Since 1989, Mr. Garfinkel has focused his career on advising middle market clients in exclusive sale, recapitalization and private equity raise transactions. He co-founded Morgan Keegan’s Convenience Store & Retail Petroleum practice completing transactions for some of North America’s premier companies, including Alimentation Couche-Tard, ALON USA, Delek USA (Mapco Express), Spectrum Stores, Susser Holdings, The Pantry, Town & Country Food Stores and White Hen Pantry. Mr. Garfinkel regularly speaks on various financial topics at events sponsored by NACS and SIGMA and has served on the finance committees of both organizations.  Prior to joining Morgan Keegan in 1993, he was with Bowles Hollowell Conner & Company (now Wachovia Securities), a Charlotte, North Carolina-based investment bank specializing in middle market M&A and structured financings. Mr. Garfinkel received a B.S. in business administration from the University of North Carolina and an M.B.A. from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies.