Willis Stein & Partners was a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout transactions for middle-market companies.

[6] Prior to founding the firm John Willis and Avy Stein were executives of Continental Illinois Venture Corp. (CIVC), the private equity arm of Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company.

[7] Since its inception in 1995, Willis Stein raised three private equity funds with nearly $3.0 billion of investor commitments.

[8] Willis & Stein Partners were known for purchasing for-profit educational institutions and consolidating resources for additional profit margins.

At one point they owned over 92 for-profit educational institutions, with plans to close 22 locations due to low profits.