Anticipated Graduation: December 2019
Current Employer: Wells Fargo & Co.
Position: Group Controller - Asset-Backed Finance and Structured Real Estate
Undergraduate Institution: Belmont Abbey College
Undergraduate Degree: B.A. in Accounting
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
What is your professional background?
I started my career with Big 4 public accounting firm EY, where I audited the financial statements of public and non-public issuers. I then transitioned into a role at Wells Fargo & Co. where I was responsible for the SEC and Regulatory reporting for the Asset-Backed Finance and Structured Real Estate lines of business.
What are your motivations for pursuing the MSRE?
I have witnessed friends and family lead rewarding careers in commercial real estate. As I began to develop more interest in a career in commercial real estate and talked to professionals in the industry, I always admired the balance between fun and smart that people in the field possessed. It is a field that places a high value on relationships first and foremost and that is something that I appreciate. I chose to pursue the MSRE to obtain the hard and soft skills necessary to pivot from a career in accounting to commercial real estate.
Why did you choose the Childress Klein Center for Real Estate over other programs?
The Childress Klein Center for Real Estate provided an excellent opportunity to continue working full-time while providing exposure to some of the top commercial real estate professionals in Charlotte. Another big reason I chose the program was for the chance to participate in the Student Managed Real Estate Investment Fund. As a member of the Fund, I was able to apply the lessons learned in all of my courses to identify, underwrite, and present real world deals to the Advisory Board.
What activities are you involved in when not working/studying?
My wife and I welcomed our first child in the middle of the program.
How would you describe the M.S. in Real Estate to someone who is considering pursuing this master’s degree?
The experiences I have gained in the MSRE program have given me the confidence and skills necessary to make a career change. I have learned so much from being immersed in the program and spending multiple nights each week with a diverse mix of professors and classmates in various fields of commercial real estate. While the program has been a lot of work, I know that I will miss the camaraderie when it is over. Whether you are looking to make a career change or just fill in some gaps, if you want to be a commercial real estate professional in Charlotte I can't recommend the program highly enough.