Ben Law

Ben grew up in Golden Valley, MN and graduated from Hopkins High School in 2004. He is currently pursuing a B.B.A. in Finance. This past summer, Ben held an internship with Wells Fargo & Co. in Private Banking while also completing side projects for their Private Client Services division. When away from work, Ben enjoys watching movies, cooking and golfing. Ben plans on graduating in May 2008 and hopes to find a career in the financial services industry.

Garrett Mikrut

Garrett graduated from Irondale High School in 2004. He is currently a senior at UMD and plans on graduating in May of 2008 with a B.B.A. in Finance and a minor in Psychology. He is an active member of the Investment Club and is involved in various intramural sports. In his spare time Garrett enjoys hunting whitetail and playing hockey. He plans to pursue a career in the financial services industry when he graduates.

Stephen Kassekert

Stephen grew up in Woodbury Minnesota. He graduated from Woodbury High School in the spring of 2004, and in the fall he started college at the University of Minnesota Duluth. While at UMD he pursued a major in finance and was accepted into the Financial Markets Program. He is interested in becoming an equity analyst or a financial advisor upon his graduation in the spring of 2008. Also in the future he would like to obtain an M.B.A. Some of his other interests include golfing, intramural soccer, camping, boating, and fishing.

Ryan Palmquist

Ryan is a 2004 graduate of Duluth Central H.S. He is currently a senior finance student and will graduate in the spring of 2008. This past summer Ryan was an intern at Minnesota Power where he provided fundamental and technical analysis for natural gas futures contracts. In his spare time he enjoys running marathons, golfing, and spending time outdoors hunting and fishing. Someday Ryan hopes to obtain his M.B.A. and C.F.A. and would eventually like to become a fund manager.

Andrew Guyer

Andrew Guyer grew up in the town of Coleraine, Minnesota. He graduated from Greenway High School in 2003 and is currently working towards a degree in Finance. His interests include all sports especially hockey, golf, and hunting. Upon graduation he plans on beginning a career in the financial services industry, and eventually returning to school to pursue a M.B.A. He hopes to one day run his own company.

Matt Steffen

Matt graduated in 2004 from St. Peter High School. He will be graduating from UMD in May of 2008 with a B.S. in Statistics & Actuarial Science, a B.A. in Economics, and a minor in Finance. Matt is the current president of the UMD Actuary Club, and vice-president of the Investment Club. He also stays active in the Math Club, Econ Club, and several intramural sports. Matt has completed two actuarial exams, and intends to take a third before graduation. Over the summer of 2007, Matt interned at The Travelers Companies, Inc. in their Actuarial Leadership Development Program (ALDP). In his spare time, Matt enjoys cheering for the Twins, snowboarding, golfing, running, and traveling.

Nishit H. Charadva

Nishit grew up in the capital city of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. He came to Duluth, MN in 2005 and is now in his senior year. He will be graduating in December 2008, with a B.A in Accounting and a minor in Finance. Currently he works as an LSBE Student Reporter and Technology Support Specialist at the LSBE Technology Program Office. He is serving as a Youth Coordinator for the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) and is an active member in the International & Accounting club. Outside of school, he enjoys reading, doing photography, traveling and playing squash. Upon graduation, he would like to work in the financial services or accounting industry for a few years and then obtain his MBA.

Tyson Nassauer

Tyson is a senior at UMD and is currently pursuing a degree in Finance.  He graduated from Orono High School in 2004.  Currently, Tyson works as a manager and a bartender at Grandma’s Sports Garden in Canal Park.  He first learned about the Financial Markets Program in January of 2007 when he attended an Investment Club meeting. Tyson worked hard over the summer to complete the necessary course requirements to be a member this year. After college, Tyson plans on working in the financial services industry and hopefully buying his first house.

Alex Paquin

Alex is graduating in the spring of 2008 with a B.B.A. in Finance, Human Resource Management, and Organizational Behavior and Management with a minor in Psychology. He is a 2003 graduate from Clearbrook-Gonvick High School. Alex spent his summer in Lake Forest, IL, where he interned with Black Diamond Capital Management on their Hedge Fund Team. In his time at UMD, he has been active in the Investment Club and the Society for Human Resource Management. He has been involved in numerous intramural sports and also spent a semester abroad studying in Perth, Australia. This will be Alex’s second year coaching for the Duluth East Youth Hockey program. He enjoys fishing, rollerblading, attending baseball games, and traveling. Upon graduation, Alex plans to pursue a career in the financial industry, possibly with a hedge fund.

Adam Schoeneck

Adam grew up in Bloomington, MN and graduated from Jefferson High School in 2004. In the fall of 2004 he started classes at the University of North Dakota. A year later he transferred to UMD where he is currently pursuing a B.B.A. in Finance. Adam plans on graduating in the spring of 2008. His future plans include finding a job in the financial services industry in money management, and hopes to be a portfolio manager someday. Adam enjoys boating, fishing, hunting, and sports.

Brent Birkemeier

Brent, a 2004 graduate from Woodbury High School is pursuing a B.B.A in Finance and plans to graduate in the spring of 2008. He has been actively involved in the Investment Club, Intramural sports, and many different outdoor activities including snowboarding throughout his 4 years at UMD. Having completed internships in the cities over the past two summers his business and financial interests continue to grow. Brent hopes to pursue a career in the financial markets industry either in the Chicago or Twin Cities area.

Kevin Halligan

Kevin was a graduate of Eagan High School in 2004. He is pursing a B.B.A. in Finance and is planning on graduating in the spring of 2008. While attending UMD he has been active in several intramural sports, and currently is an active member in the investment club. His hobbies are spending time and traveling with his family. He enjoys hunting and fishing in the summer and snowboarding in the winter time. He is looking forward to having a great senior year. Upon graduating Kevin wants to find a career in the financial service industry.