurance Capital will allow us to invest further in our people, expand capabilities, and continue delivering exceptional products to customers across the country.”
Dan Kammerer, longtime part owner and Vice President of Sales, will remain with the company and help support the leadership transition. Kammerer said, “WDI has always been about great people and great products. I’m excited to continue working with our customers and team members as we transition into this next chapter. Nick has been deeply involved in the business for many years, and with the support of Endurance Capital, I’m confident the company will continue to grow while staying true to the values that have made WDI successful.”
Endurance Capital believes WDI Company’s longstanding reputation, skilled workforce, and innovative product offerings will position the business well for continued growth.
Learn more about WDI Company at wdicustomwood.com
About Endurance Capital
Endurance Capital is a private long-term investment holding company and asset manager. Unlike traditional private equity, which seeks to extract as much value as quickly as possible for the benefit of a few, our goal is to acquire great assets and provide patient capital to create value for all stakeholders over the long term. We believe that by investing and building for the long term, our investments will avoid the havoc caused by short-term volatility in our economy, which will result in stronger long-term returns.
Simply put, our mission is to make investments on behalf of our partners in quality businesses that will withstand the test of time.
Future Opportunities
Our team is actively pursuing investments that align with our philosophy of enduring equity. We are currently evaluating several potential acquisitions that exhibit strong leadership, sustainable business models, and the potential for long-term value creation. Our disciplined approach ensures that we remain selective, focusing on quality over quantity.
While we are industry agnostic, we are currently most interested in opportunities involving infrastructure and utility contracting and maintenance, niche manufacturing, and self-storage.
We are keeping close tabs on both micro and macroeconomic trends, particularly heightened interest rates, and constrained capital markets. The phrase “higher for longer” seems to be reality which continues to present attractive valuations for new acquisitions in our preferred industries.
Our Focus
Long-Term Partnerships
Building relationships with businesses and management teams that share our vision for enduring success.
Operational Excellence
Supporting our portfolio companies in achieving operational efficiencies and strategic growth.
Community Impact
Investing in companies that contribute positively to their communities and industries.
