FinArchives

1. In plain English, please describe your current role and function.

​

I am the Head of Securitization for SitusAMC. Our role within the industry is to serve as a trusted due diligence partner on Commercial Mortgage-Backed Security transactions. This includes asset types such as Conduit, Single-Asset Single-Borrow, and CRE CLO.

 

 

2. On average, how is your time divided across quantitative work (e.g., financial analysis), qualitative work (research and writing), presentations (to investors, management, etc), and other tasks? Please describe what falls into ‘other.’

​

About 40 percent of my time is spent truly executing on what I would consider quantitative work. Over the years my role has shifted to focus more on growing the team and growing the business, which is where the other 60 percent of my time is spent. It is still crucial to our success that I keep my finger on the pulse of the actual work, but that is where I have learned to trust the team we have built over the years.

 

 

3. Where did you attend college and what was your major/minor? Did you participate in any clubs in school or internships that you believe helped you decide what you wanted to pursue as your career? 

​

I attended the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University. I took a nontraditional path to where I am now. I entered college as a Philosophy Major before transferring into the business school to begin my Junior Year. I was active within the business college, but my most important decision was joining Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. The connects I made there have continued to help build my network personally and professionally 15 years later.

​

 

4. Do you have a graduate degree, and if so, what type?

​

I decided not to peruse a graduate degree most undergraduate. I believe that over the years there has been a shift into focusing more on direct work experience and being active in the industry versus obtaining a graduate degree.

​

 

5. What about certifications like as a chartered financial analyst, certified public accountant, or other similar certifications? 

​

 I obtained my Project Management Professional certificate in June of 2019 while working at PwC. In the CMBS industry I think the most important certifications you can obtain are anything Real Estate related, whether that is a CCIM or related certifications from places like NYU.

 

 

6. What did you wish you had known in college that would have made your transition into the working world smoother? 

​

 I wish I knew how important it was to be proactive and do additional self-study in anything you do. I have found that employees entering the workforce who treat their jobs as extensions of school tend to be the most successful. This includes asking questions, doing additional research, and leveraging leaders time similar to office hours.

 

 

7. How will the rising prominence of artificial intelligence (“AI”) impact your job and entry level jobs in your industry?

​

 I think AI will allow everyone in CMBS to elevate themselves. Clearing the tasks that can monopolize time such as data entry will allow young professionals to advance quicker as they gain more visibility to parts of the business that otherwise would’ve taken years to get to.

 

 

8. What skills or qualities do you look for when hiring for an entry job level candidate?

​

 When I am hiring someone, I look for a few major qualities: high level communicators, problem solvers, and work ethic.

 

9. Is there any other information you would like to share that hasn’t been shared through the questions above?

​

None.