Duane has had diverse responsibilities during his Extension Service career, starting in 1976 as an assistant agent in Stutsman County, then as an associate agent in Ward County, an extension associate in agricultural engineering and agent in Cass County. He has been in his present position as district director since 1990. Duane initiated NDSU Extension Service efforts to form a committee to address public issues education, resulting in issues education conference sessions and workshops for field and campus staff. He has taken an aggressive role in working with groups outside of Extension, especially with state and federal partners in programs relating to natural resources and the environment. He provided leadership to the group that developed the North Dakota Tree Handbook and for the North Dakota Shelterbelt Project. He represents Extension on the Farm and Ranch Development Committee of the State Food and Agriculture Council and is a member of the Centennial Trees Commission. He participates in the North Central Region administrative leadership group and served on the National Program Leadership Committee. Duane is presently a participant in the National Extension Leadership Development (NELD) program. His NELD project brought together representatives from the North Dakota County Commissioners Association, the North Dakota Association of Counties and Extension to study the financial partnership for county programs.