Who Are We?
SMIF
SMIF analysts consist of both undergraduate and graduate students, typically with majors in Finance and
Accounting, although all majors are welcomed and encouraged to apply.
Analysts actively participate in the SMIF by researching long-term investment strategies, placing trades, and
compiling strategic reports to the Student Executive Board for further analysis and primary approval. Analysts
learn how to manage real money and all the responsibilities attached to it while adhering to the guidelines set
out by the SMIF’s Operations Manual.
Spring 2015 - Student Executive Board
Nicole Moutos Carder - Chief Executive Officer
Nicole Moutos Carder is a senior working toward a bachelor of business administration in finance.
She is also pursuing a minor in applied statistics and data analysis. Nicole joined SMIF during the spring
semester of 2014 as a financial analyst. Last semester she fulfilled the role of managing director for the
financials and utilities sectors, and she is very enthusiastic about her new role as CEO. In 2013, Nicole
was inducted into the Golden Key International Honors Society. She is currently interning with Rosebud
Technologies as a Business Intelligence Data Analyst. She enjoys finance and statistics, and hopes to
obtain a job where she can incorporate her passion for both. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys spending
time with her husband, Adam, and two year old son, Jonah. She also enjoys being outdoors, working
out, cooking, and volunteering.
Austin Downey - Chief Operating Officer
Austin Downey is a junior working towards a bachelor of business administration degree in finance
at Kennesaw State University. He currently manages a T-Mobile retail store and has prior experience
in the telecommunications and manufacturing industries. He also held a management position within a
retail-clothing store. His current and past experience has taught him that successful leaders work closely
with and depend on their team to succeed, and that direct and accurate communication are vital to
success. Last semester he held the title of Managing Director for the SMIF, and he is extremely excited
to fulfill his new role as COO. Austin loves staying fit and active through many different forms of exercise.
He loves sports and competition and has competed at high levels in swimming, tennis and cross-country.
He makes a point to always follow and be informed on what is latest in technology. His current ambition is
to work in the field of finance.
Julian Broche - Chief Investment Officer
Julian is a Finance Major/Business Law minor, He was pursuing a career in aviation which earned
him his Private Pilot License but in early 2011 he discovered his true passion, the financial markets.
He began developing his skill set in stocks, over the course of the year he incorporated Options
and Futures. Throughout his experiences intra-day trading the S&P E-mini contract, he honed in
his understanding of Technical Analysis and Behaviors apparent in the markets. Julian is a highly
motivated self-starter who brings experience and dedication to the team.
William Merritt - Director of Investments
William Merritt is currently a Junior BBA candidate in Economics and Quantitative Analysis, minoring
in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis, and plans to graduate in May, 2016. He was accepted into the
SMIF as a Junior Analyst during the Fall 2013 semester, and has held various roles ever since, such as
Associate and Vice President of Human Resources. William hopes to help continue the Fund’s legacy of
being a student-focused, real life application of academics to Finance and Economics so that its members
can learn and grow as the Fund does. The SMIF’s emphasis on group work and effective communication
among multiple tiers of leadership and its focus on analyzing both the qualitative and quantitative factors
of equities have been immensely useful during his college career. He has held internship positions at
Henssler Financial and Surgical Information Systems, and hopes to use the skills and knowledge gained
through participation in the SMIF to obtain a job in high finance or portfolio management at UBS
Investment Bank.
Antwon Kennedy - Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
Antwon Kennedy is a senior working towards a bachelor of business administration degree in finance at
Kennesaw State University. His accolades include “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities &
Colleges,” the “Adult Learner Programs Recognition Award” and induction into the “Golden Key International
Honour Society.” His past work experience has included working with companies such as MBNA America
Bank and Discover credit card as a sales representative. Additionally, he has worked in customer service
and the information technology field as a help desk support representative. His current ambition is to
become either a financial analyst or work in the investment field. As COO, Mr. Kennedy’s mission is to
support the CEO’s objective of attracting outside investments and to set the groundwork for the SMIF to
become a FINRA member organization capable of sponsoring members to take a FINRA series exam.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennedycapital
Daniel Pakkala - Managing Director
Daniel Pakkala is a senior pursuing a bachelors of business administration in finance and a minor in
applied statistics and data analysis. Daniel currently works for Koch Industries where he is a supply chain
analyst for INVISTA, Koch’s polymer and fiber subsidiary. Daniel is a member of the Golden Key Honour
Society, Beta Gamma Sigma Honour Society and the KSU Undergraduate Honors program. Furthermore,
Daniel serves as chairman of Georgia for Young Americans for Liberty, a national organization that
promotes economic freedom and individual liberty. He also serves as the President for KSU’s YAL
chapter as well. On his free time, he spends it with his five-year-old Dutch Shepherd named Abby,
watching Carolina Hurricanes Hockey or New England Patriots Football.
