2019 - 2021 FMA Magazine

ALUMNI UPDATES
FMA BONDS
One of the greatest strengths of FMA is the
commitment that students show, not only
to the organization, but also to fellow members. In February
of 2021, two Auburn FMA alumni took that commitment to a
whole new level when they got engaged in Lowder 128, FMA’s
Bloomberg room.
Austin Howard and Madelaine Julbert were both in FMA’s
inaugural class. They each came to Auburn from Birmingham,
Austin went to Oak Mountain and Madelaine went to Hewitt
Trussville, but didn’t know each other until college.
Although the two members may have crossed paths at an FMA
function, the first time they both truly remember meeting was
in the Bloomberg Room where they were both studying for a
class and chatting. Austin chose to surprise Madelaine in 128
because “we both tie our first memory of knowing each other
back to that room and there’s a lot of meaning for both of us.”
Madelaine graduated in 2016 while Austin was still at Auburn
and joined BBVA’s management training program that summer.
Austin graduated in December of 2016 and started the same
program a year after his future bride, in the summer of 2017.
“I actually spoke to Austin’s management class that summer”
Madelaine says, “and a few months later he rotated through
my group - we worked closely together for a few months. He
ultimately was placed in another group at a different building,
but we still saw each other from time to time whether it was
work related or through our friend group. We started dating in
2019.”
For Madelaine, Austin’s thoughtful planning was spot on:
“Austin and I both love Auburn and I have always loved the
fact that even though we didn’t date while in college, we have
so many memories and similarities tied to our college days. We
were both finance majors, both joined FMA at the same time,
both interned at BBVA and went on to work full time for them
as well. While we were friends this entire time, neither of us
expected our relationship to grow into anything more but we
are so thankful that it did! It makes sense that we move into
this next chapter of our lives by celebrating what started it all...
studying in the Bloomberg room.”
Madelaine is now a Commercial Relationship Manager at
Regions. Austin is a VP on the technology side for BBVA and
manages a team within the bank’s Strategy and Control Group.
The couple will be married on September 25, 2021 at the Sonnet
House in Birmingham, Alabama.
74 FMA 2019-2021 MAGAZINE