Jason Quill

Georgia Institute of Technology, Scheller College of Business

“I am a motivated, resilient person focused on constantly improving myself and my peers.”

Fun fact about yourself: When I retire, I plan on opening a charter fishing business in the Florida Keys.

Hometown: Grayson, Georgia

High School: Grayson High School

Major: B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance

Minor: Engineering and Business through the Denning Technology and Management Program

Favorite Business Course: My favorite course has been my Capstone Project with Caterpillar and the Denning Technology and Management Program where I had the opportunity to work on an interdisciplinary team to optimize Caterpillar’s generator set enclosure business. This class highlighted the focus that Scheller has on teaching students’ practical skills that allow them to succeed within organizations. We were able to fully analyze Caterpillar’s value chain to deliver over $13 million in present value cost savings for the firm over the 9-month project. Capstone was my favorite course because of my amazing capstone team and the interdisciplinary skills I learned.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

Extracurricular Activities

• Georgia Tech Student Foundation Investments Committee, Senior Managing Director
• Georgia Tech Accel Program, Director
• Scheller Business Ambassadors, Ambassador

Awards and Honors

• Alice Neal Dean’s Scholarship
• Georgia Tech T&M Capstone Best Project (2019)
• Aubrey Holland T&M Scholarship Recipient (2018)
• McConnell T&M Scholarship Recipient (2018)
• Beta Kappa Scholarship Recipient (2018)
• Denning Technology and Management Scholar (2017)
• Deloitte National Case Competition Semi-Finalist (2017)
• Faculty Honors (4.0 GPA) (Every Semester)

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Point72 (New York, New York and Stamford, CT), Long/Short Equity Academy Summer Analyst
• Caterpillar (Atlanta, GA), Denning Technology and Management Capstone Team
• Ernst & Young (Atlanta, GA), Financial Accounting Advisory Intern
• Sullivan & Schlieman Wealth Management (Alpharetta, GA), Financial Services Intern

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be joining Roark Capital Group as a Private Equity Analyst in July 2020.

What company do you admire the most? I admire Orvis, the world’s leader in fly fishing, for both creating great products while investing in their employees and the environment. Orvis’ commitment to donating 5% of their pretax profits to protecting trout streams, forests, and dogs shows that they are a business focused on the vitality model and sustainability. In addition, the company only hires employees who are aligned with the company’s mission statement of “guiding patrons to lead more fulfilling lives through a deep personal connection to the adventure and wonders of the natural world.” Orvis’ intention, vision, and action to make the world a better place is why I admire them the most.

Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor has been Dr. Jonathan Clarke. I had the opportunity to take Security Valuation and an Independent Study with Dr. Clarke. Dr. Clarke’s passion for mentoring students and love for finance is unmatched by any other professor that I have met. When I was a freshman, I went to Dr. Clarke to try to determine which career path I should choose, and he spent over an hour talking to me and providing contacts in each respective industry. Since then, Dr. Clarke has served as a mentor for me when looking at career options. Additionally, in the classroom, Dr. Clarke is one of the most engaging and knowledgeable professors. Dr. Clarke utilized cases to teach us practical applications of DCFs, LBOs, and relative valuations while bringing in industry professionals who spoke about their experience in the field. Lastly, Dr. Clarke is always available to meet one-on-one if you are struggling with a topic and will ensure that you fully understand the concepts.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? Scheller truly cares about every student and ensures that graduates will become leaders in their respective fields of study. Scheller equips students with the technical skills, soft skills, and network to pursue any career. The school’s position at the center of business and technology allows students to graduate with an intensive understanding of all aspects of business while having the quantitative, programming, and engineering skills to excel in such a rapidly changing environment.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Business is such a massive field that it is easy to get lost and be unaware of available subspecialties. I would advise the student to determine what aspect of business they are passionate about and pursue a career where they will enjoy going to work every day. To determine the right career, I would advise the student to slowly narrow his/her search from various business fields to industries to professions and finally to a specific job at a specific company. When exploring various fields, it is most important to reach out to friends and alumni to discuss their professional experiences and determine if you would be interested in their job. Additionally, a huge benefit of college is the ability to join student organizations to narrow your focus and try out jobs during internships to decide whether you would want to work at a company full-time.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I have been most surprised about how much experience you gain in a wide variety of different industries. For instance, studying business has given me exposure to everything from forecasting oil reserves and concentrated solar power systems to soft-bodied wearable robotic devices. This has allowed me to speak confidently with executives, professors, and other students about emerging technologies in a wide variety of different industries. Essentially, majoring in business vastly expands your skill set outside of just knowing business fundamentals.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of having the opportunity to serve as the Senior Managing Director of the Georgia Tech Student Foundation’s Investments Committee after being with the organization for four years. The Investments Committee is comprised of over 100 students across 11 sectors, where we manage over $1.7 million and disburse semi-annual dividends to organizations to make Georgia Tech and the world a better place.

In 2019, we were able to beat the S&P500 by 1.08% while giving out over $70,000 to organizations ranging from Engineers in Action, which build bridges in developing countries, to 84s to 800s, which provide SAT resources to underprivileged kids in the Atlanta area. We were able to achieve these returns despite hedge funds returning 6.96% on average. This was the most impactful experience of my college career because it allowed me to apply my love for investing with the ability to help other people.

Which classmate do you most admire? My good friend Madison Jones is one of the most caring, motivated, and influential leaders at Georgia Tech. Madison leaves a lasting impact in everything she does by fully dedicating herself to every company, organization, and project. At Scheller, she dedicated a significant amount of her time to recruiting students for to join the Scheller Business Ambassadors program through her philanthropic efforts with Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Tech the Halls, and For the Kids. After graduation, Madison will be joining J.P. Morgan this summer as an Analyst in the Atlanta office where she will be able to have an even greater impact on people’s lives.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my parents for being a constant resource when I need advice, a break from working, or homemade chocolate chip cookies. They have invested so much of their time and energy to teaching me life skills such as working hard, resilience, independence, and the importance of helping other people. My parents’ background of being PhDs and MDs in the medical/research fields never stopped them from constantly supporting my pursuit of business, and they would even research various fields of business to be able to provide better advice. I would not be where I am today without their constant support.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

• Manage a top-performing investment fund
• Improve personally and professionally every day

What are your hobbies? I really enjoy spending my free time outdoors and going fly fishing, hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, spearfishing, and I recently completed my first marathon.

What made Jason such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2020?

“Jason Quill has left a lasting impression on the Scheller College of Business. As the Senior Managing Director of the Student Foundation Investments fund, Jason directed a $1.7 million investment fund that supports philanthropic activities across campus.  Jason was also instrumental in the development of the Accel Program, an organization devoted to placing students in top financial institutions. In addition, Jason served as the TA for a new hedge fund class where students invest $200,000 into public equities. On a personal note,  I’ve been delighted to get to know Jason over the last four years. He is humble, hardworking, incredibly smart, and a good teammate. He’s one of the very best students that I’ve taught in my career.  I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next!”

Dr. Jonathan Clarke
Associate Professor of Finance
Scheller College of Business
Georgia Institute of Technology

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