RISE conference brings financial leaders to Dayton

During his junior year of college, Andrew Brackmann will rub elbows with the nation’s most prominent financial minds.

Brackmann is among the University of Dayton undergraduates organizing the 14th Redefining Investment Strategy Education forum, known as RISE. The event — which organizers say is the largest student investment conference in the world — will be held March 27-29.

Sandra Pianalto, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland will keynote the event.

“This conference really gives you an opportunity to take what you learned in the classroom and apply it to the real-world experience,” said Brackmann, assistant student director of RISE 14.

RISE attracts attendees from around the country, and last year drew about a record 2,300 people, said David Kudla, executive director of RISE.

RISE 14 is expected to break that record with 2,500, said Kudla, a University of Dayton alumnus and CEO and CIO of Mainstay Capital Management, LLC.

College students have the chance to interact with the presenters over the three-day event. UD Provost Joseph Saliba said that is an important opportunity for a “transformative moment” in their education.

“We look for nuggets in our students’ education that provide those experiential moments that in many ways transform the students,” he said.

Professionals can register online for keynote speeches that will be held on Thursday, March 27, at Rise.UDayton.edu. The cost is $195 for those who register by Jan. 31, and prices escalate from that date.

High school students can attend and apply for a scholarship to cover the costs.

Special guest this year Louie Vito, a member of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team, will share with students how he achieved success at a young age. Vito is a U.S. Grand Prix Overall Halfpipe champion, X-Games winner and competed on Dancing with the Stars television show in 2009.

Other speakers are:

  • Kelly Evans, anchor on CNBC
  • Kathleen Hays, host of The Hays Advantage on Bloomberg Radio
  • Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Investments, who is also married to George Lucas and chairwomen of the board for DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.
  • Giles Keating, head of research for private banking and wealth management and deputy global chief investment officer at Credit Suisse
  • Russ Koesterich, chief investment strategist, BlackRock, Chief Global Strategist, iShares
  • Stephanie Link, CIO and co-portfolio manager of TheStreet, Inc.
  • Thomas M. McManus, managing director, portfolio manager/analyst of Lazard Asset Management LLC
  • Bill Miller, chairman and CIO of LMM LLC
  • Mark Okada, co-founder and CIO of Highland Capital Management, L.P.
  • Tim Seymour, founder and managing partner of Triogem Asset Management, L.P.
  • Jerry Webman, senior investment officer and chief economist of OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

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