Set to join NEPC as an investment consulting analyst in Charlotte, North Carolina, Holland Stallings ’25, visited a number of schools and applied to 12 before choosing Berry. One subject was on his mind from day one. “Intrigued by the ways that capital (money) flows through different entities in our economy, I knew that I wanted to study finance,” he says. “Berry’s Campbell School of Business provided a great path for me to gain knowledge and explore curiosities in this area.”
The small class sizes and recreational opportunities on the “sprawling, beautiful campus” also piqued Holland’s interest. What sealed the deal? “The winning culture of Berry’s football program and the commitment by staff to develop young men on and off the field were rare and attractive,” he says.
By his sophomore year, the scholar-athlete recognized the value of a double major in finance and accounting. “I learned that accounting is the historical recordkeeping of financial transactions and business activities and that finance uses historical accounting data to make predictions about future financial performance or cash flows,” he explains. “One Berry professor put it this way: Accounting is looking through the rearview mirror, while finance is looking through the windshield in a hurricane.”
The business school’s robust alumni network came into play when Holland sought an internship with Kontoor Brands, the parent company of Wrangler and Lee jeans. “During the winter of my sophomore year, the Berry College football team and the Center for Personal and Professional Development partnered to provide our student-athletes with education and direction in key career-related topic areas,” he says. One session led to a vital connection with Berry alum Denise Sumner ’89, chief accounting officer at Kontoor Brands, who hired Holland as a corporate accounting intern.
The next year, Holland landed an internship at NEPC when Henry Gund Professor of Economics Frank Stephenson connected him with Berry alum Aaron Chastain ’15, the company’s principal. As an intern with the corporate practice consulting team, he “completed or aided in several projects related to topics associated with defined benefit and defined contribution corporate retirement plans, including pension risk transfer, social security claiming age manipulation, investment strategy analysis, and external and internal educational materials.” Holland gained further insight by attending meetings with asset managers and clients.
Having passed level one of the Chartered Financial Analyst credential, Holland is excited to step into his professional role after graduation. “This is a challenge that I would not have pursued without the encouragement of and motivation from Associate Professor of Finance Ken Johnston and others in my circle.” He also expresses gratitude for coaches and teammates, saying, “The memories made, relationships forged and intangibles developed through my football experience made the investment and dedication worthwhile.”
Those closest to him — parents Gus (class of 1994) and Stephanie Stallings and his brothers — get a shoutout: “I cannot thank them enough for their support, care and love throughout my time at Berry and long before.”
