Friday, April 10, 2009

Finance Club Trip to Chicago

Finance Club Trip to Chicago

The Finance Club just returned from their annual trip to Chicago. The trip was a great success with students learning what Chicago has to offer in the world of finance and also some great job seeking advice from alumni. The hospitality and generosity shown by the alumni was greatly appreciated.

The Club went to the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade and ThinkorSwim. ThinkorSwim is unique, fast growing company that is a specialized online trading platform, with many SBU alumni at the company.

Along of the formal visits the students and faculty on the trip got a chance to relax with alumni and really experience Chicago. The group went out for Chicago style deep dish pizza one night and to the top of the Hancock Building to check out a bird’s eye view of the city, among other things.

Thanks to all the alumni out in Chicago, we couldn’t have made the trip without you. A special thanks to Dr. Peterson, Professor Bootheway and the Cullen Brothers for all their help.


Submitted by Mark Larry Finance Club President

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Several SIFE videos

Lyndsey Pohlman has created several videos about SIFE and its EmbraceitAfrica project. Here is an overview of SIFE's many projects.



Wednesday, April 8, 2009

SBU's SIFE Embraces Africa!

Africa Team Gives Presentation in NYC:

Last Wednesday, April 1st, the Embrace It Africa team presented to alumni, family, and friends in midtown NYC. The event was sponsored by John Boucher, Bonaventure alum and KPMG partner at the Heritage Training Center on Park Avenue at the KPMG office.

The embrace it Africa team, MBA student Andrew Mantilia, seniors Erin Danahy, Lindsay Pohlman and Zachary Rodriguez and freshman Lauren Morris, presented their work and progress since the projects beginning last year. Their goal was to provide those who live farther away with information on the Africa project and show what St. Bonaventure students are doing to help those in need. The hour-long presentation included a slideshow of pictures and information and a question and answer session.

The team believes that it was a very successful event and hopes to have similar nights in more cities this spring.

For more information please check out the embrace it Africa website: embraceitafrica.org

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Friday, April 3, 2009

Congratulation to Carl Pfadt

Congratulations to Carl Pfadt for winning the 2009 Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award.

Carl is a Finance and Accounting Double major.

Honorable mention to Gregory Weidert a BIS major.

SIMM-Students in Money Management


The following is from a Handout made by David Abriatis a co-General Manager (with Mark Larry) of the Fund. It was handed out to students to get more in the class.

Overview

What?: SIMM, Students in Money Management, is a student run class where we invest real money into various asset classes. Currently our portfolio has almost $140,000, which we can invest and trade with in two separate accounts, one that has been donated by alumni, and another that is part of the university’s endowment fund. Students do their own analysis of assets we wish to buy and the class decides whether or not to buy the asset. The majority of classes not lectured-based but are student oriented projects and analysis of different investments.


Who: SIMM is available to all majors as a club, and students can sit in on classes and participate as frequently as they would like. SIMM can also be taken as a class for credit with the only pre-requisite being Finance 301. The class can be taken three different times for credit, twice as an undergrad and once as a graduate student


When: SIMM is offered every semester and has held a few different time slots. This coming Fall SIMM will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:00-5:15


What Others Think

“SIMM s the most valuable finance class we offer in the program. This is because you have to take all of the financial principles and calculations and apply them to a real life situation… This is one of the best experiences you can bring into an interview whether it is for an internship or a career.”

James Kane, Alumni Undergrad 2006, MBA 2007, Currently at MetLife


“This is one area in which St. Bonaventure truly excels students manage all levels of the course, and it is a great experience overall. They invest real money and are currently facing one of the most challenging investment times on record.”

- Jim Mahar, SIMM Instructor

"SIMM is a fantastic learning opportunity for current students in that it allows for unique, practical application of Financial concepts and principles that are learned in a traditional classroom setting. The course is rigorous, the material is advanced, and the structure is very demanding - students don't just participate, they actively run and manage the fund....is a great tool to set oneself apart not only in the University setting, but in the interview process as well. Success in SIMM demonstrates the ability to apply what is learned in the classroom to real life situations, and shows future employers that the candidate is capable of insightful and strategic analysis - prior to even being hired. SIMM was easily one of the highlights of my tenure at St. Bonaventure; the class truly enriched my education and experience at SBU."

--Stephanie Karnas Class of 2005. SIMM board member. Currently at M&T.

“The leadership experience and analytic tools students gain in SIMM parallel that of the skills needed to be successful in today’s challenging investment industry. This class puts Bona students’ one giant step ahead when seeking employment in today's extremely competitive job market."

- Chris Zimmer, Alumni 2006, Currently at Bessemer Trust

Thursday, April 2, 2009

YouTube - Finance @ St. Bonaventure University - Director's Cut

YouTube - Finance @ St. Bonaventure University - Director's Cut

This is the long version of the TV Commercial that SBU is running in various markets. The focus is the SIMM program, but about mid way it brings in service that happens at SBU as well.

A short video on Joe Coate speaking on the Pacioli Project

It is really short, but a nice recap of what the Pacioli project is and how it fits within the School of Business.

A special Thank you to Kathy Premo's Management class

Several volunteers from Kathy Premo's Management class teamed up with BonaResponds to make the Buffalo Service day a big success. Co-hosted by BonaResponds and Villa Maria College, we had about 120 volunteers.

For more on the day and many pictures see the BonaResponds Blog.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Jeff Peterson on the economy

Recently Dr. Jeff Peterson gave a campus-wide presentation on the economy and what led to the economic crisis.