Justin Blanding

USC Marshall · Finance · Class of 2029

Before I studied finance, I wrote and published a book.

I'm Justin Blanding, a sophomore studying Business Administration (Finance) with a minor in Management Consulting. I care about two things that usually live in different buildings: the analysis behind a decision, and the story that gets people to act on it.

Read the longer version Skim the resume
JB · USC MARSHALL '29 BOOKS PUBLISHED 1 SUMMERS ON THE COURSE 4 GUESTS / DAY 100–150 EVENTS / SEMESTER 30+ EVENT OUTPUT ▲ 15% DCF HORIZON 5 YRS

The longer version

A resume line is a summary. Here's what sat behind four of them.

2020Philadelphia, PA

Writing Land of the Free

On paperAuthor Internship, American Reading Company. Wrote and published an educational book aligned with curriculum standards.

Before I knew what a cash flow statement was, I was learning what it takes to finish something. Over two summers with the American Reading Company I wrote Land of the Free, an educational book built to meet curriculum standards, and then watched their team turn my draft into a finished, distributed product.

That second part stuck with me. Production management is where a good idea either ships on deadline or doesn't, and it's the reason I still think about business as the work of turning something rough into something people can use.

1book published
2summers of work
2023Hawley, PA

Running the outside of a private golf club

On paperOutside Services Associate, The Country Club at Woodloch Springs. Managed daily logistics; delivered professional customer service.

For four summers I worked outside services at Woodloch Springs: cart allocation, event setup, and whatever the day threw at us, for 100 to 150 members and guests a day. A golf day doesn't reset. If carts aren't staged or an event isn't ready when the first group arrives, everyone behind them feels it.

The job taught me that most problems get caught early by someone paying attention to small details, and that the real skill is knowing what to fix first when three things go wrong at once. It's the most practical operations training I've had.

100–150members & guests / day
2023–26four seasons
2026Spring semester

Valuing CenterPoint Energy

On paperFinancial Modeling Project. Intrinsic and relative valuation, 5-year cash flow projections, investment recommendation.

My first real valuation. I built five-year cash flow projections for CenterPoint Energy, ran an intrinsic valuation alongside a relative one against comparable companies, and landed on a price target and recommendation.

Then I had to defend it. Presenting to faculty meant answering for every assumption, which is where I learned that a model is only as good as your ability to explain why each number is there.

5 yrsprojected cash flows
2valuation methods
2026Los Angeles, CA

Rebuilding how an executive board works

On paperVice President, Delta Eta Fraternity. Oversee 8 committee chairs; manage chapter budget allocation; reorganized the executive board.

As Vice President I oversee eight committee chairs and more than thirty chapter events and initiatives each semester, and manage how the chapter's budget is allocated across member development, alumni relations, and member support.

The part I'm proudest of is structural. I led a reorganization of how the executive board runs, and event output rose 15% across every position. Managing that budget taught me that a budget is really a list of strategic decisions about what matters.

8committee chairs
30+events / semester
+15%event output

Resume

The short version

Education

University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

May 2029

B.S. Business Administration (Finance), STEM designated · Minor: Management Consulting

  • Coursework: Business Finance, Introduction to Financial Accounting, Marketing Fundamentals

Experience

The Country Club at Woodloch Springs

May 2023 – Aug 2026

Outside Services Associate · Hawley, PA

  • Managed daily logistics for a high-volume private golf course, coordinating cart allocation and event preparation
  • Delivered consistent, professional service to members and guests, resolving issues in a fast-paced environment

American Reading Company

Jun 2020 – Aug 2021

Author Intern · Philadelphia, PA

  • Wrote and published the educational book Land of the Free, aligned with curriculum standards
  • Learned production management alongside the company's team, from draft to distribution

Leadership

Delta Eta Fraternity, USC

Apr 2026 – Present

Vice President

  • Oversee 8 committee chairs and 30+ chapter events and initiatives per semester
  • Manage budget allocation across member development, alumni relations, and member support
  • Reorganized how the executive board runs, increasing events across all positions by 15%

Cloud by Business Technology Group (BTG)

Sep 2026 – Present

General Member · Technology consulting

  • Workshops on design thinking and client engagement; speaker events with Netflix, Nvidia, and Accenture

Trojan Investing Society

Jan 2026 – May 2026

General Program

  • Accounting fundamentals, valuation techniques, and capital markets literacy

Skills

  • Excel (formulas, financial analysis)
  • Microsoft Office
  • DCF & comparables valuation
  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Long-form writing

Essays

Notes on money, business, and what I'm reading

The first essay is in progress.

I write here about finance, how companies make decisions, and the non-fiction books and podcasts I'm working through. Check back soon.

Off the clock

What I do when I'm not modeling something

Basketball

USC intramural team, and a former volunteer coach for the youth biddy basketball program back home in Hawley.

Non-fiction

Books are where most of my essay ideas start.

Podcasts

Business, markets, and long-form interviews, usually on the walk to class.

Music

Always on in the background while I work.

Contact

Recruiting for Summer 2027 internships in finance and strategy.

Emailjblandin@usc.edu
LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/justin-blanding