Avathon Capital Acquires Summit Professional Education

Summit Professional Education Acquires The Knowledge Tree

April 28, 2025

Education

Summit Professional Education, an Avathon Capital portfolio company, has acquired The Knowledge Tree to expand its continuing education offerings into behavioral health, certification programs, and exam preparation. The Knowledge Tree's founder, Dr. Becky Beaton-York, will remain with Summit to lead mental health training and help integrate The Knowledge Tree's interactive virtual learning capabilities across Summit's catalog.

Summit Professional Education Acquires Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute

August 20, 2025

Healthcare Services

Summit Professional Education, an Avathon Capital portfolio company, has acquired Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Monroe Capital acted as sole lead arranger on a senior credit facility and provided an equity co-investment to support the acquisition; the combination aims to expand access to and innovation in pelvic health clinician education.

Avista Capital Partners Acquires Spear Education

December 19, 2022

Healthcare Services

Avista Capital Partners has acquired Spear Education, a Scottsdale-based provider of digital and in-person clinical training, practice analytics, and consulting solutions for the dental market, from Linden Capital Partners. Transaction terms were not disclosed; Avista said it will leverage its healthcare technology and dental sector experience to accelerate Spear's growth and expand its digital and membership offerings.

Summit Professional Education Acquires National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT)

November 25, 2024

Education

Summit Professional Education has acquired the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT), combining Summit’s tech-enabled continuing-education platform with NFPT’s NCCA‑accredited personal trainer certification programs. The deal will integrate NFPT’s certification offerings into Summit’s portfolio to deliver expanded specializations, mentorships, and career pathways across fitness and adjacent clinical care markets.

Avathon Capital Acquires Magical Beginnings Learning Centers

January 31, 2024

Education

Avathon Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on education and workforce investments, has acquired Magical Beginnings Learning Centers, a Massachusetts-based network of seven early childhood education centers operating in the Greater Boston area. Avathon named Mark Donovan as CEO, formed a new board chaired by Sarah Clabby, and the founder Linda Hassapis Bonfanti will move to a board director role as part of the transaction.

Avathon Capital Invests in ReUp Education

August 5, 2021

Education

Chicago-based Avathon Capital has made a growth investment in ReUp Education to accelerate the edtech company's product, technology, and coaching capabilities and expand its reach to adult learners. As part of the transaction Avathon will invest in engineering, digital marketing, learner experience, and data/analytics; ReUp also appointed Terah Crews as CEO to lead the next phase of growth.