Inducted: 2024

BBA in Finance & Marketing, 2002

Joel Traut joined KKR in 2015 and is partner at the firm and is a real estate team member. He serves as Head of Originations for KKR Real Estate Credit and is responsible for business development, the origination process, and team coordination across the real estate direct lending business. Prior to joining KKR, Joel spent thirteen years at GE Capital where he led their northeast commercial team. He focused on investing in real estate credit strategies including first mortgage and mezzanine loans. Joel joined GE in 2002 as part of GE Capital's financial management program and during his tenure, worked across multiple GE Capital business segments. Joel graduated summa cum laude from the Gatton College of Business and Economics in 2002 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing. He is also a member of the Finance Advisory Board at Gatton. Joel is a member of the Urban Land Institute, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties ('NAIOP') on its Capital Markets Council. He and his wife Carolyn live in New York with their two children, Evelyn and Andrew.