Align Capital Partners (ACP) expanded with the hiring of seven new employees. ACP, a private equity firm that targets control investments in lower-middle-market companies, was founded in 2016 and closed its $325 million inaugural private equity investment fund in September.

Joining ACP’s Cleveland office are Rick Costello, operating partner; Katie Noggle, director of business development; Matt Beesley, vice president and Dustin Brode, associate.

Joining ACP’s Dallas office are Jonathan Vadiee, associate; Kurt Smentek, associate and Joey Delgado, executive assistant.

“We are excited to welcome all seven new hires to the Align Capital Partners team. They are incredibly talented and support our mission of bringing larger firm institutional best practices to lower-middle-market investing,” said Align Capital Partners Managing Partner and Co-Founder Rob Langley.

With these seven new hires, the team at Align Capital Partners now totals 11, including ACP’s three managing partners and co-founders, Steve Dyke, Chris Jones, and Rob Langley, as well as Jack Parks, a vice president in the Dallas office who joined ACP in July from middle-market private equity firm The Halifax Group.