Yonah Group, led by Army veterans Michael Maniaci and Miles Kirwin, recently announced the acquisition of the Pella Windows & Doors distributorship serving Connecticut and parts of New York, known as Pella CT-NY. The transaction marks a “strategic” investment in the region’s home improvement market and reflecting a surge in veteran-led business acquisitions, Yonah Group officials said.
Maniaci and Kirwin met in 2014 as students at the U.S. Army Ranger School. After leading soldiers in complex environments, both went on to build careers in the private sector—Maniaci as a building products investment banker at Credit Suisse and Raymond James, and Kirwin as a management consultant at Deloitte and chief of staff at a tech startup. Kirwin also continues to serve in the New York Army National Guard.
Company officials say the two are part of a growing cohort of veterans using the “search fund” model to acquire and operate established businesses with long-term potential. The duo is also from the region: Kirwin grew up between Westchester and Litchfield Counties, and Maniaci is a West Point graduate.
“We’ve spent our careers leading teams in high-stress environments. Now we’re channeling that experience into building a customer-first, locally-owned business,” said Kirwin, co-owner of Pella CT-NY.
“This is more than a business—it’s a platform to create great jobs, serve the community, and deliver industry leading products from the top window and door brand in the U.S.,” said Maniaci, co-owner of Pella CT-NY. “We’re investing in talent, technology, and training to make Pella CT-NY the top choice in the market.”
Pella CT-NY serves homeowners, builders and architects across Connecticut and New York’s Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties.
The acquisition marks a successful transition for longtime owner-operator Desmond Rea, who spent decades growing Pella CT-NY.
“After many years of building this business with an incredible team, it was important to find the right successors—people with integrity, grit, and a long-term vision,” said Rea. “From the moment I met Michael and Miles, I knew they were the right fit to lead Pella CT-NY into its next chapter.”
Pella Corp. was founded in 1925. The CT-NY branch will continue to operate independently as an exclusive distributor, supported by Pella’s national resources and product innovation.