Our Team
Jason D. Drattell
Founder
Jason is the Founder of Praesidian Capital and plays a key role with sourcing, due diligence, structuring, and execution of investments at Praesidian Capital.
Over a 40 year career in the middle market, Jason has sourced, structured and managed more than 200 private capital transactions.
Prior to founding Praesidian Capital, Jason was one of three Founding Partners responsible for the formation of The Blackstone Group's $1.14 billion mezzanine fund. Earlier experience includes senior positions at Heller Financial and Chemical Bank.
He received his BBA in Finance from Pace University.
Tom Duffy
Partner
Tom's responsibilities include financial analysis, due diligence, execution of new investments, and deal sourcing for Praesidian Capital. He also contributes to the firm's European fund as an Investment Director.
Before joining Praesidian in 2012, Tom worked as an Associate within Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Leadership Training Program. During his time in the program, he was involved with all aspects of deal flow including prospecting new business, analyzing financial statements and working on varied capital structures for middle market companies. While pursuing his MBA degree, Tom worked as an Assistant Vice-President within a Structured Derivatives Group at BAML. Prior to joining Bank of America, he worked at Morgan Stanley in their International Settlements Department.
He received his MBA in Investment Management from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University and a BS in Finance from Siena College.
Kevin Burke
Managing Director
Kevin’s responsibilities include deal sourcing, financial analysis, due diligence, and execution of new investments. Prior to joining Praesidian Kevin served as a Managing Director for Quail Springs Capital as well as CEO for several of its operating entities ranging from start ups to $50million in annual revenue. His experience includes strategic planning, growth through acquisition, real-estate negotiations, and business turnarounds. Earlier in his career he worked as VP of Business Development for Waterloo Holdings, LLC where he focused on acquisitions, business onboarding, and growth plan execution for portfolio companies. Kevin received his MBA from the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University and a BS from the University of Oklahoma.
Linda Dignelli
Administrative Officer
Linda joined Praesidian as an Administrative Officer in 2016. She is responsible for organizing and managing office operations, monitoring fund expenses and bookkeeping procedures, coordinating investor distributions, and controlling correspondence.
She received a B.A. from the College of New Rochelle, with a major in Psychology and Special Education.
Ernie McKee
Analyst
Ernie’s responsibilities include analysis, due diligence and executing on investments along with monitoring portfolio investments. Before joining Praesidian in 2023, Ernie worked at OneGas where he was involved in pipeline engineering. His past work experience includes working as a field engineer with Halliburton focused on assets in the Anadarko and Permian Basin. He earned his Professional Engineering License in 2021. He received his MBA and an M.S. in Finance from the University of Oklahoma, where he also earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.
David C. Blatte
Operating Partner
David began his career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) where he spent 15 years investing capital and general banking in the Consumer sector. After CSFB’s acquisition of DLJ in 2000, David was a Partner at Catterton Partners and then Centre Partners, both middle market PE funds, where he continued to invest in consumer companies.
David participated in raising financing during the infancy of many of today’s “Name Brand” companies such as: Starbucks, COSTCO, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Five Below, Build-a-Bear Workshops, and Quickie Manufacturing.
In 2012, seeing the paradigm of the pet industry changing (pet ownership and the “humanization” of pets), David changed gears and founded (and was CEO) Quaker Pet Group, (now Worldwise, Inc.), a pet accessory and manufacturing company, which through a series of mergers is now one of the largest pet accessory companies in the USA. David served as Chairman of Worldwise until he sold the company in 2021.
David sits on the Board of several consumer companies where he helps with strategy, operations, and M&A. My proudest achievement in my life is my family - Stacee my wife, my three children, and my golden retriever (they make me feel like a champion every day)!
David graduated from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Joseph Wharton Scholar.
Michael Fernandez
Operating Partner
Michael is an accomplished executive with more than 25 years of experience leading middle market enterprises. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Universal Holding Group (“Universal”), a minority-owned investment firm which makes investments in privately held small businesses, focusing on minority-owned companies. Prior to founding Universal, Mr. Fernandez founded MCG, a health care communication and training company which he grew to become a leading health care solutions company, offering a multitude of services to the pharmaceutical industry. In 2011, he merged MCG with a national exhibit house and led the combined organization as CEO. Prior to founding MCG, Mr. Fernandez successfully operated several pharmacies during the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Mr. Fernandez graduated from the St. John’s School of Pharmacy.
Bradley L. Grow
Operating Partner
Brad’s responsibilities include capital, debt and business structure, financial due diligence, tax strategies and executing on investments. Before joining the group, Brad was with Deloitte & Touche in the UK and later with Grant Thornton in the US. When in public accounting he serviced clients in several countries and various industries and businesses and has over 40 years’ experience. After public accounting he became CFO of a NASDAQ national market company until its sale in 2006. Brad received a BS in accounting from Tulsa University (where he lettered in football) and an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a CPA and CGMA. He is also a member of various international and state societies of accounting.
Lee Rosenthal
Operating Partner
Lee has enjoyed a long track record of success in the fashion/apparel industry. He has been involved with Depeche Mode Clothing Company, a NY based designer and manufacturer of moderately priced women’s apparel, for the past 36 years, the past 20 years as majority owner and CEO. Lee is well versed in all aspects of manufacturing and design as well as e-commerce platforms. He has significant experience with supply chain management having traveled extensively throughout Asia developing factories and cultivating relationships. His hobbies include motorcycling through the country and is an avid reader.
Howard Dennis
Operating Partner
Howard is co-Founder and Managing Partner of Hazen Creek Advisory, providing transaction due diligence and CFO services to private investment firms and lower middle market companies.
Previously he was a Managing Director at BDO USA and FTI Consulting leading advisory engagements involving M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, and office of the CFO services.
Earlier experience includes senior leadership roles at Xerox Corporation involved in business development, new venture technology start-ups, and corporate reorganization / process improvement initiatives.
Howard received his B.A. in Accounting / Finance from Moravian University.
Tim Clark
Operating Partner
Tim Clark has over 25 years of experience in principal investing and M&A transaction origination/execution/financing across a wide range of industries.
Since 2015, he has been Managing Director of Hall Capital, a private investment family office. Prior to joining Hall Capital, Tim was Managing Director for over nine years at Gridiron Capital, an institutional middle-market private equity firm.
Previously, Tim worked in investment banking for Morgan Stanley, Bankers Trust and Warburg Dillon Read in London and New York in leveraged finance, high yield and merchant banking.
Prior to banking, Tim played professional baseball in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Tim graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.A. in economics and played varsity football and baseball. He received his M.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.