As Managing Partner, Rick Nagel leads the strategic direction of firm and its portfolio assets.

He first served Acorn as an Advisory Board Member and in 2004, joined as a partner and founded the firm’s private equity practice. Since, he has led the firm’s geographic footprint, fund operations, fundraising activity, investment deal generation, portfolio merger integrations, company performance improvement and organizational effectiveness.

Prior to joining Acorn, Nagel was managing director of Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity, where he led several revitalization and transformation strategies that spanned high growth enterprises and successful turnarounds. In this capacity, he managed and led several companies in Platinum’s information technology and telecommunications portfolio, which included DCA Services, Matrix Telecommunications, and numerous bolt-on acquisitions. He joined DCA in 1995 before WorldCom divested it to Platinum in 1997 and was named president of DCA in 1999.

He is a recipient of the Oklahoma Journal Records’ Achiever’s Under 40 Award and a seven-time "Metro 50" winner as CEO or Chairman of four different companies, two of which are currently operated by Acorn.

Nagel is a current member of the Board of Governors for the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the Oklahoma Aerospace Association, and the US Air Force Association.  He serves on the Board of Directors for the State Chamber of Oklahoma, is a member of Rotary International and the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Nagel has served as President and is currently on the Board of the Oklahoma County Boys and Girls Clubs, is the acting President of the Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs for the State of Oklahoma, and serves on the National Government Relations Committee for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

He is the Chairman of Maverick PAC and campaign treasurer for US Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK, Appropriations & Rules), a position he also served for former US Congressman JC Watts.  Nagel is also a former Finance Chairman for the Oklahoma Republican Party.  

A Phillips 66 Scholar, Nagel holds a B.S. degree from the University of Oklahoma's College of Engineering in Environmental Science.