Founder and CEO of Capitala Shares Insights With Students Exploring Careers in Finance

Wake Forest School of Business alumni Joseph B. Alala III (JD/MBA ’96), Founder and CEO of Capitala Group, and Ben Neugebauer (Finance ’20), Senior Associate at Capitala Group, recently joined students in Farrell Hall for a timely and insightful discussion on the current state of the private credit and private equity markets for lower and middle market firms.

Hosted by Ajay Patel, Professor and Department Chair for Finance & Economics, the conversation explored recent deals completed by Capitala across both asset classes and offered students an inside look at industry dynamics and opportunities ahead.

Students from the Pre-Wall Street Career Track Program, led by Martin Malloy, and Private Equity class taught by Peter Brockway were among the group who engaged in an interactive session filled with thoughtful questions and real-world insights.

Capitala Group, a leading private markets investment firm providing private equity and private credit capital to small businesses, has invested over $3.2 billion of capital into small businesses since its founding in 1998. At that time, Alala was the youngest founder of a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) debenture fund at the age of twenty-eight. 

Outside of Capitala, Alala is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and an owner in DK Wine Group, LLC. He serves on the Advisory Board of BC Partners Credit and Simonini Builders. Alala is also on the Trustee Board of Princeton Field & Track Team, as well as the Board of Governors for Wake Forest School of Law and the Wake Forest Charlotte Executive Board of Advisors.