Clarence Nixon, Jr.
Managing Director

Dr. Clarence Nixon, Jr. has twenty-three years of business operations and management consulting experience in the Fund’s target industries.  He currently is Co-Chairman of Acquire One, LLC, a private equity firm which he co-founded in the fall of 2007 as well as University Professor at University of Detroit where he teaches business transformation.  .  Prior to co-founding Acquire One, Dr. Nixon spent ten years as founding and managing partner of CNC Group, LLC, a business consulting firm he founded in 1999, specializing in “business transformation” or turnaround management, and during three of those years served as President and CEO of Real Times II, the largest publisher of African American newspapers in the U.S.  Dr. Nixon spent eighteen years in operation and management positions in the Michigan automotive industry – Chrysler Corporation from 1986 to 1994 and General Motors from 1976 to1986, followed by five years as Chief Information Officer in major corporations such as Sarah Lee, ALCOA and American Cyanamid Company. 

Dr. Nixon received a Ph.D., in Management from Wayne State University; a Masters of Science Administration (M.S.A) in Management from Central Michigan University; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Upper Iowa University.  He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Advocate Health Care, Chief Executive Graduate Board, The Woodland Community Development Corporation, CEOs for Cities and Hales Franciscan Board of Trustees.   Dr. Nixon is an advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank.

Claude Purches
Managing Director

Mr. Claude W. Purches is a highly skilled global automotive expert. He has 40 plus years of procurement and management experience within the domestic and global automotive industries. Mr. Purches is a director, automotive segments, of Acquireone. Prior to Acquireone, Mr. Purches was President of C.W. Purches Inc. an automotive sourcing and business development firm founded in 2002. Mr. Purches organically built and developed a diverse global client base including Metallurgica Mardel of Brazil, Icofer Technologies of Brazil, and joint venture clients Ford of Brazil, Kaxia International, and Shanghai General Motors.

Prior to founding C.W. Purches Inc., Mr. Purches spent 30 years in manufacturing and procurement for General Motors Corporation,-Powertrain Divison. Mr. Purches was a key leader in the company’s highly successful joint ventures, including Shanghai-General Motors’ Vehicle and PATAC (Technology Joint Venture ). Mr. Purches’ was a major contributor in joint venture negotiations, new supplier assessment and developing processes for transferring critical technology from General Motors to key suppliers in China.

Mr. Purches received a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and completed post-graduate courses in supply chain and manufacturing technology at Eastern Michigan University. Mr. Purches is also a graduate of the Leadership and Global Enterprise Program of the American Graduate School of International Management - Thunderbird.

Joyce W. Washington
Managing Director

Ms. Joyce W. Washington has twenty-nine years of business operations and management consulting experience in the Fund’s target industries.  She currently is Co-Chairman of Acquire One, LLC, a private equity firm which she co-founded in the fall of 2007, and also serves as President & CEO of The Washington Group, Ltd., which provides a broad spectrum of consulting services for business clients in the healthcare, technology and media industries.  Prior to co-founding Acquire One and The Washington Group, Ms. Washington spent nineteen years of increasing responsibility in the healthcare and hospital industry as Vice President, Ambulatory Services, Advocate Healthcare  from 1999 to 2002;  COO of Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago from 1997-1999, , and CEO and other executive positions with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) from 1983 to 1997.

Ms. Washington received a Masters of Public Administration from Indiana State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana. .Ms. Washington currently serves on the Boards of Directors of DuSable Museum where she co-chairs the capital campaign, Woodlawn Community Development Corporation, Hales Franciscan High School and Advocate South Suburban Hospital Board of Governors; as well as a member of Chicago Economic Club and The Chicago Network. She hosts’ a community focused weekly TV talk show on Chicago Access Network. Ms. Washington launched two competitive political campaigns - Lieutenant Governor and United States Senator in 2002 and 2004 respectively. 

The Acquire One management team will include a group of 20-30 investment advisors who are interested in providing investment origination ideas, management team introductions, industry-specific due diligence, and portfolio company oversight assistance as board members.  These advisors are current and former CEOs and other business leaders.  All will be offered the opportunity to participate in a side-by-side fund to Acquire One Fund I that will invest pro-rata in all of the Fund’s deals without a general partner carry.  In addition, the Fund’s investment advisors will be directly compensated for specific contributions to investment or entrepreneur origination and portfolio company board of directors’ participation.