Investment Society

2024-2025

In the School of Business Investment Program, theory meets practice. Society members each take on a role in this program run like an investment firm. Students wear at least two hats, an administrative role within the investment firm or an analyst for an equity sector.

 

Coco Kelly - Managing Director

Originally from Fort Mill, SC, Coco is a senior at the College of Charleston majoring in finance with a minor in business administration. This fall, she joined Greenwood Capital as an Investment Analyst Intern, where she engaged in comprehensive research across diverse asset classes, geographical regions, and industries gaining a broad understanding of investment strategy. During the previous summer, Coco interned with Barings in Charlotte as part of the Diversified Alternative Equity (DAE) team. In this capacity, she conducted due diligence and performed daily ad hoc analysis on potential private equity and real asset equity investments spanning co-investments, primary, and secondary opportunities. She gained valuable experience in real asset underwriting with a particular emphasis on natural resources, including specialized expertise in the oil and natural gas sector. Following her graduation from the College of Charleston this spring, she has accepted an offer to return as a full-time analyst to rejoin the DAE team at Barings. Over the summer of 2023, Coco completed an internship at Vest, where she focused on social media marketing within the financial services industry. She was involved in projects including competitive analysis, audience cultivation, and engagement strategies. In addition to her internship experiences, Coco serves as a Managing Director for the Investment Program and works as a Student Ambassador for the College of Charleston. In her ambassador role, she represents and promotes the School of Business to prospective students by supporting outreach initiatives and contributing to orientation and admissions events. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Coco enjoys fitness, baking, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the beautiful city of Charleston.

Sasha Nelson - Managing Director

Sasha is a senior at the College of Charleston, double majoring in finance and mathematics. Prior to her role as Managing Director, she served as the Portfolio Strategies Analyst and European Economist. Sasha leverages her mathematical acumen in tandem with her technical and logical aptitude to propel herself across multifaceted domains of investment. Over the last two summers, Sasha has interned at Vest Financial as a Product Development Intern. While at Vest, she worked directly under the Product Development Team in various aspects, including data and statistical analysis, excel modeling, and options valuation model construction. She also contributed on projects focused on new products, such as modeling and pricing derivative structures and conducting performance analysis on these structures in different interest rate and volatility climates. In addition to her work with the Product Development Team, Sasha worked on research projects for the Vest Research Team, where she contributed to a published white paper on buffer ETFs, with a focus on competitor analysis and assessing fund management and efficacy. After graduating in the spring of 2025, she plans to continue her tenure with Vest as an analyst for the Product Development Team. Sasha also volunteers as an academic tutor to peers and children in various fields of study, with particular emphasis on mathematics. In her free time, she enjoys reading about architecture & design, Pilates, long-distance running, floristry, cooking, and volleyball.   

Brian Ager - Director of Private Capital

Brian is a senior at The College of Charleston, majoring in finance with a minor in economics. Over the past summer, he interned at Sands Investment Group, a commercial real estate brokerage firm in Charleston, SC. In this role, Brian conducted market research, created BOV presentations, and assisted in underwriting early education assets. The previous summer, he interned at Atlanticville, a multifamily real estate investment firm based in Sullivan's Island, SC. There, Brian underwrote investment opportunities across the Southeast by projecting future free cash flows and evaluating potential risks and returns. He was also responsible for maintaining the firm’s comprehensive deal-tracking pipeline. Brian’s strong analytical skills and attention to detail have enabled him to excel in these roles, consistently delivering high-quality work. In his free time, Brian enjoys spending time with friends, listening to podcasts, and golfing. After graduation, he is seeking to secure an analyst role in PE real estate. 

Chris Amons - Chief Investment Officer

Originally from Haddonfield, NJ, Chris is a senior at the College of Charleston, majoring in finance and economics. This summer, he interned as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Ziegler where he gained experience in mergers and acquisitions and debt capital markets, performing in-depth industry research, building financial models, BOVs, and OMs. Previously, Chris gained valuable experience at Equitable as a Wealth Management Intern, where he collaborated closely with a financial advisor and contributed to portfolio strategy research. He also served as an intern at Blue Whale Health, where he conducted market analysis and developed a pitch deck to represent the medical supply platform in the seed stage of funding. Additionally, Chris completed an internship at Johnson & Johnson as a Supply Chain Data Analytics Intern, working with data science teams to enhance supply chain operations.  At the College of Charleston, Chris is the Chief Investment Officer for the Investment Program. He also participates in the Watersports Club and Surf Club. Outside of his academic and professional endeavors, Chris enjoys surfing, football, lifting weights, grilling, and cornhole. 

