Richard A. Strait

Mr. Strait is an Investment Committee Partner and advisor for Avante Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based private credit and structured equity fund manager that invests in lower middle market companies. He joined Avante in 2019 after retiring from Northwestern Mutual Capital as a managing director. During his 37-year career with NMC, he led portfolios investing in private debt, direct private equity, and private equity funds focused on the U.S. and European markets. He previously served as an independent director of a branded and private label food and food ingredients company and an online retailer of home furnishings and lighting, both privately owned.

In addition to serving on the UW Department of Economics Alumni Advisory Board, Mr. Strait has been a long-time board member, former investment committee chair, and currently board chair of the Jewish Home & Care Center Foundation (Milwaukee).  He is a former board member and officer of COA Youth and Family Centers (Milwaukee).

Mr. Strait earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin—Madison and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  He lives in suburban Milwaukee with his wife Sue, also a UW–Madison graduate.  They have two daughters who are proud Big 10 alumni (one Badger, one Wildcat).