News Summary
Taylor Gahagen, husband of tennis pro Jessica Pegula, has established Dragos Capital, a private-equity firm aimed at investing in small businesses and commercial real estate. Operating alongside partners Keith Fields and George Tibil, Dragos Capital focuses on enhancing the performance of acquired businesses. Notably, the firm has seen a 75% revenue increase in a ServiceMaster franchise. With recent investments in retail properties and plans for further acquisitions, Dragos Capital aims for stable, long-term returns and active involvement in its ventures.
Buffalo, New York – Taylor Gahagen, the husband of tennis professional Jessica Pegula, has launched a new private-equity firm named Dragos Capital, partnering with friends Keith Fields and George Tibil to focus on investing in businesses and commercial real estate. The firm’s primary objective is to acquire and enhance small businesses while establishing a robust portfolio in commercial real estate.
A seasoned investment analyst, Gahagen has over 13 years of experience working within the Pegula family’s sports and business operations. His new endeavor, Dragos Capital, hopes to tap into the promising returns of local businesses and strategic real estate developments. Within just 18 months of its inception, the firm successfully acquired a local franchise of ServiceMaster Clean, which has led to a significant increase in both employee count and business performance. The franchise now employs a total of 70 people and has seen a 75 percent surge in revenue over the past year, ranking it as the 11th fastest-growing location among approximately 450 ServiceMaster branches across the U.S. and Canada within the health care and manufacturing sectors.
As part of its growth strategy, Dragos Capital recently partnered with Blue Zone Capital to purchase 18 retail properties anchored by CVS across 12 states. The acquisition falls within a price range of $50 million to $100 million. All retail properties will be leased under long-term agreements, with reliable rent payments from CVS and an additional sublease arrangement involving a liquor and convenience store.
Dragos Capital emphasizes the need for investments in properties with strong, creditworthy tenants, particularly in the retail, self-storage, and commercial property sectors. This strategy seeks to ensure stable, long-term returns, which is essential for sustaining the firm’s growth trajectory. Gahagen’s previous experience with the Pegula sports empire is invaluable and aids in navigating the complexities of the private-equity landscape.
Originally from Amherst, New York, Gahagen earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s in business administration from Canisius University. He began his career with the Pegulas in 2013, joining the Buffalo Sabres as one of its pioneering employees. His relationship with Jessica Pegula commenced after they met at a happy hour in 2011, leading them to an engagement in 2019 and marriage in October 2021.
Joining Gahagen in this business venture are George Tibil, 36, who hails from Romania and specializes in finance and risk valuation, and Keith Fields, 39, a Marine Corps veteran with a proven track record in mergers and acquisitions. Together, this trio operates as the managing partners at Dragos Capital. Tibil is connected to Jessica Pegula through his wife, who has known the tennis star since their shared homeschooling experiences in Florida.
While Fields and Tibil oversee the operational aspects of Dragos Capital and the ServiceMaster franchise, Gahagen continues to manage wealth creation initiatives with Agarwood Wealth. The team has revitalized a previously dormant ServiceMaster franchise, turning it into an impressive, thriving business in a competitive marketplace.
Looking forward, Dragos Capital is currently exploring the potential acquisition of an $80 million real estate portfolio, further solidifying its ambitions in the private-equity realm. The partners emphasize the importance of active partnership and engagement in the operations of their investments, beyond mere financial contributions, to drive success and growth.
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Additional Resources
- People: All About Jessica Pegula’s Parents
- Google Search: Jessica Pegula
- Buffalo News: Jessica Pegula Article
- Wikipedia: Jessica Pegula
- SI: Jessica Pegula and Bills Fans
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Tennis
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