About Gregory Collier
Gregory Collier is a business leader, investor, analyst, and author. He speaks frequently on finance, adversity, diversity, leadership, ethics, and project management. He is widely regarded as an expert in designing trading and analytic systems, business analysis, and project management. He has demonstrated a history of innovative thinking and leadership in the financial services sector, and is a highly sought after consultant and expert witness. Mr. Collier has a record of advising executive level decision makers, government officials, celebrities, and entrepreneurs. He is known for achieving under the most challenging circumstances.
Mr. Collier built his professional foundation in the capital markets in New York City. His goal is for everyone to participate in the capital markets, and navigate the markets with knowledge, skill, and appropriate risk management. He has a commitment to success, and sharing his success with others and his community. He knew from an early age growing up in Detroit, Michigan, that by building upon his own drive, determination and irrepressible optimism, he could help create wealth for all, not just the privileged. His life and business strategies have empowered countless people, and helped many of the world's leading organizations solve critical business problems. He is author of the groundbreaking book, The Janitor's Sons: A True Story of Hope, Shattered Dreams, and Winning Despite Adversity, published in 2012. Mr. Collier is president of Collier Capital Advisors, a firm that empowers people by helping them develop financial literacy. Mr. Collier also works with private clients, analyzing potential private equity investment opportunities, including market assessment, competitive positioning, initial underwriting and deal structuring.
Education
Greg earned a B.S. in Finance from Florida State University and a M.B.A. in Finance from Manhattan College where he graduated with distinction (4.0 GPA in Finance). He also completed advanced financial coursework at Boston University, the Private Equity Program at the University of Oxford - Saïd Business School, and entrepreneurship in emerging economies at the Harvard Business School. While at Manhattan College, he was fortunate enough to study under New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Charles Geisst (Wall Street: A History).
MANHATTAN COLLEGE - Riverdale, New York
● M.B.A. with concentration in Finance ● 4.0 GPA in Finance
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY - Tallahassee, Florida
● B.S. in Finance
BOSTON UNIVERSITY - Boston Institute of Finance - Boston, Massachusetts
● Studied Comprehensive Financial Planning
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD - Saïd Business School - Oxford, England
● Completed Private Equity Program
HARVARD UNIVERSITY - Boston, Massachusetts
● Studied Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies
Professional Success
Over the years, Greg held roles with increasing levels of responsibility at major corporations including Chemical Bank, ING, Lehman Brothers, Misys, and Citigroup.
Chemical Bank
Greg began his career in the Emerging Markets Fixed Income Trading Group at Chemical Bank in Manhattan. Just over a year later, he was promoted to operations manager.
ING Investment Bank
At ING, Mr. Collier was appointed by the head of operations to a working committee of the Trade Association for the Emerging Markets, culminating in the creation of "Match-EM," the EMTA's post-trade matching system (predecessor of the Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation).
Lehman Brothers
Greg managed daily transaction volume exceeding a Billion dollars for Lehman's Emerging Markets Fixed Income Trading desk, as the head Brady bond trader's assistant.
Misys PLC
Greg was responsible for the functional design and testing of the fixed income and repo modules of OPICS (Operations Processing Integrated Control Systems), and provided consulting services and custom systems development for institutions worldwide.
Citigroup
As a Vice President at Citigroup, Mr. Collier managed integrated software quality and process development for Citigroup's North American Private Bank, Compliance, Prime Brokerage, Investment Research, and Stock Plan Systems groups. He was also a top rated business analyst at Citigroup's Salomon Smith Barney unit, where he made significant contributions to the organization. This includes performing comprehensive research to author detailed business requirements for the creation of a dynamic proprietary analytic tool.
Consulting
Over his noteworthy career, Mr. Collier has provided consulting services to JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Banco Santander, Deutsche Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, Lloyds TSB, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Skin and Cancer Associates. In addition, Mr. Collier has worked with small business owners from inception to build successful enterprises.
