Duane Cantrell

Managing Partner

Duane brings extensive senior executive corporate domestic and international experience to Fulcrum Global Capital, LLC with recognized accomplishments in leadership and strategic positioning.

Cantrell brought his expertise in leading other organizations through transformational change to the Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA) in 2012 as its President and CEO where he led the organization to attract and grow the bioscience sector as an economic growth engine for the state of Kansas. His extensive background in growing companies in tough competitive environments served the mission of the KBA and the entrepreneurial companies in its portfolio of investments.

Duane came to the KBA from his role as managing partner of Genus Consulting, LLC where he worked closely with equity fund managers on valuation, management and market assessment for investment and divestiture decisions. Duane is also an owner in Karis Management Group, LLC (Real Estate Development and Property Management).

Previously, and for more than 25 years, Duane worked at Payless ShoeSource, Inc., ultimately as president and director, guiding a $185 million regional footwear retailer with 575 stores to a 5,000-store international footwear company with revenues of $3 billion with operations in more than 10 countries. Duane spent over 30 years in the retail industry with responsibilities including merchandising, marketing, retail operations, supply chain and distribution, information technology, real estate and construction, and international operations and development (Serving as Chairman of the International Division joint venture subsidiary).

Active in the civic and service sectors, Duane currently serves on the board of Invest Midwest, Talam Biotech, Vytelle Holdings, Inc., GreenDot Bioplastics and previously served on board of TeleSense Technologies, as board chair and member of Hiper Technology, a Lawrence, Kan.-based high tech carbon fiber plastics manufacturer and materials innovator. He also previously served as chair of GTM Sportswear Board, an importer and direct-to-consumer custom sportswear provider. Additionally, previous service included his role as chair of the Kansas State University Foundation Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, co-chaired a $500 million KSU Changing Lives campaign; served as chair of the Asset Management Committee, board chair of the KSU College of Business Administration; and on the Greater Topeka United Way Board of Directors. In 2003, Cantrell was named a Kansas State University College of Business Administration-Distinguished Alumni Fellow in recognition of his contributions and accomplishments in his business career.

Duane earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Kansas State University and an Executive MBA from Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.