Duane is the co-founder of Author Capital Partners. He has 20 years of experience investing in and advising closely-held businesses across the U.S.

Prior to founding Author Capital, Duane served as an investment professional at BDT & MSD Partners, an investment platform built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. His responsibilities at BDT & MSD included sourcing and executing middle market investments in closely-held businesses and leading research initiatives.

Prior to his tenure at BDT & MSD, Duane served as an investment professional at Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on market leading enterprise software and technology businesses. At Vista, he evaluated and executed investments, including completing the take-private of an electronic health records company. He also supported the implementation of standard operating procedures within a Vista portfolio company, sitting in-house alongside the management team.

During the global financial crisis, Duane assisted U.S. Treasury Department officials in developing and implementing the government’s response, serving as a member of the Chief Investment Office for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

He began his career as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, advising financial institutions and industrials clients on M&A and capital raising initiatives.

Duane earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA in finance and international business from the George Washington University. He has also completed several executive education courses at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

He serves as an Investor-in-Residence at the Polsky Center at Chicago Booth, offering insight and advice to MBA candidates, and believes in the power of education to transform lives, proudly serving on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Lake Forest Academy.