Smith is a second-year MBA candidate pursuing a concentration in Corporate Finance. Prior to Kenan-Flagler Business School, Smith worked as an Associate Director of Strategy at Wavemaker, where he developed go-to-market advertising strategies across a wide variety of consumer brands. He holds a B.S. in Business & Enterprise Management from Wake Forest University. Post-graduation, Smith will be joining EY-Parthenon’s Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy group.
John Fowble
Managing DIRECTOR MBA '23
John is a second-year MBA student pursuing a concentration in Corporate Finance. Prior to attending Kenan-Flagler, John worked as an Associate at North American Properties, a private real estate investment firm, where he led the transaction underwriting and diligence processes for a $1B+ real estate portfolio. John holds a B.B.A. in Real Estate from the University of Georgia. Post-graduation, John will be joining Bank of America's Leveraged Finance group in Charlotte.
Carter Patrick
Managing DIRECTOR MBA '23
Carter is a second-year MBA candidate pursuing a concentration in Corporate Finance. Prior to attending Kenan-Flagler Business School, Carter worked in New York as a Corporate Lending Senior Associate at Brown Brothers Harriman where she underwrote and managed a portfolio of senior secured credit facilities for premier, privately owned middle-market businesses. Carter holds a B.S.B.A from University of South Carolina. Following graduation, she will be joining William Blair's Consumer & Retail investment banking division in Charlotte.
Spencer Taylor
Managing DIRECTOR MBA '23
Spencer is a second-year MBA candidate pursuing a concentration in Corporate Finance. Before attending Kenan-Flagler Business School, Spencer worked in management consulting at NTT DATA Services, specializing in post-transaction M&A integration. Most notably, he advised on strategic merger integration efforts for the BB&T and SunTrust Merger of Equals, establishing Truist Financial. Spencer holds a B.A. in Economics from Elon University. Spencer will be joining Piper Sandler's Diversified Industrials and Services investment banking group following graduation.
Ali Zimmerman
Managing DIRECTOR MBA '23
Ali is a second-year MBA candidate pursuing a concentration in Corporate Finance and a focus area in Sustainable Enterprises. Prior to attending Kenan-Flagler Business School, Ali spent three years as an Investment Banking Credit Analyst in both the Communications, Internet, & Media and Oil & Gas groups at Truist Securities in Atlanta, GA. While at Truist, Ali managed a total of 60+ clients comprising $5.0B in total credit exposure and led approval processes for a variety of different transactions, including initial deal underwritings, acquisition financings, borrowing base redeterminations, and the refinancing of credit facilities. Ali holds a B.S. in Financial Management and B.S. in Economics from Clemson University. Upon graduation, Ali will be returning to Jefferies Consumer & Retail investment banking division.
Matt Pontikas
DIRECTOR MBA '24
Matt is a first-year MBA candidate pursuing a concentration in Consulting. Prior to attending Kenan-Flagler Business School, Matt worked in Charlotte as a Corporate Banking Associate at Wells Fargo where he underwrote and managed a debt portfolio of large cap and middle market healthcare companies. He will be joining EY-Parthenon as a strategy consultant in NY this summer. Matt holds a B.S.B.A in Accounting from University of South Carolina.
Matt Clendenen
DIRECTOR MBA '24
Matt is a first-year MBA student pursuing concentrations in Corporate Finance and Energy. Prior to attending Kenan-Flagler, Matt worked as an Associate at Harbert Infrastructure, a Power and Renewables private equity firm, where he focused on the underwriting and diligence of infrastructure and power generation assets across North America. Matt holds a B.A. in Economics from Sewanee: The University of the South.
Elie Sidransky
DIRECTOR MBA '24
Elie is a first-year MBA candidate pursuing concentrations in Corporate Finance and Healthcare. Prior to Kenan-Flagler Business School, Elie worked as a Senior Financial Analyst at 777 Partners, a Middle Market Private Equity Fund with $7B AUM. He also has worked in Biotech Venture Capital in the United States and abroad in Israel. He holds a B.S. in Material Science & Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park.
Chris Kohler
DIRECTOR MBA '24
Chris is a first-year MBA candidate pursuing a concentration in Corporate Finance. Prior to Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chris worked in New York for an expert network before moving to Pittsburgh where he helped drive an increase in market share for a waste management business. Also, Chris worked as a private equity analyst focused on consumer & retail investments. Chris holds a B.A. in Political Science from Trinity College - Hartford and will be joining Jefferies as an Investment Banking Summer Associate in New York this summer.
Luke Hileman
DIRECTOR MBA '24
Luke is a first-year MBA student pursuing a concentration in Corporate Finance. Before attending Kenan-Flagler, Luke worked as a Project Manager at Alan Simonini Homes, a luxury home builder and developer, where he led the preconstruction process for residential construction projects. Luke holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from Illinois State University. Following his first year, Luke will join Bank of America’s Leverage Finance Group in Charlotte, NC as a Summer Associate.
UNDERGRADUATES
Kaelan Amin
Senior ASSOCIATE Bsba '23
Kaelan is a senior from Charlotte, NC studying Business Administration at the Kenan-Flagler Business School with a minor in Entrepreneurship through the Shuford Program. The past two summers, Kaelan worked at Bank of America Securities as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst in their Leveraged Finance group, where he will be returning upon graduation. At UNC, Kaelan currently serves as the Vice President of Investments for the Kenan-Flagler Portfolio Management Team, a student-led investment fund. Outside of school, Kaelan enjoys playing soccer, traveling, and reading.
