Meet the Team
Michael Fernandez
CEO​
Michael, the Principal of the firm, has a wealth of experience in the field, having worked in various roles in finance, asset management, and real estate.Through secure, unique commercial real estate structures, Michael combines his experience in land development, acquisitions, and project management to identify, capitalize, and execute on strong opportunities in the Southeast. Michael is a graduate of The Citadel Military College and has a transaction volume of over $100M with over a decade of experience in the CRE field.
Gabby Howard
Director of Operations
Gabby is a dedicated real estate professional who has made a significant impact in the Upstate since 2018. As the owner of a residential real estate team and an in-house marketing firm, Gabby brings a wealth of knowledge in business development. Holding a Business degree from Georgia Southern University with a focus in Entrepreneurship, she possesses the expertise and experience necessary to navigate the complexities of the real estate landscape. Her background also includes three years of experience as a team leader and event planner for a local nonprofit organization, further refining her skills in project management and execution. Gabby is passionate about creating beautiful spaces that not only enhance the city but also preserve its rich history. With her keen eye for design, she is adept at envisioning and bringing projects at AEG to life. In her spare time, you may find her exploring Greenville's newest restaurants. Gabby also has a love for quality coffe, non-fiction books and actively stays engaged in her church community.
Christian O'Neal
Director of Capital Markets
Christian serves as the Director of Capital Markets for AEG with over 6 years of experience in commercial deal analysis and underwriting across several asset classes, including development and tax credit analysis. He started his first investment company at 20 years old while gaining valuable experience working for leaders in commercial real estate development, real estate law, and student housing leasing. Additionally, Christian led the buildout and development of the Charleston Business Group, partnering with established organizations and venues in Charleston, driving over 200 entrepreneurs and business leaders to their first event in 2021. Christian attended the University of South Carolina where he studied commercial real estate and finance. Just months after graduating in 2020, he launched a syndication firm and co-lead the acquisition of a $6.5M apartment complex in the heart of Uptown, Charlotte. Christian currently holds an inactive SC Broker's License, is a member of ULI, and has served on the board for an affordable housing non-profit agency located in Charleston, SC. In his spare time, he enjoys sharing his passions for surfing, nature, and wellness with his 3 siblings, friends, and dog Panda.
Our Focus
Alpha Equity Group is built on two fundamental pillars: people and deal structure. In any transaction, the primary risks revolve around the operators executing the business plan and the debt structure imposed on projects. When the economy and capital market environments are stable, valuation related issues are rarer to come by. During uncertain times, however, the success or failure of a project hinges on the team managing it. A struggling deal can be salvaged with the right resource, deal structure, and expertise, while even a promising deal can fail if it lacks exit flexibility during market downturns.
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Our firm hones in on data and tracks project level assumptions across various underwriting metrics. We spend a tremendous amount of time building and maintaining strong relationships to source as many opportunities as possible. By doing so, we positions ourselves to identify the top risk-adjusted opportunities relative to other opportunities in the market. Anybody can dress up a deal to make it appear strong on the surface. We will show you why it's strong with real data.