Lily Bagwell - Chief Operating Officer

Lily is a senior at the College of Charleston majoring in Commercial Real Estate Finance with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She is a native of Greenville, South Carolina. This past summer, she interned for CBRE in Denver, Colorado. There she worked directly under the senior managing director for capital markets where she developed financial modeling skills to create broker opinion of values, property valuations, DCF models, and debt sizing models. During the school year, Lily interns at Beemok Capital, where she works alongside their investment team to assess opportunities in private and public debt and equity. She also works closely with Beemok’s portfolio of businesses and nonprofit projects. During her junior year at college, Lily served as the Real Assets Analyst and covered the Real Estate and Utilities sectors. Currently, she serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the program and covers the Energy and Materials sectors. Additionally, Lily is involved in the Schottland Scholars Program. In her free time, Lily enjoys surfing, running, jazz music, exploring new restaurants, spending meaningful time with family and friends, enjoying time on the water, and working on cars with her dad.

Lucas Boyd - U.S. Markets Analyst

Lucas is a senior finance major at the College of Charleston, originally from Newton, MA. During the 2024 spring semester and summer he interned at Atlanticville, a local real estate asset management firm on Sullivan’s Island. His main responsibilities consisted of underwriting deals, managing a supply pipeline, and researching various markets. He gained valuable experience working closely with a financial analyst and the firm’s General Principals, developing skills such as identifying value in multifamily assets, understanding markets and submarkets, and engaging with brokers. Lucas is excited to dive into his role as the US Markets Analyst for the Investment Program and focus on the Information Technology and Communications sectors. He is currently seeking full-time opportunities in real estate and financial markets upon graduation. In his free time, Lucas likes to workout, read, fish, golf, explore Charleston, and socialize.

Luke Carando - Real Assets Analyst

Luke is a junior at the College of Charleston majoring in finance with a minor in real estate. He is originally from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. In the summer of 2024, Luke worked at Morgan Stanley as a Wealth Management Intern. During his time at Morgan Stanley, Luke simultaneously worked under two different Financial Advisor teams. He worked closely with senior vice presidents gaining experience in several capacities involving financial planning, portfolio management, client relations, and market research. He attended meetings with executives in other areas of the business such as alternative investments and the private bank, learning to efficiently implement strategies to better suit the needs of clients. Currently, Luke serves as the Real Assets Analyst and covers the Real Estate and Utilities sectors. Also, he plays on the College of Charleston Men’s Rugby Club and the Club Lacrosse Team. Luke enjoys weightlifting, running, skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, and spending time with his family and friends. 

Lance Delisle - Portfolio Strategist Analyst

Originally from Long Island, New York, Lance is a junior at the College of Charleston majoring in commercial real estate finance with a minor in economics. Lance is a Portfolio Strategies Analyst for the Investment Program, where he will be streamlining and analyzing the performance and risk management structure of the fund. Over the summer of 2024, Lance lifeguarded at Ocean Beach, Fire Island, while also interning at Island Associates, a boutique commercial real estate management firm with an emphasis on retail. During his internship, Lance assisted the firm with revenue projections and updated listings for over 50 properties, adjusting for taxes, insurance increases, and reconciling CAM expenses. Lance aims to take the SIE exam later this year and is actively pursuing a finance internship for the spring semester and summer. Lance is looking forward to expanding his knowledge in finance and is determined to do so. During his free time, Lance likes to stay active, surf, cook, and explore the beautiful city of Charleston. 

Ava Gansrow - Fixed Income Analyst

Ava is a senior in the Honors College at the College of Charleston majoring in finance with a minor in management. She is originally from Center Moriches, New York. During the summer of 2023, Ava interned at Northwestern Mutual as a Financial Planning Support Intern. At Northwestern Mutual, Ava assisted a senior financial planner with wealth management in insurance and tax-sheltering and conducted business valuations. This past summer, she interned at Beacon Pointe Advisors in Charleston, South Carolina, where she served as a liaison to firm professionals and client service associates in the research, review, and execution of sensitive and high-priority investment-related tasks. During the school year, Ava will continue at Beacon Pointe Advisors, where she will be trained in investment software and take on other wealth management responsibilities. Currently, Ava serves as the Fixed Income Analyst in the program. In this role, she analyzes fixed-income securities and the state of the economy to assess how the debt market will drive and affect the equities in our portfolio. She also covers the Consumer Discretionary sector within the Investment Program. Additionally, Ava is involved in Charleston 40, giving tours to prospective students, and working closely with admissions. In her free time, Ava enjoys distance running, playing her electric guitar, exploring music, and spending quality time with family and friends.  