Peter Deering
Senior ASSOCIATE Bsba '23
Peter is a senior from Charlotte, NC studying Business Administration at the Kenan-Flagler Business School. At UNC, Peter completed the Shuford Semester in Entrepreneurship, working as a full-time finance intern in the spring and summer at Well, a VC-backed health technology and services company headquartered in Chapel Hill. He is a certified Master Racquet Technician and has strung tennis racquets for the university's varsity programs. Peter spent his past summer interning with Wells Fargo in their Debt Capital Markets Group. Upon graduating, Peter will be joining Roark Capital Group in Atlanta. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, playing tennis, and cheering for the Cleveland Browns.
Michael Langston
Senior ASSOCIATE Bsba '23
Michael is a senior from Greensboro, NC studying Business Administration at the Kenan-Flagler Business School. At UNC, Michael is a member of The Reynolds Fund, the Portfolio Management Team, and is serving as both Vice President and Co-Head of the Investment Banking Sector for UFS. Last summer, Michael worked at Bank of America Securities as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst in their Leveraged Finance Group, where he will be returning upon graduation. Prior to Bank of America, Michael interned at Falfurrias Capital Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm. Outside of school, Michael enjoys playing pickup basketball, watching sports, and being outdoors.
Rennie Pearson
Senior ASSOCIATE Bsba '23
Rennie is a senior from Gastonia, NC studying Business Administration at the Kenan-Flagler Business School with a minor in Information Systems. Last summer, she worked at Morgan Stanley as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst in their Real Estate group, where she will be returning upon graduation. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Rennie interned at Capitala, a lower middle-market private equity firm based in Charlotte, NC. At UNC, Rennie served as the Assistant Vice President of Community Service for Carolina Women in Business, a female-led organization. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling, and pilates.
Joshua Martin
Senior ASSOCIATE Bsba '23
Joshua is a senior from Winston-Salem, NC studying Business Administration at the Kenan-Flagler Business School with a minor in Spanish for the Business Professions. He spent a semester at Spain’s ICADE Business School studying International Finance. Joshua is the president of The Reynolds Fund, UNC’s student run equity fund. Last summer, Joshua worked as a Summer Analyst at Aquiline Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm focused on financial services and technology. Joshua will be returning to Aquiline Capital Partners in their New York office following graduation. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, fantasy football, and surfing.
Lillie-Anne Suber
ASSOCIATE Bsba '24
Lillie-Anne is a junior from Charlotte, NC studying Business Administration. Last summer, Lillie-Anne worked at Deutsche Bank as an Investment Banking Sophomore Summer Analyst in the Healthcare and REGLL Group. Next summer, she will be returning as a Summer Analyst in the REGLL group. At UNC, Lillie-Anne is the Co President of the Carolina Women in Business club and the President of her sorority. In her free time, Lillie-Anne enjoys hanging out with friends, trying new restaurants, and going on walks.
Joel Funderburk
ASSOCIATE Bsba '24
Joel is a Junior from Greensboro, NC studying Business Administration at the Kenan-Flagler Business School with an area of emphasis in Investment Banking. The past summer, Joel interned with Davidson Capital Partners, a lower middle market investment bank, and during the summer prior was with HQ Capital Private Equity. Next summer, he will be a summer analyst for Jefferies in their Consumer and Retail team. At UNC, he is the president of his fraternity. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, working out, and spending time with friends.
Yanchen Xie
ASSOCIATE Bsba '24
Yanchen is a Junior from Singapore, double majoring in Business Administration and Statistics. Last summer, Yanchen worked for Deutsche Bank in the corporate banking division focusing on financial institutions and healthcare companies. Currently, Yanchen is interning at Skyharbor Capital Group, a lower middle market private equity firm in the tech-enabled services space. For his junior year summer internship, Yanchen will be headed to the tech-enabled services group at Jefferies. At UNC, Yanchen serves as a mentor for the Investment Banking Boot Camp program and the Chancellor of Eta Omega Chi, an East Asian professional fraternity. Outside of school, Yanchen spends his time playing soccer, scuba diving, and fetch with his dog.
Hughes Edwards
ASSOCIATE Bsba '24
Hughes is a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, studying business administration at the Kenan-Flagler Business School and history. The past two summers, Hughes has interned with Warren Equity Partners, a private equity group that invests in companies which handle industrial services, and, this upcoming summer, Hughes will be interning at Morgan Stanley in New York as an investment banking summer analyst. At Carolina, Hughes acts as fundraising chair for the UNC chapter of First Generation Investors, an organization which tutors underprivileged high school students in personal finance. In his free time, Hughes enjoys playing golf, basketball, and watching the Tar Heels play.
Benjamin Heynold
ASSOCIATE Bsba '24
Benjamin is a sophomore from London, United Kingdom studying Economics with a minor in PPE. At UNC, Benjamin is the Head of Private Equity for the UFS and is a sector head of the Impact Investing Fund. Last summer, Benjamin worked as an investment analyst for C5 Capital, a specialist venture capital firm that invests in cybersecurity, space, and energy. Outside of school, he enjoys playing tennis, watching football, and travelling.
