2018 FAP Class

Nicolas Alzate

Nicolas Alzate was born in Armenia, Colombia, but lived between California and Florida for a majority of his life and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Finance. He found his passion for business and finance from his entrepreneurial family. Nicolas decided to join the program to improve his financial and analytical skills while increasing his competitiveness in the job market after graduation. Upon graduation, Nicolas plans on obtaining his Chartered Financial Analyst designation, become an entrepreneur and continue his education at a top business school.

Richard Blazer

Richard Blazer was born in Hollywood, Florida and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Economics as well as two minors in Business Administration and Political Science. He has a passion for aviation and real estate that started at an early age and wants to work in asset management specifically dealing with aircraft leasing or real estate. He will be graduating magna cum laude in May 2019 while simultaneously completing the Financial Analyst Program. Upon graduation, he plans on dedicating his time and energy to both asset management and starting businesses dedicated to solving inefficiencies in both the aviation and shipping industries alike.

Brett Dorminey

Brett Dorminey is a South Florida native, who developed an early passion for business and the capital markets from his father, the owner of several child care centers. He obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and a minor in Real Estate from the University of Central Florida.

Brett is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Finance degree at Florida Atlantic University, while simultaneously participating in the Financial Analyst Program. He strategically chose these programs to further pursue his passion for finance, as well as learn how to produce deep fundamental valuation and equity research reports.

Brett is currently working at TouchSuite in the Mergers and Acquisitions Department as a financial analyst intern. Upon graduation in December 2019, he will be pursuing a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and intends to further his career in the finance industry.

Michael Frangos

Michael Frangos was born and raised in south Florida. As a kid, he had an interest in science and music but felt as though pursuing these interests as careers might not be monetarily rewarding. As he grew older, he saw that money had a big impact in the way the world runs. He found this realization fascinating and learned as much as he could about the subject thereon. Consequently, Warren Buffett became one of his main role models for success. At age 18, Michael stepped inside a stock brokerage to open his first portfolio. In May 2018, Michael graduated Magna cum Laude from FAU with a double major in accounting and finance. Michael currently provides financial services for FAU’s Executive Education students and is currently studying for his series 65 exam. He plans to complete the CFA in the future and hopes to start an investment company one day.

Jose Genao

Jose Genao was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Currently wrapping up his senior year pursuing a Bachelors of Business Administration Degree in Finance, Jose shares an underlying passion for finance and investing. Exposure to an Investment Analyst internship opportunity with a commercial real estate firm as a freshman really embedded the core passion for finance.

Upon completion of the Financial Analyst Program, Jose plans to sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and further sharpen his financial analysis skills. Special interests include investment banking, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions.

John Henry

John Henry is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance with a minor in Economics at Florida Atlantic University. He is on track to graduate with honors in May of 2019. He joined the Financial Analyst Program looking to acquire a set of skills that would position him for success in the financial services industry. Upon graduation, he plans to sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Jarod Jannotta

Jarod Jannotta was born in Jacksonville, Florida but has lived in Boca Raton nearly his entire life. He started college at the age of 15 as a full time dually enrolled student through FAU high school. Through his journey has a young business student, he found his passion for finance and investing.

Currently, Jarod is pursuing a double major in Finance and Economics at FAU while attending the Financial Analyst Program. Jarod will graduate in the spring of 2019 along with the completion of the Financial Analyst Program. He wishes to evolve his skillset to succeed in the field of finance and complete the Chartered Financial Analyst certification. Jarod aims to become a financial analyst after the completion of the Financial Analyst Program and his undergraduate degree.

Purity Otieno

Purity Akoth Otieno is an international student, born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. She has a background in Hotel and Hospitality Management but after working for Barclays Bank of Kenya as a dealer in the Treasury department where she negotiated foreign exchange rates for the bank’s clients, she decided to change her career to Finance. She is pursuing her Master of Business Administration in Finance at Florida Atlantic University and will be graduating in August 2019.

Before becoming a dealer, Purity was a Prestige Sales Executive at Barclays where she prospered in sales. This is majorly due to her great interpersonal skills. Purity is working with various organizations while pursuing her masters. She is an Assistant Director at Greenberg Capital and is also a Program Coordinator at the Graduate and Professional Student Association in FAU. She is also part of the travel committee at FAU where she helps in securing funds for students who need to travel domestically and abroad for research, conferences and seminars. Moreover, she is also a Graduate Student Teaching Assistant for Professor. Barnhart in the Finance Department. Purity is also proudly a Certified Student Leader.

Purity joined the Financial Analyst Program to strengthen her financial, presentation and analytical skills as well as increase her competitiveness in the job market upon graduation. She believes that upon the completion of her MBA with a concentration in Finance, along with the FAP Certificate, and her strong work ethics, she will be equipped with the best possible tools to tackle real life problems that come with the growing financial industry. Her goal is to help her country Kenya to solve the problems it faces concerning heavy reliance on financial aid from other countries.

