John Rosensweig

Managing Partner

With a background in engineering, supply chain management, and software development, John brings a unique blend of technical expertise and operational excellence to drive value creation for investors and foster innovation within the manufacturing sector.

John earned Highest Honors from Georgia Tech with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Management. His early career at Draper Laboratory involved working on DARPA funded projects as a testing and design engineer, which taught him about the needs of cutting edge mechanical design. Next, at Siemens, John honed his leadership abilities through the Engineering Leadership Development program, rotating through key business units including design engineering, product management, and manufacturing engineering.

Over the next decade, he held multiple roles at McMaster-Carr Supply Company that saw him managing marketing and sales efforts for 13 states, leading deep learning software projects, and ultimately overseeing Sourcing, an organization of 65 people. During this time, John implemented significant operational improvements based on simplifying existing processes and increasing the role technology played in daily work.

The experiences John gained at McMaster-Carr, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired him to found Vertex Growth Partners. Recognizing the critical role of small and medium manufacturing businesses in the nation's supply chain, John envisioned a company that would not only acquire and modernize manufacturing companies, but also keep jobs and manufacturing within America. Vertex Growth Partners aims to deliver better products faster and at lower costs by implementing innovative order planning strategies and optimizing operational efficiency across its portfolio.

John's investment philosophy is rooted in identifying and unlocking hidden value through strategic consolidation, operational improvements, and continuous investment in technology. He believes in building strong partnerships with the teams he leads, fostering collaboration, personal growth, and accountability.

John Shoemaker

Managing Partner

Prior to founding Vertex Growth Partners, John spent seven years at McMaster-Carr, a multi-billion-dollar industrial distributor, holding senior management roles. Most recently, he led the 75-person product launch organization responsible for bringing tens of thousands of products to market annually. Before that, he managed the pricing and finance departments, navigating unprecedented supply chain disruptions and material cost inflation during the pandemic.

Earlier in his career, John co-founded a fast-casual restaurant service in Los Angeles, Wake & Late (WNL), holding P&L responsibilities, managing inventory, hiring, and setting-up the initial operations. This laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial spirit and honed his problem-solving skills. WNL was bootstrapped to profitability and still has a team managing its three (soon to be five) locations in Southern California. Before starting WNL, Shoemaker worked at PA Consulting, a leading management and technology consulting firm based out of London, in its biotechnology and life sciences group. He primarily focused on investment research in the wearable space, performing due diligence on early-stage acquisition targets for a fortune-500 client.

John received a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University, and his MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and is an avid Cavs fan. John and his wife Ali reside in New York City, and he loves to golf, watch college basketball, and travel.