MBA students have plenty of options for how to spend the summer — so why would they choose to be at HBM? We explored that with HBM’s current Summer Associates, who shared the reasons behind their decision.
Each year, HBM recruits talented students from select MBA programs for a fast-paced, 10-week program that begins in June. Our Summer Associates assist with portfolio company projects for an array of functions (such as marketing, finance, and operations), and they also have the opportunity to work on potential HBM acquisitions. You can learn more by reading the blog posts by last year’s Summer Associates — Latif Alam, Taylor Perry, and Sarah Salky — who describe their experiences in the program.
This year, HBM is excited to work with four Summer Associates: Erik Bruckner, Brad Naert, Kevin Sheehan, and Michael Hull.
Erik Bruckner
Which university do you attend, and what is your major?
Erik: I am currently pursuing an MBA at the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. My concentration is in Strategy and Finance.
What did you find appealing about HBM’s Summer Associate Program?
Erik: I believe in HBM’s investment approach in creating long-term, sustainable value for their companies and communities. Unlike a traditional private equity firm, HBM has a patient capital approach to investing. The HBM vision to partner with each portfolio management team intrigued me. While interviewing, I quickly learned the culture at HBM was very appealing. I began my professional career working for Deacon Industries, an industrial leak sealant manufacturer founded by my father in 1988. There are similarities between Deacon and the company profile HBM looks to acquire — and I also saw parallels between HBM and the firm that acquired Deacon. It seemed like a natural fit!
What do you hope to take away from your summer with HBM?
Erik: I have the pleasure of working with HBM and portfolio company leadership on a day-to-day basis. The collaboration with leadership will provide valuable learning experiences that will propel my professional development. What makes HBM such a unique opportunity for Summer Associates is the emphasis and responsibility placed on their projects. The Summer Associate role is the perfect hybrid of opportunities in strategy, operations, and finance. I hope to further solidify my skill set in these three areas, as well as advance my management and leadership capabilities.
Are you originally from St. Louis? If not, what excites you about exploring this city?
Erik: I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, so I was eager to get to St. Louis for the summer and begin exploring. So far, St. Louis has blown away my expectations! I am living in the Central West End for the summer and I love it. It’s a great environment for young professionals to experience St. Louis from a cultural, dining, and nightlife perspective.
What sports or hobbies do you enjoy?
Erik: My hobbies include traveling, exercising, and reading. I am also an avid sports fan. The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ohio State Buckeyes football team are two teams I follow passionately.
Please share a fun fact about yourself.
Erik: I received a black belt in martial arts at the age of 15, but unfortunately most of those skills are long gone! Last year, I went skydiving for the first time and loved it — and I hope to do that more.
Brad Naert
Which university do you attend, and what is your major?
Brad: I am currently pursuing an MBA at Washington University Olin School of Business.
What did you find appealing about HBM’s Summer Associate Program?
Brad: I chose HBM because interns here get the chance to make an impact immediately. We are tasked to solve problems that HBM’s portfolio companies need answers to today. Therefore, there is real opportunity to implement solutions.
What do you hope to take away from your summer with HBM?
Brad: I hope to take away a better idea of what I want to do when I graduate. HBM gives interns exposure not only to different companies but also to different functions (private equity, internal consulting, operations and supply chain), allowing us to experience each and “test the waters.”
What sports or hobbies do you enjoy?
Brad: I enjoy golf, softball, and reading (Vietnam War history is my current subject of choice).
Please share a fun fact about yourself.
Brad: My childhood home is a mile and a half from HBM’s office in Clayton.
Kevin Sheehan
Which university do you attend, and what is your major?
Kevin: I am currently attending Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business pursuing an MBA with a focus on Management and Corporate Innovation/Entrepreneurship
What did you find appealing about HBM’s Summer Associate Program?
Kevin: I became interested in working with HBM after I met Charles Mullenger and Stacy Schlenk at a networking event last fall. The Summer Associate program is a great opportunity to both learn and make an impact on a variety of companies.
What do you hope to take away from your summer with HBM?
Kevin: I hope to gain a greater understanding of the M&A process and learn more about the manufacturing industry, while also having a positive impact on the company.
Are you originally from St. Louis? If not, what excites you about exploring this city?
Kevin: I am originally from the suburbs of Chicago, and I am very excited to explore St. Louis, especially enjoy some Cardinals games.
What sports or hobbies do you enjoy?
Kevin: My hobbies include playing and watching sports and hanging out with my dog.
Please share a fun fact about yourself.
Kevin: My dog’s name is Legend, and my next dog will be named Ary — so when I call both of them they will be Legendary.
Michael Hull
Which university do you attend, and what is your major?
Michael: I went to the United States Military Academy as an undergrad, and was then commissioned as a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Army where I served for over five years. During that time, I spent nine months deployed to Kuwait helping manage the flow of mission-critical resources to front-line units in Iraq and Egypt. Currently, I’m enrolled at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business — focusing on finance, strategic management, and marketing analytics.
What did you find appealing about HBM’s Summer Associate Program — and what do you hope to take away from this experience?
Michael: I chose HBM for two main reasons: The opportunity to work in a role that would expose me to several different functions of private equity, and also the chance to learn more about HBM’s unique culture of talent and professional development. I hope to come away with a well-rounded experience that is both challenging and rewarding.
Are you originally from St. Louis? If not, what excites you about exploring this city?
Michael: Although I was born and raised in the Detroit area, I have lived in this city before. I spent a year in Chesterfield, a nearby suburb, while I played junior hockey for the St. Louis Bandits in 2007 and 2008. So while I am familiar with the area, I was also excited to explore much more of what St. Louis has to of-fer.
What sports or hobbies do you enjoy?
Michael: If I’m not working you can find me golfing at a nearby course, dining at a new restaurant, or reading my favorite book.
Please share a fun fact about yourself.
Michael: While playing junior hockey, I was traded at 10:30 pm (the deadline was midnight) in a three-team trade that included 10 players — that trade sent me from Indianapolis, Indiana. to Lincoln, Nebraska.