Muhlenberg athletes are spending the summer of 2022 enjoying fantastic experiences on campus, in their hometowns, across the country and even around the world.
 
Muhlenberg football's fifth-year senior Kevin Olifiers is already getting acclimated to Texas, where the Mules will play their first game.
 
Q: Can you describe your internship this summer?
This summer, I've had the opportunity to work for AllianceBernstein Private Credit Investors (AB-PCI) as an operations intern in Austin, Texas. AB is a global asset management & research firm, and the private credit investors group works under the alternative division.
 
Founded in 2014, AB-PCI has roughly $13 billion in assets under management. We provide financing to middle-market companies for acquisitions, including leveraged buyouts, recapitalization, refinancing and growth investments. 
 
My team's roles include closing deals, financial reporting, position management and compliance. This experience has allowed me the opportunity to work with some amazing financial professionals while learning about the private credit industry as a whole. 
 
Q: How did you feel about this internship?
While going through the internship recruiting process, I was looking for opportunities to expand my horizons both professionally and personally. AB gave me just the opportunity by letting me work in private credit, an asset class that I knew little about before this summer. 
 
Working at an up-and-coming firm in Austin has been an amazing experience as well. In working with the middle office, I've had constant interactions with all facets of the company, including the deal teams, the finance team, and the legal and back office team. The middle office plays a vital role in the overall function of the firm, so being able to soak up as much knowledge as possible has been integral to my professional growth.
 
There really is never a day where I don't learn something new. In Austin, there is always something to do, so I've found that I almost don't have enough time to experience everything colleagues recommend. 
 
Q: Have you done anything cool in Texas?
Yes, the city is full of awesome things to do! There are a lot of outdoor activities like kayaking Lake Austin, swimming in Barton Springs natural pools, and experiencing the nightlife on 6th Street and Rainy Street.

The barbecue food is also second to none. Ultimately, I've found myself always looking for a new experience, and in Austin, the opportunities are endless. 
 
Q: How do you feel about returning to Texas for your first game? 
I'm definitely excited to return in September and play football here with some of my closest friends and teammates. The stakes of the game will be high because the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is the returning national champion, and we made a deep run in the playoffs these past couple of seasons.
 
Just the opportunity to play the best is one of the reasons I play and love football. I've also never had to fly to play a football game, so that will be a first for me. 
 
Finally, I must add that the rumors are true and everything, including football, is bigger in Texas. The atmosphere for the game will be great, and I know our Muhlenberg family will travel well, so I can't wait to get back! 
 
Q: How does this internship fit into your career plans? 
I've known for some time now that I wanted to work in finance. This internship, coupled with my last two, gave me a broader understanding of the various opportunities in the finance world. 
 
Having the support of family, friends and coaches to venture out of my comfort zone and take this job at AB has really pushed me to grow tremendously. It was my first real experience living on my own, and I'm grateful for the opportunity and the people who helped me get here. Upon finishing up my last semester and season this fall, I will be ready to take whatever opportunity presents itself in finance. 
 
Q: Did anyone at Muhlenberg help you acquire this internship? 
Yes, I was able to leverage the Muhlenberg alumni network and got put in touch with AB early on in the recruiting process. It was really the Muhlenberg football alumni that helped me learn about the role and prepare me for multiple rounds of interviews. 
 
Muhlenberg alumni, especially athlete alumni, are some of the most helpful people when it comes to helping current students. My biggest recommendation to any current student is to make the effort to network and stay in touch with alumni. Opportunities will eventually present themselves because our alumni really do care and want to help current students. 
 
Q: What's the biggest thing you learned this summer?
I've learned that you have to put yourself in uncomfortable positions to grow and to not be afraid to take opportunities when they present themselves. I never thought I was going to end up in Austin for the summer, but I'm grateful I did. I'll be able to apply the lessons I've learned this summer for the rest of my life. 
 
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