Our Team

Jay brings twenty years of investment banking and advisory experience at market-leading firms. Prior to joining Configure Partners, he established the Middle Market Special Situations practice at Guggenheim Securities. Before joining Guggenheim, he was a senior member of the Recapitalization & Restructuring Group at Morgan Joseph TriArtisan for approximately five years.

Previously he was a Senior Director with Alvarez & Marsal Corporate Finance, prior to which he spent eight years in Houlihan Lokey’s Corporate Finance and Financial Restructuring practices.

Jay holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce, with concentrations in finance and marketing, from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. He is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 24, 7, 63) and a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA).

Jamie has held a variety of positions across middle market credit, investing, and advisory platforms. 

Prior to joining Configure, he was a Managing Director at Guggenheim Securities, where he joined in 2013 to expand Guggenheim’s reach in the middle market. Before joining Guggenheim, Jamie established the Atlanta office for Cerberus Capital Management with a focus on direct lending and equity investment activities. While at Cerberus his responsibilities included sourcing of new debt and equity investment opportunities, underwriting transactions and portfolio management. Prior to joining Cerberus, Jamie spent three years at Houlihan Lokey after beginning his career at IBM and Standard & Poor’s.  Jamie is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 24, 7, 63).

Outside of the office Jamie enjoys spending time with his family, outdoor activities including golf, hiking and biking, and the occasional triathlon.  He and his family reside in the Morningside neighborhood of Atlanta.

Joseph joined Configure Partners from the Middle Market Special Situations practice at Guggenheim Securities, where he was a Vice President. Prior to joining Guggenheim, he was part of the Global Finance and Restructuring Group at Barclays Capital in New York.

Joseph has focused his career on providing advisory services to middle market companies as it relates to financings, mergers and acquisitions, and restructurings. Joseph graduated with a B.S. in Construction Science and Management from Clemson University and with an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. He is a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 24, 63, 79), and holds the Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA) and the Certification in Distressed Business Valuation (CDBV) designations.

Recently, Joseph was recognized by the M&A Advisor as a recipient of the 2017 Emerging Leaders Award.

Doug brings over 25 years of direct lending and advisory experience at middle market credit platforms.

Prior to Configure, he was a Director with ING Capital where he was responsible for sourcing cash flow and asset-based debt investments, underwriting transactions, and portfolio management. Before joining ING Capital, he occupied similar positions at GE Capital, Heller Financial and Banque Paribas.

Doug holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was a letterman on the 1991-1992 Illinois men’s basketball team. He is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 7, 63).

Pia joins Configure Partners from the Mergers & Acquisitions practice of Citizens Bank, where she was Chief of Staff in Atlanta. In this role, Pia provided oversight of human resources, finance, technology, and compliance functions. Previously, Pia spent ten years with Bowstring Advisors (formerly CHILDS Advisory Partners) where she was a member of the firm’s executive leadership and played a key role in the sale and integration of Bowstring to Citizens in 2019. In combination with direct investment banking experience in her early career, Pia brings a unique perspective to the Configure team.

Prior to joining Bowstring, Pia was an Associate at Lehman Brothers in New York where she worked in the Business Planning & Technology group. While there, she focused on the design and implementation of division-wide strategic initiatives to support the investment banking division’s executive management team. Pia’s investment banking career began at Piper Jaffray in New York, where she concentrated on public offerings and M&A in the healthcare sector. Pia began her career in the assurance and advisory services practice of Deloitte.

Pia graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from American University.

Mike brings thirty years of middle-market lending and advisory experience.  He joined Configure from ING Capital, where he worked for approximately twenty years in ING’s Atlanta and New York offices.  Mike was a Managing Director on ING’s Structure Finance team, with responsibility for originating, structuring, and underwriting middle-market leveraged finance transactions, managing client relationships, and portfolio management.

Mike previously spent approximately ten years in investment banking, most recently with SunTrust Equitable Securities, where he focused on capital raising and M&A transactions for middle-market businesses.

Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  He is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 24, 7, 63, 28).

Jerry brings over 30 years of direct lending experience largely concentrated at middle market institutions. Prior to Configure, he was a Managing Director at Ares Management where he led a national team of account officers, associates and analysts managing a portfolio of asset-based loans.

Before joining Ares Management, he spent nearly nine years at ING Capital underwriting and managing cash flow and asset-based debt transactions.  Prior lending experience includes similar roles at CIT Business Credit, GE Capital and Heller Financial.

Jerry holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of South Florida and an MBA from the University of Chicago.  He is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 7, 63).

Matt joins Configure Partners from Greenhill & Co.’s Financing Advisory and Restructuring practice, where he most recently was a Principal. Prior to joining Greenhill, Matt worked on the restructuring teams at Rothschild & Co and Millstein & Co. Matt has advised companies, lenders, sponsors, and governments on an array of complex financing and restructuring issues, M&A activity, and general strategic advisory assignments. He started his investment banking career at Cary Street Partners.