Karson Gjesdal - U.S. Economist

Karson is a junior at the College of Charleston, majoring in finance. Originally from Lake Oswego, Oregon, Karson transferred to CofC from Gonzaga University in the fall of 2023. This past summer, Karson worked as an equity research intern at Breach Inlet Capital, a small-cap portfolio in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. There, he worked directly under the Founder and Portfolio Manager, where he conducted industry research, administered model updates, and searched for catalysts driving structural change and creating significant value. Additionally, this past summer, Karson also conducted data research on ETFs for Dr. Joanne Hill, with a concentration on the VIX, VIX1Y, and S&P 500 indices, and sourced data for her work, “A Comprehensive Guide to Exchange-Traded Funds.” Currently, he serves as the U.S. Economist and covers the Consumer Staples and Industrials sectors. In his free time, Karson enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, golfing, and listening to country music. 

Alina Gonzalez - Asian Pacific Economist

Alina is a junior at the College of Charleston, double majoring in Finance and Accounting. During the summer of 2024, Alina was a Data Systems Integration Intern for TSWII Capital Advisors. She worked directly under the portfolio manager and with the private equity, venture capital team. During this time, she had been tasked with organizing their systems for tracking early-stage sourcing efforts, deal pipeline, and due diligence processes, along with conducting market research on possible allocators. In the Spring of 2024, Alina and other colleagues reestablished the Women in Business Organization, where she serves as the secretary. Additionally, Alina completed a Tax Accounting Internship for Jan Waring Woods, CPA, LLC during tax season. She gained experience with individual and corporate tax filings. Alina prepared numerous 1040s alone and bookkeeping for high-net-worth clients. Throughout her freshman and sophomore years, Alina took on several distinct roles, serving as the Director of Finance and Planning for the American Marketing Association, Senator for the Student Government Association, Secretary for the College Republican Organization, and Student Representative for the Faculty Committee on General Education. During her leisure time, Alina enjoys figure skating, hiking, fitness, reading, and indulging in some moderate retail therapy. 

Luke Morris - Portfolio Strategies Analyst

Luke is a sophomore at the College of Charleston majoring in finance with a minor in economics. Originally from Clarksville, Maryland, Luke spent the past summer in Charleston interning with Broadtree Partners, focusing on their unique entrepreneurship-through-acquisition program. Tasked with developing a case study explaining the fund’s performance, he worked extensively studying private equity deals, including due diligence and equity waterfalls. Luke is one of two Portfolio Strategy Analysts for the Investment Program, focusing on the portfolio's allocation through analyzing market trends and performance, as well as an Energy and Materials sector analyst. Luke is currently applying and preparing for 2026 summer internships at bulge bracket investment banks, particularly aiming for opportunities in Mergers and Acquisitions. In his free time, Luke enjoys playing guitar, Italian poetry, vintage hi-fi, cycling, and golfing. 

Nicco Myers - Global Political Analyst

Nicco is a senior at the College of Charleston majoring in Finance. He is originally from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. This past summer, he interned for Northwestern Mutual at their Summerville branch. His main responsibilities included assisting in client onboarding, reviewing financial statements, preparing insurance applications, and generating financial plans for client education. He gained significant experience in financial advising and client dealings. Starting in the fall semester, Nicco is passionate about his role as the Global Political Analyst, analyzing the economic impact of political events. He is currently looking for part-time opportunities in wealth management. Additionally, Nicco enjoys his free time by playing tennis, fishing, working out, and spending time with friends. 

Kayla Sheridan - Emerging Markets Economist

Kayla is a junior at the College of Charleston double majoring in finance and economics. She is originally from Whippany, New Jersey. This past summer, she interned at Equitable Advisors in Secaucus, New Jersey. There she worked directly under senior advisors and conducted research on various financial products, services, and economic conditions to support client recommendations. During the school year, Kayla works at a consignment shop where she evaluates contemporary and luxury clothing inventory according to style and season. Currently, she serves as the Emerging Markets Economist and covers the Consumer Discretionary sector. In this role, she analyzes macroeconomic trends and market forces within developing economies, identifying factors that may influence market performance. In her free time, she enjoys painting, staying active, baking, and spending time with family and friends.  

Dane Shuart - Private Capital Analyst

Dane is a junior at the College of Charleston, majoring in finance with a double minor in real estate and religious studies. He is originally from Fenwick Island, Delaware. This past summer, Dane worked at JonesTrading as an equity research analyst. At Jones, he focused on research related to specialty finance for REITs. This included creating DCF and NAV models, drafting macroeconomic reports on real estate loan exposure, and developing skills in risk assessment through analyzing economic cycles and capital structuring. Throughout the school year, Dane serves as the private capital analyst. In this role, he works with Charleston Angel Partners to seek investment opportunities in the private capital industry, crafting due diligence reports and pitch decks for presentation to other members of the Investment Program. Dane also covers the technology and communications sectors within the program. Additionally, he is the co-director of the School of Business Ambassador Program. In his free time, Dane enjoys golfing, running, snowboarding, scuba diving, hiking, traveling, and watching Premier League soccer. 

