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.
Matt Pontikas
CFO 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.
Luke Hileman
Managing 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 graduation, Luke will join Bank of America’s Leverage Finance Group in Charlotte, NC as an Associate.
Chris Kohler
Managing 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 Associate in the Power and Utilities group in New York upon graduation.
Elie Sidransky
Managing 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. Following graduation, Luke will join Barclay’s Healthcare Group in New York as an Associate.
UNDERGRADUATES
Hughes Edwards
Senior 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, in the previous summer, Hughes interned at Morgan Stanley in New York as an investment banking summer analyst, where he will be returning upon graduation. 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.
Joel Funderburk
Senior 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. In his sophomore summer, Joel interned with Davidson Capital Partners, a lower middle market investment bank, and during the summer prior was with HQ Capital Private Equity. This previous summer, he was a summer analyst for Jefferies in their Consumer and Retail team, where he will be returning upon graduation. At UNC, he is the president of his fraternity. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, working out, and spending time with friends.
Benjamin Heynold
SENIOR ASSOCIATE Bsba '24
Benjamin is a sophomore from London, England 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 at Spectrum Equity in San Francisco, a Growth Equity firm focused on software. This upcoming summer, Benjamin will be interning at the Raine Group, a merchant bank with an emphasis on sports, media and entertainment. Outside of school, he enjoys playing tennis, watching football, and travelling.
Lillie-Anne Suber
SENIOR ASSOCIATE Bsba '24
Lillie-Anne is a junior from Charlotte, NC studying Business Administration. In her sophomore summer, Lillie-Anne worked at Deutsche Bank as an Investment Banking Sophomore Summer Analyst in the Healthcare and REGLL Group. In the past summer, she returned as a Summer Analyst in the REGLL Group, where she will be returning upon graduation.. 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.
Yanchen Xie
SENIOR ASSOCIATE Bsba '24
Yanchen is a Junior from Singapore, double majoring in Business Administration and Statistics. In his sophomore summer, Yanchen worked for Deutsche Bank in the corporate banking division. During his junior year, Yanchen worked at Skyharbor Capital Group, a lower middle market private equity firm in the tech-enabled services space. In the past summer, Yanchen interned with the tech-enabled services group at Jefferies, where he will be returning upon graduation. At UNC, Yanchen serves as a mentor for the Investment Banking Boot Camp program. Outside of school, Yanchen spends his time playing soccer, scuba diving, and fetch with his dog.