John Ferrante - Managing Director and Vice President of Human Resources
BBA Economics - Managing Director and VP of Human Resources John Ferrante is a Senior Economics
undergraduate student concentrating in the field of Econometrics, with a Spanish minor and plans to
graduate Fall 2015. In addition to school and SMIF, John is also President of Christian Students at
Kennesaw State and enjoys sharing about his christian life and experience. Upon joining SMIF in Fall
2014, his fondness and interest for the Economic understand of human action has increased. With
backgrounds in business such as sales, retail and being an Assistant Manager to a small “Mom-and-Pop”
store in New York City, John has learned that all things of business are centered on people which makes
the understanding of human action so important. When not taking care of his three dogs, fish, chickens
and so forth, John enjoys reading ministry publications from Living Stream Ministry which publishes works
by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and his small group meetings. He hopes to join a 2-Year Bible after
graduating called the Full-Time Training in Anaheim California and go to grad school focusing on
Econometrics. His dream job would some day be, a professor of Economics. Until then, with his time
in SMIF, John hopes to help, encourage, strengthen and build upon the wonderful foundation laid by
his predecessors to increase the span and relevance of SMIF on the KSU campus.
www.linkedin.com/pub/john-ferrante/59/631/613/
Cheick Traore - Managing Director
Cheick is a finance major planning to graduate in Spring 2017 with a concentration in capital markets
and a minor in applied statistics and data analysis. In addition, he is a member of the Cohort Alpha of the
Coles Scholars Program. He currently works as a Research Analyst Intern at Henssler Financial. Cheick
joined the SMIF in fall 2014 where he occupied the positions of junior financial analyst and associate. His
goal with the SMIF is to create a social environment where members will develop a deep understanding
of the market and learn from each other. Cheick is passionate about quantitative and analytic subjects,
and is looking for a field that will enable him to apply these passions to the financial markets. He plans to
pursue a career in investment management with a focus in emerging markets. He enjoys playing soccer,
watching movies, traveling and reading.
Isabela Salas - Managing Director
Isabela Salas is from Barranquilla, Colombia. She loves to travel, read and dance. She is a finance major
graduating in May 2015. She started with the SMIF as a financial analyst for the Consumer Staples
Sector in the Spring of 2014, then became an Associate for the Healthcare and Discretionary sectors
during the Fall of 2014 and is currently the Managing Director for the Basic Materials Sector. Apart from
school, she is currently interning part-time at Invesco as a Finance Operations Analyst. After she
graduates, she is planning on working in the financial sector field more specifically in corporate finance.
www.linkedin.com/pub/isabela-salas/64/b01/230/
Cole Daniel - Associate & Vice President of Global Initiatives
Cole Daniel is a senior who, in Summer 2016, is expected to graduate with a Bachelors of Business
Administration with a major in Finance and a minor in Economics. In addition he is expected to graduate
with an additional degree, a Bachelor of Science in Biology, having already been awarded an Academic
Certification in Leadership Studies. Finally, his graduation is expected to include the status of Honors
Scholar (Honors College Graduate). Cole Daniel’s primary interest is in asset management. His chosen
specialties include: healthcare, greater science, and oversees investments in Japan. As SMIF’s current
VP of Global Initiatives his work includes cooperation with current and perspective international sister
schools including, most notably, Soka University of Tokyo, Japan. Beginning in Fall 2015 Mr. Daniel is
expected to participate in a one-year exchange program, with Soka. After returning from Japan he is
interested in acquiring a position in an asset management firm, before later working on advanced degrees
such as Certified Financial Analyst, Master of Science in Asset Management, and Master of Business
Administration in Finance or International Business. When Mr. Daniel is not in class, conducting research,
or working with SMIF he has numerous community service programs, which occupy his time. On Sundays
he can normally be found teaching Religious Education (Sunday School) at his local church. He is an
active full member of the Knights of Columbus where much of his community service activities are
hosted including work with Special Olympics, Coats for Kids, and Tootsie Roll Drives.
Patrick Fischer - Associate
Patrick Fischer is a senior working towards a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance.
Prior to attending Kennesaw State University, he was a member of the United States Air Force.During
his career in the United States Air Force, Patrick was responsible for the movement of over $150 million
pounds of cargo over four continents. Since 2011, Patrick has been investing in Healthcare and Financial
equities. He has also started venturing out to the Real Estate market. Patrick has been in the Healthcare
sector for last year in the Student Managed Investment Fund.
Patrick Lim - Associate
Patrick is a sophomore majoring in Finance who intends to graduate from the Coles College of Business
in 2017. He joined SMIF in the fall of 2014 as an economic analyst and intends to broaden his scope of
knowledge concerning the financial market. As of spring 2015 he is now an associate for one of SMIF’s
financial sectors. He is currently the President of KSU’s Men’s Lacrosse team – bringing to the team his
experience concerning leadership, responsibility, and decision making. His goal is to continue the work
set by past SMIF members and carry the knowledge and skills learned here into the business world.
Daniela Carvajalino - Associate
Daniela Carvajalino is a Junior pursuing a degree in Finance and a minor in Management at Kennesaw
State University. She is originally from Cartagena, Colombia. At KSU, she has been involved in the Coles
Scholars Program,International Student Association, Student Managed Investment Fund, Golden Key
Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, Enactus, Model Arab League, and Model United
Nations. Along with school, she has balanced the challenging demands of co-writing a book called
Parents and Coaches, creating her own publishing company Dreams, as well as starting a training
company with her family called Quality Line that services both companies in the public and private sector.
She was one of the recipients of the Coles REAL Initiative Award in 2014, as well as the Who’s Who
Among Students in American Universities which rewards students that have demonstrated leadership and
entrepreneurial ability. Her long-term goals include creating her own training tool to help the people of
Colombia as well as traveling the world holding conferences.