Kate Stone - EMEA Economist

Kate Stone is a senior double-majoring in finance and spanish and she is from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. During her time at the College, she has held the position of Vice President of Finance for her sorority, Delta Gamma, where she constructed and maintained a projected budget for the academic school year and helped facilitate the reduction of chapter and housing dues through the implementation of a new budgeting system. This past summer, Kate interned for Schneider Electric in Dallas, Texas as a finance intern under the company’s Secure Power division. During her internship she prepared more accurate forecasting models to streamline monthly forecast processes, provided meaningful financial analysis of complex data, compiled data using various software to generate financial statements. Additionally, she was able to use her Spanish speaking skills to engage in international business meetings through the presentation of the rolling forecast. During her career at the College, Kate has studied abroad in both Italy and Spain where she was able to develop a comprehensive understanding of European economies, markets and politics giving her a well-rounded and enhanced understanding of the intricate structure of world economies. Due to her experience and education abroad, Kate is the EMEA economist and supports the Financials sector. At the College, Kate is involved in Global Scholars, Club Tennis, and the Spanish Club. Her interests include traveling, playing tennis and pickleball, working out, and skiing.  

Maxwell Vittorio - Risk Management Analyst

Maxwell Vittorio is a junior at the College of Charleston and a member of the Honors College. He is majoring in finance with a minor in entrepreneurship. As a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Maxwell spent much of his time in high school as an entrepreneur growing his business, Vittorio Ventures LLC, which focused on online retail during the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience honed his skills in market analysis, lead generation, and accounting. As a freshman, Maxwell was a member of the College's Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community and competed in SC Innovates, a statewide university pitch competition in which his team placed fourth out of 76 entries. Currently, he serves as the Risk Management Analyst and covers the Consumer Discretionary sector within the Investment Program. In this role, Maxwell works closely with the CIO, conducting research identifying potential risk exposure and presenting solutions as a member of the fund's strategy team. Beyond finance, Maxwell works as a professional photojournalist and sports photographer with photographs published across the globe, including the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Charleston's Post and Courier. In his free time, Maxwell enjoys exploring new restaurants, Formula 1, traveling, and watching movies. 

Johnny Wilkes - Chief Technical Officer

Johnny Wilkes is a senior majoring in finance and computer science. He hails from Knoxville, TN, where he completed a commercial real estate internship over the summer of 2023 with Westpark Capital. In this role, he learned how to value commercial properties, assess commercial leases, and reconcile triple-net operating expenses. He completed various technical projects and regularly pitched attractive commercial real estate opportunities to company management. This past summer, Johnny worked in New York City as an Equity Sales & Trading Intern at Oppenheimer. There, he had the opportunity to explore the trading floor of a middle-market investment firm and learn about institutional equities trading from a sell-side perspective by shadowing experienced sector and sales traders at desks specializing in different industries, products, and strategies. He completed numerous projects to track and analyze equity data and became experienced with following major events in capital markets. He also had the chance to visit Oppenheimer’s equity research, research sales, asset management, compliance, and operations divisions to obtain a comprehensive view of how the firm catered to its institutional clients. At college, Johnny serves as treasurer for the school’s chapter of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, participates in the Mortar Board honor society, and works at the campus’s accredited writing lab. Within the Investment Program, he is serving as a peer advisor, leading members in special projects to benefit the program’s efficiency and educational value through automation and information architecture. Outside of class, Johnny enjoys camping and hiking, cooking, mixology, and exploring new cities, cultures, and local fare. 

James Wiseman - Private Capital Analyst

James is a senior at the College of Charleston majoring in commercial real estate finance. Originally from Haymarket, Virginia, James devoted many years traveling nationwide due to his past endeavors as a hockey player. Throughout college, James interned at Emerging Digital Concepts as a data analyst specializing in emergency service data transfers between CAD2CAD systems using NG-CAD-X software within the greater D.C. and Northern Virginia region. Additionally, James interned at Legacy Park Capital LLC, where he learned financial modeling skills and applied them to potential investment opportunities. This summer, he furthered his expertise by completing a CRE internship at Harbor Commercial Partners in Charleston. In this capacity, James learned from and assisted senior commercial real estate brokers in lease and sale transactions, market research, and financial modeling across multiple asset classes. James will serve as a private capital analyst while covering the utilities and real estate sectors within the College of Charleston's Investment Program for his senior year. James dedicates his free time to enjoying friends and family, the outdoors, surfing, skiing, golfing, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.