ALAN R. CORDOVA
31-79 35th Street #17, Astoria, NY 11106
(206) 245-9915 acordova08@gsb.columbia.edu
EDUCATION
2007-2008 COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL, New York, NY
MBA, Management and Finance
Electives: Turnaround Management, Private Equity Seminar, Venture Capital Seminar, Entrepreneurial Finance, Top Management Processes, Advanced Corporate Finance.
Honors: Dean’s List, Erwin S. Wolfson Scholarship, Cluster Leadership Team, Peer Advisor, Hermes Society, Lead Organizer of Study Tour to Thailand, Singapore and Philippines.
Active Member: Management Consulting Association, Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization, Young Arab Leaders Association, Jewish Business Students Association, Follies, Small Business Consulting Program, Bottom Line (newspaper), Microlumbia (student-run fund of microfinance funds), Private Equity/Venture Capital Club, Social Enterprise Club, International Development Club.
2002-2006 WILLIAMS COLLEGE, Williamstown, MA
BA, Political Science (International Relations) and Astronomy
Honors: Departmental honors, Dean’s List, Kenyatta Service Prize, four research fellowships.
Service: President of Community Service Council, elected to three student leadership boards.
EXPERIENCE
2009-2010 GARDEN SOLAR (solar energy developer), Ringoes, NJ
Finance Contractor
• Adapted discounted cash flow model for prospective utility-scale solar energy projects.
• Developed investment dashboard to highlight the projects’ sensitivity to economic, financial and technological variables.
2009 BLUEWATER WIND (offshore energy developer), Hoboken, NJ
Strategy Intern
• Advised executives on financial structures for potential projects totaling 470 megawatts.
• Managed key sections of the company’s responses to official requests for information.
o Forecasted the macroeconomic and employment impact of potential projects.
o Evaluated the competitive landscape, supply chain constraints and new technologies.
o Monitored new state and federal policy regulations and incentive programs.
2008-Current Finance Consultant, New York, NY; Managua, Nicaragua; Dushanbe, Tajikistan
• Built financial models to forecast growth and articulate the value of firms raising capital.
o Used discounted cash flow, First Chicago and comparables valuation methods.
o Advised CEOs on strategies to mitigate cash constraints and financial risk.
• Investigated leasing and factored loan products for domestic microfinance organization.
• Reviewed Bloomberg LP’s development of a socially responsible financial data service.
• Assessed the viability of intellectual property commercialization grant applicants.
• Led five-member team in consulting a microfinance institution on commercial banking.
o Analyzed portfolio’s sensitivity to macroeconomic, market and credit risks.
o Recommended performance metrics and steps to improve fund management.
• Recommended a new client engagement model to a Nicaraguan venture capital fund.
2006-Current Strategy & Operations Consultant, New York, NY; Monterey, CA
• Managed communications practice, including client development and retention.
• Mentored entrepreneurs on investor relations, business development and market research.
• Advised a leading niche social network on reaching new audiences and reducing churn.
• Developed a business plan for a space policy institute at a NASA research center.
2008-2009 NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (“Planet Money” show), New York, NY
Writer
• Explained banking, economic and market news in plain English for the general public.
o Analyzed new government interventions (TARP, ARRA) and regulations (SF-157).
o Outlined the role of agencies (FDIC, CFTC, SEC) and committees (CEA, NEC)
o Created graphics from federal data to illustrate key concepts in macroeconomics (consumption, consumer saving) and capital markets (yield curves, flight to quality).
• Advised hosts on the development of a long-format program on bank insolvency.
2008 COLUMBIA CASEWORKS, New York, NY
MBA Case Writer
• Developed studies of the challenges facing corporations for use in the MBA curriculum.
• Created data sets from corporate documents, market returns and economic information.
Summer 2007 B-CORPORATION (certifier of socially responsible businesses), New York, NY
Researcher
• Researched standards to judge companies’ environmental practices and codes of ethics.
• Developed firm’s format for presenting best practices and recommendations to clients.
Summer 2005 Independent Political Science Researcher, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Mongolia
• Authored honors thesis on American democracy promotion in the Central Asia.
• Interviewed over 150 government officials, civil society leaders and businesspeople.
Summer 2004 NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL, Mexico City, Mexico
Foreign Bureau Intern
• Authored magazine articles based on interviews, data analysis and secondary research.
• Managed the affairs of the office in the chief's absence.
Summer 2003 COUNCIL ON HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS, Washington, DC
Research Associate
• Evaluated the impact of economic trends and political developments in Latin America.
• Edited the "Washington Report on the Hemisphere," COHA’s scholarly journal.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
• “Democratization in Central Asia: The Failure of American Institutionalism.” Annual Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL. April 14, 2007
• “Democratization in Central Asia? The Failure of American Institutionalism.” Middle East and Central Asia Conference, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. September 7, 2006.
• “Difficulties encountered by Muslims in Granada, Spain,” Annual Conference of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, Washington, DC. May 6, 2006
• “Back Slaps and Business.” Newsweek International. September 27, 2004 (with Joseph Contreras).
• “Mexico: Hizzoner’s Hard Way.” Newsweek International. August 30, 2004 (with Joseph Contreras).
• “Comics: A Mayor Takes on ‘Dark Forces.’” Newsweek International. August 2, 2004.
• “Worst Lady?” Newsweek International. July 19, 2004 (with Scott Johnson).
• “Mexico at the Crossroads of Democracy” & “México en la Encrucijada de la Democracia.” Press Release 03.40, Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Washington, DC. July 5, 2003.
• “Pan-Mayanism and the New Guatemala.” Washington Report on the Hemisphere. Issue 23.14. Washington, DC: Council on Hemispheric Affairs, July 2003.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Active Community Engagements: Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York (Sustainable Business Committee), The Indus Entrepreneurs (Cleantech Special Interest Group of the Tri-State Chapter), Ivy Referral Network (Columbia Referral Network), Blue Venture Community, Renewable Energy Business Network, International House New York Area Alumni Council (steering committee).
• Languages: Proficient in Spanish, basic Arabic and Uzbek (one year of formal instruction in each).
• Interests: Distance running (two marathons, seven half-marathons), backpacking, jazz trumpet.
• Civic Leadership: Assistant Crew Leader, Washington Trails Association; Eagle Scout.
• International Travel: Lived in Mexico, Spain, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Mongolia; business travel to Nicaragua, Netherlands, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Israel and Greece. Also visited Uzbekistan, Jordan, Italy, Korea and Russia.
Résumés Details
