John R. Carpenter was born and raised just north of Dallas in Richardson, Texas, and attended J.J. Pearce High School. When it came time to apply to colleges, Carpenter wanted to pursue scholastic opportunities that would allow him to receive a quality education and continue to play baseball.

After meeting Coach Jim Mallon, Carpenter knew immediately Southwestern would be his home for the next four years. Carpenter attended SU (at the time a member of the NAIA) on a baseball scholarship knowing only that he didn’t want to be a doctor. “I just couldn’t imagine myself cutting on people,” he explains. Having eliminated the medical sciences from the course selection process, Carpenter focused his attention on earning a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. He believed the versatility of the degree would provide numerous options upon graduation.

After a few years in the business world, Carpenter realized his education at Southwestern provided the solid foundation necessary for graduate studies. In 1994 Carpenter enrolled in the MBA program at UT-Dallas. During the second year of the program, Carpenter pursued opportunities with various investment houses and decided that Smith Barney Citigroup provided the best fit and platform for growth. “The entrepreneurial environment at Smith Barney fit well with my nature. It also provided more options for me to grow my own business” says John. And he has done just that. With approximately $34M under his management since 1999, John has established himself as a seasoned trader and portfolio manager during a time when many money managers cratered under the endless pressures of the boom-to-bust economy.

“As a money manager you have to persevere,” he notes. Carpenter credits his diligence to the experiences he had while playing baseball at Southwestern under the guidance of Coach Mallon. “Coach Mallon’s solid focus on the fundamentals and ability to set and achieve high goals really paved the way for me in my financial career,” says Carpenter.

Success as a money manager translates into happy customers. Carpenter finds this to be the most compelling aspect of his job at Smith Barney Citigroup, stating that “helping people accomplish their financial goals has been incredibly rewarding.”

Carpenter encourages today’s students to be as active as possible in extracurricular activities and to cherish their time on campus. “If they need to know how cool of a place SU is, tell them to call me,” he says.

Carpenter and his wife, Melissa, have one son, Christian, who was born April 26, 2005.