Private Equity Group

At University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business FT MBA Program

Are the private markets calling?

The Private Equity Group (PEG) is Booth’s student community for those interested in exploring private equity

Get access to modelling and financial trainings put on through PEG and partnerships with Training the Street and Elevate

Learn from those in the field and second year students who have recruited for and worked in PE

Meet with firms in New York, San Francisco, and our hometown of Chicago

Attend lunch-and-learns with firms and guest speakers visiting campus

Join us March 6th, 2026 for the Booth Annual PE Conference. Speakers in past years have included Pete Stavros (KKR) and Carl Thoma (Thoma Bravo)

Join an amazing community of students and alumni in private equity

Programming || Communications || Career Services

Eno Okon is one of two PEG co-chairs primarily responsible for Programming and Career Services.
Eno began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Deutsche Bank’s Financial Sponsors group in New York City, working primarily on debt financing in support of new platform acquisitions and sell-side M&A for sponsor clients.
After his time in investment banking, Eno worked as a Private Equity Associate at Golden Gate Capital. In this role, he worked on new platform investments and add-on acquisitions, while also supporting portfolio companies across the Consumer and Software sectors. He participated in the Winter session of the Private Equity Lab with Uncommon Equity in Chicago and will continue with the firm as an MBA Summer Intern, focused on investing in companies across the Consumer sector.
Eno was a member of the the winning team at the 2025 Water Street Private Equity Case Challenge (PECC).
Eno graduated with a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, where he also completed three minors in Business, Applied Economics, and Law & Society.

Programming || Communications || Career Services

Zack Spear is one of two PEG co-chairs primarily responsible for Programming and Career Services
After beginning his career in the Consumer & Retail investment banking group at Wells Fargo, Zack worked as buyside analyst for Columbia Threadneedle covering small and mid-cap stocks before transitioning to private equity where he spent a couple of years at Silver Oak Services Partners completing deals in the healthcare services, consumer services, and business services sectors. While at Silver Oak, Zack also served on the Private Equity Association of Chicago’s board
Zack studied at Washington and Lee University where majored in Accounting & Business Administration and graduated magma cum laude and was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma and Alpha Beta Psi honor societies
Currently Zack is an MBA Candidate at Chicago Booth where he is an 1898 scholarship recepient and is completing concentrations in finance and entrepreneurship. In addition to being a private equity co-chair, Zack is also a co-chair of the golf club and career advisor for private equity

2027 Booth Private Equity Conference Co-lead

Ned Moreland is one of two PEC co-chairs primarily responsible for the 2027 Booth Private Equity Conference
Ned began his career at The Vanguard Group, later moving into corporate development and ultimately serving as chief of staff for the firm’s investment operations. Across these roles he partnered closely with senior leadership on M&A execution, strategic planning, and operational improvement, driving growth initiatives and building the operational infrastructure needed to scale.
Ned received his undergraduate degree from Bates College, with a focus in Economics / Japanese.
This summer, Ned will be interning with Thompson Street Capital Partners partnering with founder-led, middle-market businesses across the life sciences & healthcare, software & technology, and business & consumer services and products sectors, working with management teams to accelerate growth both organically and through complementary acquisitions. There, Ned will support the firm’s value-creation and operations efforts across the portfolio.
After Booth, Ned aims to continue in a value-creation / portfolio-operations role within private equity, with a sector interest in founder-led business services / software / healthcare, and a long-term goal of stepping into an operating leadership role within a portfolio company.

2026 Booth Private Equity Conference Co-lead

Vedant Sood is one of two PEG co-chairs primarily responsible for the 2026 Booth Private Equity Conference
Prior to Booth, Vedant was a Management Consultant at BCG, primarily focused on the Financial Services, TMT, and PIPE practice areas
Vedant graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Chicago
He participated in the winter section of the PE lab with MPowered Capital in Chicago, and will be a summer intern at Stone-Goff Partners in Boston, focused on investing in tech-enabled services businesses
Vedant was on the winning team at the 2024 Water Street Private Equity Case Challenge (PECC) and is also a Career Advisor (CA) for Private Equity

New York Trek || East Coast Alumni Relations

Alonso Garcia is a PEG co-chair primarily responsible for planning the New York PE Trek and assisting with East Coast alumni networking and relations
Alonso started his career as an analyst at VACE Partners, a leading boutique investment banking firm in Mexico City, before moving to Rothschild & Co. During that time, he executed transactions accross M&A and debt restructurings
After spending time in investment banking, Alonso moved to Advent International. As a Senior Associate, he participated in deals across the healthcare, beauty & personal care, and logistics sectors. He also supported two portfolio companies and served as a board observer
Born and raised in Mexico City, Alonso holds a Master of Finance from EADA Business School in Barcelona and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Systems from Tecnológico de Monterrey. He graduated with Honors and Distinction from both programs

Chicago Trek || Midwest Alumni Relations

Dennis Choi is a PEG co-chair primarily responsible for planning the Chicago PE Trek and assisting with Midwest alumni networking and relations
Prior to Booth, Dennis was a Senior Associate at Pritzker Private Capital, a middle-market investment firm focused on the manufactured products and services sectors
Prior to Pritzker Private Capital, Dennis was an Investment Banking Analyst at Houlihan Lokey in the industrials group
Dennis graduated from Indiana University Kelley School of Business with a major in Finance
Dennis is currently interning at Periscope Equity, a private equity firm based in Chicago that invests in the tech-enabled services sector

San Francisco Trek || West Coast Alumni Relations

Claire Dennis is a PEG co-chair primarily responsible for planning the San Francisco PE Trek and assisting with West Coast alumni networking and relations
Before Booth, Claire was a Senior Associate at Altamont Capital Partners, a middle-market investment firm, where she focused on transactions in the financial services and consumer sectors
Claire graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science from Amherst College, where she also competed on the volleyball team
She participated in the winter section of the PE lab with Benford Capital Partners in Chicago, and will be a summer intern at Roark Capital Group in Atlanta, focused on investing in franchise businesses