Title: Investment Banker
Company: Hyde Park Capital
Length of FEI sponsorship: New Sponsor
Work email: [email protected]
Work phone number: (813) 574-1182
Tell us a little bit about your career, educational/professional background and how you got to where you are today.
I graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting. While in grad school, I was able to complete my CPA certification and began my career with a large public accounting firm after graduation. Given an early interest in M&A, I was excited to join the private equity services group at the firm, which is what brought me to Tampa. After spending a number of years on the accounting side, I still had a desire to be involved in the M&A process from a different angle. A few years later, I was able to leverage my experience in public accounting to transition to investment banking. Since joining Hyde Park Capital, I have been involved in numerous transactions across many different industries including healthcare, manufacturing, business services, industrial services, and technology.
What is one piece of information you wish someone had told you when you first started your career?
A principle I learned early on in my career that has served me well is to “always do more than you get paid for as an investment in your future”.
What do you love most about working in the finance profession?
I absolutely love meeting and working with the entrepreneurs. Hearing the stories behind each business and each owner is always unique and inspiring.
What are some of your personal hobbies outside of work?
Outside of work I enjoy being active (weight lifting, running, sports) and am currently training for a triathlon. I also love the outdoors, music, travel, and spending time with friends.
What is the state of the current M&A market?
The year 2021 will be the most active M&A market in the history of the country. Both private equity and corporations are sitting on record amounts of cash looking to invest and grow market share and generate returns in a very low interest rate environment.
The cash surplus is driving up valuations for quality companies to levels not seen up to this point. Business owners are looking to take advantage of these valuations as well as try and preempt the impending capital gains tax rate increases proposed by the Biden administration. Despite the proposed tax changes, which are now believed to be less extreme than originally predicted, it does not appear M&A activity will slow down much in 2022.