team
Our team at
ElmCreek Partners

ElmCreek Partners is a Dallas-based private investment firm. Founded in 2007, ElmCreek Partners seeks to make control equity investments in lower-middle market companies.

Aaron Handler
Managing Partner and Founder

Aaron is responsible for sourcing and closing transactions, identifying the firm's capital and operating partners and finding instances to be value-added to all stakeholders over the lifecycle of an investment.

Prior to co-founding ElmCreek Partners, Aaron spent over five years with Red River Ventures executing a similar investment strategy and serving as a director for several of its portfolio companies. Previously, Aaron was a part of the business development group at ServiceLane.com and spent three years with the Corporate Finance Department of Southwest Securities (NYSE: SWS).

Aaron serves or previously served on a number of community boards and steering committees, including Boy Scouts of America’s Troop 70, Congregation Shaare Tefilla, the Foundation for the Dallas Home for the Jewish Aged, the Dallas Hebrew Free Loan Association and Chabad of Dallas. Aaron is married with three children and is a graduate of both Boston University (BA, cum laude with Distinction) and TCU (MBA).

While Aaron is a passionate investor and advocate for ElmCreek’s portfolio and management teams, he’s also a frustrated photographer. You can find his work on Instagram @aaronhandler.

Contact Info:
(214) 871-5655 [t]
aaron@elmcreekpartners.com

J.J. Barto
Operating Partner

Partnering with private family offices and private investors, J.J., has over 20-years experience as an investor and operator in lower middle market operating companies. He is responsible for diligence, operations, capital raising and growth management.

Prior to Elm Creek Partners, J.J. worked in various private capacities as an advisor and operating partner to Family offices and Private Equity.  His career has primarily focused on manufacturing, natural resources, building products and distribution operating companies, J.J. creates value by leveraging the perspective as an investor, operator, and executive in ‘old economy’ enterprises. A lifelong carpenter, J.J. started his professional career as a homebuilder. Before working with privately held companies, was a channel manager for the Stanley Works, manufacturing, and marketing mechanics tools globally.

J.J. gives back by serving on several philanthropic and civic boards, including the Covenant School of Dallas, Philanthropy Southwest, Ambassadors Impact Network among others. J.J. has been married for almost 25 years and is the incredibly proud father of three rapidly growing young men.   J.J. holds a degree in Letters from the University of Oklahoma, an MBA from Southern Methodist University, and an executive degree from Texas A&M University.