In a new book, former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar makes a connection to plastics investor Stewart Kohl.
Kosar — who spent 12 seasons in the NFL, including nine with the Cleveland Browns — recently looked back on his career in the book, titled Learning to Scramble. In its Acknowledgments section, Kosar thanks several people and offers "a heartfelt thank you to Stewart Kohl, who has inspired me with his business guidance and his deep, genuine love of Cleveland."
Kohl is co-CEO of Riverside Co., a Cleveland-based private equity firm whose holdings include PVC window extruder Sunrise Windows; BeGreen Packaging, a maker of bio-based molded fiber products; overhead door maker European Panel Co. (EPCO) and Xcentric Mold & Engineering, a high-tech injection molder and mold maker.
He and his wife, Donna, also are among the founders of VeloSano, a charity biking event held annually in the Cleveland area.
In an email, Kohl said he became friends with Kosar from Cleveland-area events and through mutual connections. He described Kosar as "a smart and good person … and someone who cares deeply for Cleveland."
On a personal note, the Kosar-Kohl connection brings a smile to my face. I grew up in Warren, Ohio, not far from Kosar's hometown of Boardman. He was an icon in high school who went on to win a national title at the University of Miami and to lead the Browns to five straight playoff appearances.
Kosar last played in 1996, but to this day, my family has a framed photo at our house of Kosar calling a play in the snow while with the Browns. Being a Browns fan will make you do things like this.
And Kohl is one of the nicest and most knowledgable people I've met in my time covering the plastics market. None of the stereotypes that apply to private equity professionals apply to Stewart Kohl.
So for me it's a win-win. Which sadly is two more wins than the Browns have this season.
Be that as it may: Here we go, Brownies, here we go!