Colfax Creek isn’t just a name; it’s Colfax Creek’s origin story.
The Origin of Colfax Creek was when I set out to build a firm that invests permanent capital in Great Lakes businesses. I knew the name had to mean something. It had to reflect my values, my upbringing, and the long-term relationships that matter most to me. Not just a brand, but a piece of who I am.
Finding the Right Name – Origin of Colfax Creek
At first, I made a long list of names, drawn from streets, rivers, and natural features across Michigan. But something didn’t sit right. My journey didn’t start in “The Mitten.” It began in Colfax, Illinois—a farming town of 1,036 people. That’s where I learned the meaning of hard work, trust, and showing up for your neighbors.
One day, while scrolling around on Google Maps, I noticed something surprising. The small stream that ran behind our cornfields—the one we always called “the Crick”—had a real name: Colfax Creek.
That was it. The name I had been searching for.
Down by the Crick
I grew up on a corn and soybean farm just outside of town. That little stream cut through the back end of our fields, about a half-mile from home. It was my childhood playground and classroom. I fished, waded, built forts, floated inner tubes, and spent countless hours out there with my siblings and friends.
That stream wasn’t just water. It was where I learned imagination, grit, and resourcefulness. After long days of walking beans and hauling sweet corn, we’d cool off in “the Crick”—a reward for a job well done. I watched my dad and the neighboring farmers help each other out, season after season. No contracts. Just trust.
Those early lessons—earned under open skies—still guide how I work today.
Why It Matters
At Colfax Creek, we do more than invest. We partner with owners who’ve built something enduring—and want to see it last. See how we helped GLE Precision do just that. We use permanent capital to buy and grow great Midwest manufacturers for the long haul, always with a people-first, values-driven approach.
The name reminds me of where I came from. And why I do this.
If that sounds like your kind of partner, I’d love to hear your story.
Jason Duzan
Managing Partner
Jason@colfaxcreek.com