Team

Michael A. Pucker

Chairman & CEO

DNS family member since: Inception

Prior professional stuff:

• Latham & Watkins, LLP (Partner, 1999–present)
• A few other law firms (1989–1999)

Education:

• Columbia University School of Law (J.D., 1988)
• Columbia College, Columbia University (B.A., 1983)

Favorite cartoon character(s): Grumpy, Calvin

Jason Schroeder

Managing Director

DNS family member since: 2015

Prior professional stuff:

• Goldman Sachs
  • Private Equity Associate in Principal Investment Area, 2013–2015
  • Private Equity Analyst in Principal Investment Area, 2011–2013
  • Investment Banking Analyst in Tech, Media & Telecom, 2009–2011

Education:

• University of Wisconsin–Madison (B.S. in Finance, 2009)

Fun fact: My family owns a seed potato farm in Northern Wisconsin.

Alan Bakhos

General Counsel

DNS family member since: 2018

Prior professional stuff:

• Newmark Knight Frank (Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, 2017–2018)
• Latham & Watkins, LLP (Associate, 2011–2017)

Education:

• Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (J.D. cum laude, 2011)
• Northwestern University (B.A. in Economics and Political Science, 2007)

Favorite cartoon character: Marvin the Martian

Lauren Hirsch

Chief Administrative Officer

DNS family member since: 2014

Education:

• Northwestern University (Master of Science in Learning & Organizational Change, Current)
• Northwestern University (Certificate in Leadership & Management, 2020)
• Elon University (B.S. in Business Administration, 2013)

Fun fact: Lauren serves as a member of the Children’s Service Board (CSB) benefiting Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Emily Casey Brown

Vice President

DNS family member since: 2016

Prior professional stuff:

• Goldman Sachs (Investment Banking Analyst, Global Industrials Group, 2014–2016)

Education:

• Stanford Graduate School of Business (M.B.A., 2022)
• University of Iowa (B.B.A. in Finance, Highest Distinction, 2014)

Fun fact: Completed the World Marathon Majors circuit.

Brian Stal

Director of GSD

DNS family member since: 2019

Prior professional stuff:

• The Pritzker Organization (Principal, 2013–2018)
• Monitor Group (Manager, 2010–2012)
• Peak6 Investments (Senior Trader, 2003–2008)

Education:

• University of Chicago Booth School of Business (M.B.A., 2008)
• University of Wisconsin–Madison (B.S. in Economics, Honors and Distinction, 2003)

Favorite cartoon character: Homer Simpson

Lizzie Osmundson

Senior Counsel

DNS Family member since: 2024

Role at DNS: Senior Counsel

Prior Professional Stuff:

DLA Piper LLP (US)
Associate, 2019-2024

Dentons US LLP
Associate, 2017-2019

Education:

Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., 2017)
Northwestern University (B.A., 2012)

Fun Fact or Cartoon Character: Mushu, Mulan

George Lyman

Associate

DNS Family Member since: 2023

Role at DNS: Associate

Prior Professional Stuff: Blackstone (Private Equity Analyst, Strategic Partners, 2021 – 2023)

Education:  University of Notre Dame (B.B.A. in Finance and Applied Mathematics, 2021)

Fun Fact: I’ve played in the National Spikeball Tournament.

Charles Tollinche

Senior Advisor

DNS family member since: 2017

Prior professional stuff:

• MSD Capital (Managing Director, 2007–2016)
• Thoma Cressey Equity Partners (Principal, 2005–2007)
• Warburg Pincus (Associate, 2001–2005)

Education:

• Harvard Business School (M.B.A., 2001)
• Harvard College (B.A. in Economics, 1995)

Favorite cartoon character(s): Bambi (youngest daughter’s favorite) or Sven from Frozen (middle and oldest daughters’ favorite).