Badgers in Finance NYC

Location

22 Vanderbilt – The Commons, 7th Floor
335 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017
(Located between 43rd and 44th Streets)

Schedule

6–7 p.m.: Networking, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails
7–8 p.m.: Program with Q&A
8–9 p.m.: Networking, dessert, and cocktails

Mike Knetter is an international economist who was CEO of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) from 2010–2024, and now serves as a senior advisor for WISIMCO, WFAA’s investment division. During his tenure, Knetter led a variety of initiatives, including the $4.2 billion All Ways Forward campaign, the 2014 merger of the UW Foundation and the Wisconsin Alumni Association, and the modernization of technology and the business model of WFAA. Prior to leading WFAA, Knetter was dean of the Wisconsin School of Business, where he orchestrated the novel school naming gift, the expansion of Grainger Hall, and the restructuring and improved national standing of the MBA program.

Prior to UW–Madison, he was a professor of international economics and associate dean at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He also served as senior staff economist for the Council of Economic Advisers for former presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Knetter is currently a board member for American Family Insurance and Neuberger Berman Funds. Knetter completed his undergraduate studies in economics and mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and his PhD in economics at Stanford University.

Emmett McCann (BBA ’97) is the co-chief executive officer and co-portfolio manager of Duration Capital Partners. Prior to founding Duration in 2024, he worked at Oaktree Capital and Highstar Capital. During his career, McCann has helped lead several major public-private partnerships, including the 40-year lease of the Luis Munoz Marin Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the 50-year lease and concession agreement at the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore, Maryland.

Prior to joining Highstar in 2009, McCann helped build Morgan Stanley’s infrastructure effort in Europe and North America. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he was part of the team that established the infrastructure investment banking practice at Goldman Sachs. He currently serves on the board of directors of Ports America. McCann holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago. He is also a member of the board of Youth, Inc., a leading non-profit focused on building organizations that help children in New York City thrive.

Vallabh (Samba) Sambamurthy is the Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business. Recognized as an impactful administrator, attentive leader, and preeminent scholar in the areas of innovation and digital strategy, Dr. Sambamurthy brings extensive experience to the dean position. A leading expert on how businesses compete in the digital economy, Dr. Sambamurthy’s work has been featured in leading academic journals. Several Fortune 500 firms have engaged him as a consultant. Prior to his current role, Dr. Sambamurthy served as Eli Broad Professor and associate dean of the MBA and professional master’s programs at the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University.

Dr. Sambamurthy received his PhD from the University of Minnesota, his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, and his B.E. from the National Institute of Technology (Tiruchirappalli, India).

Ricky C. Sandler (BBA ’91) is the founder, chief executive officer, and chief investment officer of Eminence Capital, LP, which he founded in 1999. Today, Eminence is a nearly $8 billion global investment management organization, investing client capital across global financial markets. As CEO and CIO of Eminence, Sandler is responsible for setting the firm’s strategic direction as well as directly managing its 20+ person investment team and diversified investment portfolio.

Prior to launching Eminence, Sandler was co-founder and co-general partner of Fusion Capital Management, a firm that managed a long/short hedge fund focused on global equity securities. Prior to that he was a research analyst at Mark Asset Management, where he began his investing career in 1991.

Sandler received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance, graduating with honors from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Sandler developed and teaches a capstone finance course at Wisconsin, Applied Equity Markets Research, and launched Badgers in Finance: a professional and recruitment network for UW–Madison students and alumni across financial services. Sandler also serves as an advisor on the Investment Committee for the University of Wisconsin Foundation and is a chartered financial analyst.

Amy Schneidkraut (BBA ’01) is senior managing director and head of capital formation at Centerbridge Partners. Schneidkraut joined Centerbridge in 2009 and leads the firm’s business development, fundraising, and investor relations efforts globally. She also serves as a member of the firm’s management committee and private equity investment committee.

Prior to joining Centerbridge, Schneidkraut was responsible for existing and prospective investor relationships at Satellite Asset Management, L.P. Prior to Satellite, Schneidkraut was a vice president of equity prime brokerage sales at Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., where she began as a marketing associate in global prime brokerage and then worked as a vice president of capital introductions. She began her career as an analyst, with a focus on defined contributions, at USI Consulting Group, Inc.

Schneidkraut serves on the board of directors of The Chick Mission and is a member of the Columbia University Medical Center’s Urology Council. Schneidkraut received a BBA degree from the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Colin Welch (BBA ’92) is a managing director and partner at TSG Consumer Partners, a leading private equity firm with approximately $15 billion in assets under management. TSG partners with founders and management teams to accelerate the growth of best-in-class consumer-facing businesses. At TSG, Welch is responsible for sourcing and diligencing new investment opportunities, structuring transactions, and working closely with partner companies. He also oversees and manages the firm’s New York office.

Welch brings more than 30 years of experience in the consumer and retail sectors, both domestically and internationally. Prior to joining TSG, he was a principal shareholder and served as president and chief operating officer of Financo LLC, as well as CEO of Financo Europe. In these roles, he advised companies across a wide range of consumer sub-sectors, including health and wellness, hospitality, fashion and apparel, footwear and accessories, luxury goods, beauty and personal care, multi-unit retail and services, and e-commerce, focusing on growth capital raising and strategic advisory. Earlier in his career, Welch held investment banking positions at Credit Suisse Europe, Lehman Brothers Europe, J.P. Morgan, and Montgomery Securities, and he also gained operating experience at The Neiman Marcus Group in both merchandising and management roles.

Welch earned his MBA from Harvard University and a BBA, with distinction, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is a trustee and member of the Investment Committee of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and serves on the University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor’s Advisory Board. He previously chaired the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Wisconsin School of Business and, in 2024, was honored with the school’s Distinguished Business Alumni Award. Welch also serves on the Board of Governors for Parsons School of Design and is a past member of the Fashion Institute of Technology Foundation.