Kyle Potter

Kyle Potter is a senior level finance student at Florida Atlantic University where he is currently completing a Bachelor’s Degree in finance as well as a minor in Information Systems. He will be completing his final semester while simultaneously participating in the Financial Analyst Program, and is expected to graduate December 2018. Upon competition of the financial analyst program, Kyle plans on obtaining his Chartered Financial Analyst designation while working in the Finance Industry.

During independent study, Kyle researches complex financial derivatives including stock options and futures contracts. He has been trading in the financial markets for the past three years and has net meaningful profit. As well as trading experience, Kyle also has interned at Benchmark Financial RIA, and is the Vice President of the Registered Student Organization The Investors Association.

Sean Ruditz

Sean Ruditz was born and raised in South Florida. He is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Finance (MSF) degree at Florida Atlantic University, while also participating in the Financial Analyst Program. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and is currently working as a Finance Intern at Rader and Coleman, PL. Sean plans on sitting for the Chartered Financial Analyst designation this upcoming year, and continuing to pursue a career in the financial services industry.

Adeel Shahzad

Adeel Shahzad was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan before moving to South Florida in 2011. Adeel is a senior at FAU pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Finance. During summer 2018, he interned in the Long-term Disability and FP&A department at Broadspire. Adeel currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for The Investors Association, a student-run initiative to further educate and apply financial analysis. Adeel also serves as the Vice President of Professional Activities and Finance Committee Chairman of the Zeta Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, a business professional fraternity. Adeel will be completing his last two semesters while simultaneously participating in the Financial Analyst Program.  Adeel is participating in the Financial Analyst Program at FAU to strengthen his deep analytical skills and financial skills. After graduation, he plans to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and pursue MBA.

Victor Silva

Victor Silva was born in Goiás, Brazil and was brought to Florida at the age of 7 by his parents so that he may have better opportunities. He received his Bachelor's of Accounting from FAU while participating in the Accounting Scholars Program. Prior to joining the Financial Analyst Program, he completed an internship with a Big 4 public accounting firm.

Currently, he is pursuing his Master's of Accounting while working as a Graduate Assistant as a peer mentor to accounting and finance undergraduates. Victor has passed parts of the CPA and is enrolled in the FAP to broaden his opportunities within both finance and accounting.

Joseph Talavera

Joseph Talavera is a senior at Florida Atlantic University where he is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with a minor in Real Estate, he plans to graduate in Fall of 2018. He exercised and grew his passion for finance at Slater Financial, in his home town of Daytona Beach, Florida. There he worked as an Accounting and Finance Associate, preforming audits, tax filings, and financial analysis. He strengthened his public relations and management skills through working for Florida Atlantic University. He holds the distinction of Eagle Scout, an internationally recognized award from the Boy Scouts of America. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa the International Honors Society, and President of the FAU Spearfishing Club. Through the Corner of Love Foundation, he spent several months working with and providing aid for many indigenous people groups throughout Central America. He is currently pursuing the level one Chartered Financial Analyst certification and plans to take the exam next year after completing the FAU Financial Analyst Program. He aspires to work as a financial analyst in investment banking or private equity.

Laith Warraiat

Laith Warraiat was born and raised in South Florida.  Since he was young, Laith has always been interested in the world of business and especially the Finance Industry.  He recently earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Florida Atlantic University in May of 2018.  While pursuing his undergraduate degree Laith was employed as a Teller at JP Morgan Chase Bank.  Afterwards, he completed a Branch Sales Internship at TD Ameritrade.  These experiences in the client service in the Financial Services Industry helped him gain insight into how wealth is managed and how retail banks and brokerage firms operate.

In order to strengthen his financial skillset, Laith is participating in FAU’s Financial Analyst Program.  Upon graduation, Laith plans to begin testing for the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in order compete in the evolving job market.  Laith looks forward to working in the Financial Industry as a Financial Analyst.

Tyrus Williams

Tyrus Williams was born in Muskogee, OK and spent most of his life in Tampa, FL. He developed a passion for Finance after a presentation from Investment Bankers at Raymond James Financial. Tyrus is currently a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics. He has been a math tutor through all four years of college and is an avid follower of all things related to soccer and basketball.

Tyrus is currently a student in the Financial Analyst Program at FAU and a member of the CFA Institute Research team. Upon graduation, Tyrus seeks to gain employment in the private equity field and eventually return to school for in MBA.

Rainford Knight, Ph.D.

Dr. Rainford Knight is the creator of the FAP program. His experience spans both academia and industry. His academic career started as an Assistant Professor of Finance at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in Madison, New Jersey and then as a mergers and acquisitions senior manager in the financial services industry.

Knight has over 15 years of practical experience in financial/investment analysis in the areas of mortgage pool analytics, traditional and alternative portfolio construction and management, Investment management education and mergers and acquisitions.

Program Participants

Click to view information about the program participant.

• Rainford Knight, Ph.D.
• Kenneth Brown
• Casey Carroll
• Joseph Huempfner
• Esrael Morales
• Mi Nyguen
• Angel Ramirez
• Maria Thereza Rodrigues
• Flavia Villamonte

Quick Links

• Executive MBA - Finance
• Professional MBA - Finance
• MS in Finance