Credit ratings analyst---> IB/ER/--->AM/HF?

Has anyone ever met somebody who has gone from one of the major credit ratings agencies (S&P, Moody's) into the IB/ER/AM/HF industries? I'm a non-target graduate (T-50 Bschool) who didn't really decide to go after a career in high finance until my senior year and did not gain the internship experience to get a job through traditional recruitment cycles from school. I'm working towards my CFA and want to get that first foot in the door and want to know if lateraling as a ratings analyst at a major credit ratings firm is a realistic path into these types of roles. I have a family connection who can most likely help get me into one of these roles but I would have to leave the NYC area (where I'm from) if I were to do this. I am very willing to move for this job but not if it's not going to be sufficient to help me break into the industry. I don't necessarily have one sector of IB/ER I'm dead set on, I'm open to all options whether its M&A, LevFin, ECM/DCM, RX, Coverage and so forth. Any input is greatly appreciated from a prospective monkey.