Business Development Advisor
Office Location: Reno
Email: dnishimura@unr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6879
Duke Nishimura, BS ME/AE, MBA, LEAN, CVC
Duke joined the Nevada SBDC in 2020 as a Consulting Director for the Black Rock Incubator and then as a Business Advisor in the University of Nevada, Reno office. Duke’s experience includes serial entrepreneurship launching 21 companies, business management, international business, and business consulting for 25 years to over 400 C-Suites in public, health system, biotech, government entities, and developing the High-G Force Loss of Consciousness Training Program required for every fighter pilot and base in the US Air Force, and adopted by the Naval Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force. He has been President/CEO of 9 international companies, and managing partner of over 40 Joint Ventures with national and public companies in 12 states and 3 countries, and currently serves as CEO or Chairman for 5 companies. Duke has also served on 2 community boards for 10 and 2 years each, Leadership Board for the largest healthcare system in North Texas for 10 years, Chairman of an international scientific review board for 11 years, and currently serves on 4 corporate boards and several entrepreneurship boards. Duke’s specialties include innovative corporate strategies, strategic partnerships, M&A, developing and managing companies in the fields of strategic emerging technologies, scalable global businesses, technology, engineering, sciences (biological, molecular, micro), biotech, industrial medicine, evidence-based healthcare, physical medicine and rehabilitation, healthcare management, biotechnologies, strategic business consulting, clean energy, Web3, economic independence for developing nations, mental health app, and specialty foods. Duke earned a B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point, and an MBA with a focus in Entrepreneurship from Louisiana State University Shreveport (Summa cum laude), and Certifications/Faculty/Trainer in Venture Capital, LEAN, Spine Care, EMT, FEMA, and Professional Ski Patrol. His military experience includes serving as an Armor officer, helicopter pilot, and creating the industrial medicine program and school for 13,000 and 34,000 personnel. His life motto is, “When was the last time you did something for the first time in your life?”, his business view is, “‘Think outside The Box’? What Box?”, and his life outlook is that he has never met a stranger.