Dennis Beard, MANAGING PARTNER

Dennis is a Managing Partner with Serra Ventures.  He has built a successful 40-plus year career in financial services, healthcare services, and technology.  Dennis has worked over twenty years with the University of Illinois technology community and is a charter member of the University’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence program at the EnterpriseWorks business incubator in the Research Park. 

Dennis has been involved throughout his career with businesses of all sizes with positions in public accounting as well as private and public company management.    He was formerly CEO of the Home Recovery Group of Companies, providers of home health services; that entity was successfully sold in 2008 after achieving more than ten-fold growth under his leadership.  As a Partner and CFO with Open Prairie Ventures, Dennis participated in the full range of early-stage venture investing activities including raising capital, sourcing investment opportunities, participating in oversight of portfolio investments, assisting with exit transactions, and reporting to investors.  Dennis has served as a speaker at various professional and educational conferences and forums throughout the US.  He has also served as an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Illinois Gies College of Business and for the Millikin University MBA Program.

Dennis holds the Certified Public Accountant designation (CPA, 1983).  He also attended the National Venture Capital Association’s Venture Capital Institute, completing the intensive workshop in 2002.  Dennis earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from Millikin University and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Illinois Executive MBA Program where he was recognized with the Academic Excellence Award.