AFFILIATIONS
Millennium Network in support of the Clinton Foundation - Miami Host Committee, the Institute of Directors (MIoD), Project Management Institute - Certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), Round Table Group, Financial Planning Association, Financial Risk Management Network, American Society for Quality, BRIC Business Leaders, Quant Finance Group, Treasury Technology Network, Hedge Fund Network, Worldwide Management Consultants, Private Equity Investment Group, Oxford Private Equity Network, Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Founding Charter Member of the National Museum of African American History & Culture, National Military Family Association, ISACA IT Governance Group, International Association of Software Architects, Software Testing Club, SAP Community, Working Capital Management Network, Whitney Museum of American Art, James Beard Foundation, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, National Black MBA Association, Institute for Supply Management, FSU Alumni Association, Manhattan College Alumni Association, Oxford Business Alumni Network, Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society in Business Administration, University Center Club, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated - life member, Seminole Boosters Inc., the Palm Beach Yacht Club, USA Basketball Gold Coach's License holder, the FSU Foundation's Presidents Club (recognition awarded to the university's most generous donors), and the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (home of the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to America's top college football wide receiver).
Mr. Collier actively participates in local community and national organizations, mentors youth, and supports St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Yéle Haiti Foundation, Melanoma Research Alliance, White Oak Conservation Center, Charity Navigator, and global entrepreneurship via Kiva.org.
AWARDS and HONORS
2008 to Present: Mr. Collier is in the top 1% of lenders at Kiva.org, providing 0% interest rate loans (with no additional fees) to help people who are unbanked and can't access the financial services they need. Kiva uses crowdfunded microloans as a force for good, creating a space where people can have a one-to-one impact, and together, expand financial access to all. In addition, Mr. Collier donates 12% of each loan amount to help support Kiva's operations. To date, Mr. Collier has funded more than 900 loans to borrowers in more than 70 countries.
2013: Mr. Collier received a personal "thank you" letter from President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama, after giving them an autographed copy of his book, The Janitor's Sons: A True Story of Hope, Shattered Dreams, and Winning Despite Adversity.
2013: Mr. Collier received a letter of commendation from the U.S. Department of Education for his book, The Janitor's Sons: A True Story of Hope, Shattered Dreams, and Winning Despite Adversity.
2011: Appointed by West Palm Beach Mayor, Jeri Muoio, to the city's Budget Advisory Committee, a team of citizens formed to review the city's budget.
2010: Appointed by West Palm Beach Mayor, Lois Frankel, to the city's Pension Benefits Task Force, a fact finding team formed to review the city's fire rescue and police department pension plans, historical and current financial data, processes, key areas impacting the city's budget, and to make recommendations to the city commission. The committee's recommendations serve as a model for pension reform.
2006: TABB Group, the financial markets research and strategic advisory firm, recognized Citigroup Investment Research as the most widely used research provider by large buy-side money managers. Mr. Collier's role as the Software Quality Manager for Citigroup Investment Research was pivotal in helping the team optimize its ability to perform for the world's top money managers.
2005: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. was awarded first place for information technology compliance by "Tech Forum" for its Software Quality Assurance Workspace application. Mr. Collier edited the application's process documentation, and chaired a 13 member cross-organizational committee which re-engineered the global investment bank's UAT standards. These initiatives helped Citigroup earn this prestigious distinction for outstanding information technology controls.
2001 & 2002: Smith Barney Access (www.SmithBarney.com) was rated the #1 overall full service brokerage website by Watchfire Gomez Pro. Mr. Collier was instrumental in helping the Smith Barney team significantly improve its ranking during his tenure as a top ranked business analyst at Smith Barney.
Positive Mental Attitude Award: Former NCAA wrestling champion, Dick Cook, wrestling coach at North Farmington High School (Michigan), presented Mr. Collier with the school's Positive Mental Attitude Award. Mr. Collier served as wrestling team co-captain.
