GENESEO, N.Y. -- Geneseo’s School of Business has reached a major milestone with the opening of its Trading Room, an applied learning facility giving business students real-time trading experience through state-of-the-art technology.
Students will use the trading room for a variety of projects related to finance and management, such as the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF), an organization in which students trade real securities. The Trading Room, located on the first floor of South Hall, was funded by generous alumni donors, who were among the 80 who attended the Oct. 14 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“In our environment, learning is not limited to the confines of a classroom where you hear about content and theories, but we expect students to take that knowledge and extend it by applying it to real world situations,” said SUNY Geneseo President Denise A. Battles at the ceremony. “This facility represents an applied learning laboratory.”
Cutting the ribbon for the new School of Business Trading Room were (l to r) student Jonathan Drabek, vice president of the Student Managed Investment Fund; alumnus Bob Murray '83; alumnus Dan Loughran '86; Denise Rotondo, dean of the School of Business; alumnus John Gleason '87; Geneseo President Denise A. Battles; alumni Kevin Gavagan '75, Michael Camarella '98 and Bob Walley '83; and student Nelson Scott, president of the Student Managed Investment Fund.
School of Business Dean Denise Rotondo said the school’s vision is to be the top undergraduate school in the SUNY system for developing exceptional business professionals and graduate students, particularly in finance, accounting and economics.
“If the accomplishments of the last two years are any indication, we’ve off to a fantastic start,” said Rotondo. “The School of Business is critical in enhancing the value and reputation of Geneseo across New York and beyond.”
The trading room is equipped with several Bloomberg terminals, which contain real-time and historical data on equities, fixed income and derivative securities, and data on the foreign exchange markets.
“Having this resource will go a long way in managing our fund as a portfolio,” said Nelson Scott, a senior from Romulus, N.Y., and president of SMIF. “It will be hugely useful.”
Sophomore Madeleine Brilling from Queensbury, N.Y., said she plans to use the Trading Room as collaborative space to meet and discuss class projects.
“Having access to the Bloomberg data is incredible and so applicable to the real world,” said Brilling. “That’s what you need in business especially – that real world opportunity.”
President Battles gratefully acknowledged the alumni who made major contributions for the Trading Room, including Michael Camarella ’98, who led the charge in establishing the facility; Kristin Castner ’94; John Gleason '87; Bob Murray '83; Roger Lavan ‘85; Dan Loughran '86; Jim Mollen ‘94; Tim Ostrander ’03; and Bob Walley '83.
In her remarks, Dean Rotondo also acknowledged Tom DeMott, former chair of the Geneseo Business Advisory Council, who secured private funding for the establishment of SMIF.
College Communications intern Alexandra Ciarcia contributed to the reporting of this story.
Media Contact:
David Irwin
College Communications
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu