Program Overview
The Lehigh Finance Mentorship Program (FMP) is open to any Lehigh Business finance majors. FMP originated in the winter of 2019 as the brainchild of four distinguished finance alumni – Rob Camacho, Greg Geiling, Paul Knollmeyer, and Dan Pietrzak.
They believed that a finance mentor ecosystem could be designed to benefit not only current students but also provide ongoing mentoring along the career chain as students advanced in their careers. They also recruited three other distinguished alumni with proven track records in finance and loyalty to Lehigh University, Jonathan Abramson, Charlie Bustin and Chris Scott, to participate as alumni leaders in the FMP.
Their design for the FMP revolves around a tiered system where these distinguished alumni would commit to mentoring five junior-level alumni each. Each of the junior-level alumni would then commit to mentor five current students.
Therefore, the ecosystem design enables the mentorship of 25 current students per single distinguished alumnus leader. With six distinguished alumni leaders currently enrolled in the FMP, it is anticipated that 150 current Lehigh Business students can be accommodated in the FMP.
The program will provide Lehigh Business Finance students with a young alumni mentor, who is working in the financial services industry and will be mentored by a distinguished alumni mentor. Creating connections is more important than ever and our Lehigh alumni continue to be a resource for undergraduate students. We have recruited young Lehigh Business alumni in the finance industry who have expressed interest in mentoring undergraduate students to participate in this program.
This program is open to sophomore finance majors or finance track students. Space is limited and we cannot guarantee placement for each applicant. To be placed with a mentor, please check back frequently for the application opening.
Learn About the Distinguished Finance Alumni Leaders
Jonathan Abramson is a Managing Director and Credit Trader for Sculptor Capital where he has responsibility for all Institutional Credit Strategies loan trading in the U.S. He is a member of the Investment Committee for the performing credit business and also works closely with the distressed and opportunistic credit team. In addition to trading, Jonathan handles most of the capital markets needs for the business working alongside syndicate desks, banking teams, and sponsors in the leveraged finance market.
Before joining the Firm in 2015, Mr. Abramson was a Vice President, High Yield Loan Trader with Barclays Capital.
Mr. Abramson holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Lehigh University and graduated in 2009.
Charlie Bustin '04, '05G is a partner, portfolio manager and equity research analyst at Douglas C. Lane and Associates, Inc., a registered investment advisory firm in New York City that provides customized investment management services to individuals and institutions. Before joining Douglas C. Lane and Associates, Inc. in 2010, Charlie worked in the assurance practice at Ernst & Young. Charlie graduated with high honors from Lehigh in 2004 where he was a Presidential Scholar, earning a B.S. in accounting and a minor in Psychology. He also earned an M.S. in accounting from Lehigh, graduating in 2005. While at Lehigh, Charlie was a member of the varsity soccer team. He is a CFA® charterholder and a licensed CPA. Charlie also serves on the board of Soccer Without Borders, a nonprofit organization that helps underserved youths overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion and personal success.
Robert Camacho is the head of Blackstone Asset Based Finance within Blackstone’s Structured Finance Group and a member of the Asset Based Finance Investment Committee.
Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Camacho was a partner at Goldman Sachs responsible for financing transactions across multiple asset classes including corporate credit, structured products and fund finance. Mr. Camacho spent over 14 years at Goldman Sachs, most recently in the structured funding investing and lending business.
Mr. Camacho graduated from Lehigh University and is a CFA® charter holder.
Mr. Geiling joined Bayview in 2020 as Co-Chief Operating Officer. Before joining Bayview, Mr. Geiling was a Senior Managing Director of The Blackstone Group, where he served as Head of the Hedge Fund Solutions Special Situation Investing Group. In this role, Mr. Geiling was a member of the Investment Committee for the Blackstone Strategic Opportunity Fund (BSOF) and Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM). Prior to joining Blackstone in 2011, Mr. Geiling was a Portfolio Manager at Duquesne Capital Management, overseeing investments in technology, media, and telecoms. Mr. Geiling started his career in the Equity Research Department of J.P. Morgan, where he was responsible for several technology industry segments, including wireline equipment, wireless equipment, and data networking. Mr. Geiling was ranked each year (from 1997-2002) on the Institutional Investor All-American Research Team for his coverage of several technology sectors, including being ranked the #1 analyst on Wall Street covering the telecommunications equipment industry. After Chase Manhattan acquired J.P. Morgan, Mr. Geiling was promoted to the role of Chief Technology Strategist. Mr. Geiling earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Lehigh University.
More information coming soon.
Daniel Pietrzak joined KKR in 2016 and is a Partner and serves as the Global Head of Private Credit and a portfolio manager for KKR’s private credit funds and portfolios. Mr. Pietrzak is the Chief Investment Officer of the KKR / FS Investments joint venture and Co-President and Chief Investment Officer for FS KKR Capital Corp. (FSK), which trades on the NYSE. He also serves of the board of directors of FSK and several KKR Credit portfolio companies, including Oodle Car Finance, Pepper and Toorak Capital Partners.
Before joining KKR, Mr. Pietrzak was a managing director and the co-head of Deutsche Bank’s structured finance business across the Americas and Europe. Previously, Mr. Pietrzak held various roles in the credit businesses of Societe Generale and CIBC World Markets. Mr. Pietrzak started his career at Price Waterhouse in New York. Mr. Pietrzak holds an M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Accounting from Lehigh University. Mr. Pietrzak serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Lehigh University College of Business, is a member of the Advisory Board of the Scholars of Finance and serves on the Board of Directors of First Tee – Metropolitan New York.
Appointed trustee at Lehigh University, Christopher Scott ’94, of Manhasset, NY, is a managing director in Morgan Stanley’s fixed income division, where he is responsible for residential mortgage trading, warehouse lending & financing, and securitization & underwriting as head of the U.S. Residential Mortgage Business. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Chris worked for Ally Financial Inc. for 11 years, where he was an investment management executive responsible for Ally Bank’s investment and mortgage portfolios. Before that, Chris spent 14 years at Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., where he was a senior managing director in the mortgage trading department. Chris is past chair of the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council and a current member of the council. He also served as a member of the Lehigh Leadership Council from 2003 to 2008. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Lehigh.
Interested in Applying?
Applications will be opening soon. In the meantime, you can find other student opportunities on our website.
Questions?
Please contact Chiquita Griffin '08 '16G, Director, Professional and Intellectual Engagement with any questions.