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 30-year career in the middle market, Jason has sourced, structured and managed more than 150 private debt 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.
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.
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.
Arun Gowda
Strategic Advisor and Operating Partner
Arun is currently the Managing Partner of Broadpeak Ventures, a private investment company that invests in high growth companies across a range of industries including financial services, technology, and health care. Previously he was a Managing Director, UBS Asset Management, O’Connor Alternatives Group, a $5bn global investment firm where he led business development for the private credit business. Prior to that, he was Managing Director of Guggenheim Fund Services, a private hedge fund investment platform backed by $1.6bn of assets from institutional investors including insurance companies and wealth managers. Mr. Gowda joined Guggenheim from senior positions in structured hedge fund products and derivatives at UBS Investment Bank, London and Morgan Stanley. He began his career as a software development engineer for Hewlett Packard. Mr. Gowda received an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.E., summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University.
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.