Alan Cordova

Alan Cordova recently worked with Bluewater Wind, the leading developer of offshore wind energy infrastructure in the United States. He previously wrote for National Public Radio’s “Planet Money” program, which explains the intricacies of the financial crisis to ordinary Americans in plain English. He received a BA in Political Science and Astronomy from Williams College in 2006 and a MBA with concentrations in Finance and Management at Columbia Business School in 2008. His publications include policy analysis for a Washington, DC think tank, reporting in Mexico City for Newsweek International, a sociological study of the Muslim community of Granada, Spain and a thesis on democracy promotion programs in Central Asia. He served as president of the community service council and member of the honor society at Williams and as a cluster leader, peer advisor and tutor at Columbia. Since 2006, he has provided strategy consulting to clients ranging from new media entrepreneurs to a frontier market venture capital firm. An avid distance runner, backpacker and trumpeter, he is currently a member of Net Impact, the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York.

Employer:	Garden Solar (solar energy developer)
Position:	Finance Contractor
Time period:	December 2009 - Present
Description:	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.

Employer:	(freelance)
Position:	Finance Consultant
Time period:	January 2008 - Present
Description:	Built financial models to forecast growth and articulate the value of firms seeking capital Evaluated leasing and factored loan products for domestic microfinance organization. Reviewed Bloomberg LP’s development of a socially responsible financial data service.

Employer:	(freelance)
Position:	Strategy & Operations Consultant
Time period:	January 2006 - Present
Description:	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.

Employer:	Bluewater Wind (offshore wind energy developer)
Position:	Strategy Intern
Time period:	May 2009 - September 2009
Description:	Advised executives on financial structures for potential projects totaling 470 megawatts. Wrote key sections of official responses to government requests for information. Forecasted the macroeconomic and employment impact of potential projects.

Employer:	National Public Radio (“Planet Money” show)
Position:	Writer
Time period:	November 2008 - March 2009
Description:	Analyzed new government interventions (TARP, ARRA) and regulations (SF-157). Authored stories and created graphics explaining key concepts in finance and economics.

Employer:	Columbia CaseWorks
Position:	MBA Case Writer
Time period:	May 2008 - December 2008
Description:	Developed studies of the challenges facing corporations for use in the MBA curriculum. Created data sets from corporate documents, market returns and economic information.

Employer:	B-Corporation (certifier of socially responsible businesses)
Position:	Researcher
Time period:	May 2007 - August 2007
Description:	Researched standards to judge companies’ environmental practices and codes of ethics. Developed firm’s format for presenting best practices and recommendations to clients.

Employer:	Williams College
Position:	Independent Political Science Researcher
Time period:	June 2005 - August 2005
Description:	Authored honors thesis on American democracy promotion in the Central Asia. Interviewed over 150 government officials, civil society leaders and businesspeople.

Employer:	Newsweek International
Position:	Mexico City Intern
Time period:	June 2004 - August 2004
Description:	Authored magazine articles based on interviews, data analysis and secondary research.

Employer:	Council of Hemispheric Affairs
Position:	Research Associate
Time period:	June 2003 - August 2003
Description:	Evaluated the impact of economic trends and political developments in Latin America. Edited the Washington Report on the Hemisphere, COHA’s scholarly journal.

University:	Columbia Business School
Time period:	2007 - 2008
Degree:	Management and Finance, MBA

University:	Williams College
Time period:	2002 - 2006
Degree:	Political Science (International Relations) & Astronomy, BA

Articles:

“Democratization in Central Asia: The Failure of American Institutionalism.” Annual Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL. April 14, 2007 “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).

Sports:	Distance running
Hobbies:	backpacking, jazz trumpet
Clubs:	Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York (Sustainable Business Committee), Tri-State Chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (Cleantech Special Interest Group)