Matt graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Hampden-Sydney College where he was the captain of the basketball team. He also holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. Matt is a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 63 & 79).

James joined Configure Partners from Genuine Parts Company, where he supported merger and acquisition efforts as well as strategic planning. Prior to GPC, he was an Analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, where he spent three years advising clients on debt and equity capital raises across a variety of industries.

James received a bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Kentucky. He is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 79, 63).

Uj joined Configure in 2019, bringing two years of credit structuring and advisory experience serving middle-market companies.

Before Configure, Uj was an Associate with PNC Financial Services where he was responsible for underwriting cash flow credit transactions, portfolio management, and assisting the team in sourcing new debt investments.

Uj received a BBA in Finance from the Goizueta Business School, Emory University, as well as a BA in Mathematics from Emory University. He is also a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 79, 63).

Uj will be eligible for the CFA Charter upon completion of the necessary work experience.

Kyle joined Configure Partners from the Financial Institutions Group at Regions Bank, where he focused on structuring debt financings for acquisitions and recapitalizations. Prior to Regions, Kyle was an Associate on ING’s Structured Finance team focused on structuring and underwriting middle-market leveraged finance transactions. He began his career as an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, where he spent three years advising clients on debt and equity capital raises across a variety of industries.

Kyle received a bachelor’s in Finance from the Clemson University. He is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 63, 79).

K.T. has over eight years of combined middle-market transaction advisory and direct investing experience.

Prior to Configure, K.T. was an Associate with Virgo Investment Group, an opportunistic investment platform focused on the middle-market, where he assisted with sourcing, underwriting, and structuring transactions. Before joining Virgo, he served as an Analyst in the Transport & Infrastructure investment banking group at Raymond James & Associates.

K.T. holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia, and is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 79, 63).

Raymond joins Configure from Houlihan Lokey, where he worked in the Portfolio Valuation practice. He was responsible for valuing a wide range of illiquid securities, including performing and distressed debt, subordinated and mezzanine debt, and other leveraged investments. Prior to working at Houlihan Lokey, Raymond was a Senior Associate in the audit practice at Ernst & Young.

Raymond holds a master’s degree in accounting from The Harbert College of Business at Auburn University. He is a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 63, 79).

Christian joined Configure from Capstone Partners, where he supported debt capital advisory efforts for middle market sponsored and non-sponsored companies. Prior to Capstone, he was an Analyst at Access Capital Partners, where he spent two years advising independent sponsors and management teams on debt and equity capital raises across a variety of industries.

 Christian received his bachelor’s in Finance from Webster University. He is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 63, 79)

Brooke joins Configure from the Asset Finance Group at Truist Securities, where she assisted in originating and structuring debt financings for acquisitions, recapitalizations, and turnarounds across a variety of industries.

Brooke holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia and is a FINRA General Securities Registered Representative (Series 63, 79).

Jagger joins Configure from Houlihan Lokey, where he worked in the Portfolio Valuation practice. He was responsible for valuing a wide range of illiquid securities, including performing and distressed debt, subordinated and mezzanine debt, and other leveraged investments.

Jagger holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. He is a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 63, 79).

Jason joined Configure Partners following his graduation from Vanderbilt University, where he received a Master of Science in Finance degree. While attending Vanderbilt, Jason interned for Mangrove Equity Partners where he worked as a private equity analyst assisting in buy-side acquisitions across a variety of industries. Prior to working for Mangrove, he interned at Bank of America in Charlotte, N.C as an analyst in the bank’s corporate finance division.

Jason received a bachelor’s in Finance and Accounting from the University of Kentucky. He is a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 63, 79).

Fitz joined Configure from Ankura Consulting Group, where he was a Valuation Associate in the Transaction Advisory Services practice, providing valuations of businesses, intangible assets, and ownership interests for mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, and tax reporting purposes.

Fitz holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia. He is a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 63, 79).

Sam joined Configure from Truist Securities, where he was an Investment Banking Credit Analyst and was responsible for underwriting credit products to new and existing Industrials and Services clients.

Sam holds a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of West Florida and bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia. He is a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 7, 63, 79).

Austin joined Configure from Buckhead Wealth Management, where he was an intern, responsible for market research, synthesis and analysis on prospective companies.

Austin holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Stanford University. He is a FINRA General Securities Representative (Series 63, 79).

Hopengrace “Penny” Dela Cruz Hawkins joined Configure Partners in 2019 as assistant controller to the Configure Partners team. Her most immediate prior experience was as an executive assistant in the technology and non-profit industries for 10 years. Penny graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Piedmont International University.