Jason Wrone
Vice President & Fund Manager
Jason is the Vice President of Open Prairie and a fund manager with more than 15 years of experience supporting and developing small businesses across a range of industry sectors. He oversees all fund management activities, including investor relations, due diligence coordination, and analysis of both new and existing investments. Jason also plays a key role in sourcing and evaluating new opportunities for the firm’s growing portfolio.
In addition to his work at Open Prairie, Jason serves on the Board of Directors for MyAgData and NewLeaf Symbiotics. He is the owner and co-founder of Fieldcrest Homes, a real estate company specializing in residential and multi-family construction throughout central Illinois, and holds an Illinois Managing Broker Real Estate License.
Prior to joining Open Prairie, Jason served as Chief Financial Officer for a multi-store retail consumer rental franchise and as Chief Operating Officer for an outdoor advertising company. Earlier in his career, he gained valuable sales and marketing experience as a pharmaceutical representative for Eli Lilly and Company.
Education & Affiliations
While at the University of Illinois, Jason worked with the Office of Strategic Business Initiatives, where he developed business plans and commercialization strategies for early- and growth-stage companies. He also conducted due diligence for multiple private equity and venture capital funds, including Open Prairie. Jason earned an MBA from the University of Illinois with a concentration in Finance and Entrepreneurship and holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance and Marketing from Eastern Illinois University.
