FORT COLLINS - Mike Coffman, state treasurer of Colorado, and top investment leaders from around the nation will headline Colorado State University's College of Business Summit Fund Symposium on Nov. 16.

The event will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in the East Ballroom of the Lory Student Center on the Colorado State campus. The day-long event is free and open to the public. Local investment clubs and private investors are welcome.

State Treasurer Mike Coffman will provide a keynote address on Colorado's economy and the TABOR rate.

Other presentations of featured speakers include Bill Schifani and Mike Kelly, vice presidents of Investments USB Alberquerque, speaking about "Modern Portfolio Theory" and Emmanuel Salvetti, director of Foreign Exchange for First Data Corp., speaking about "Currency Risk and Exposure in Foreign Exchange Markets."

The investment symposium is an idea created by the Summit Student Investment group in the College of Business to bring leading investment experts to the unversity to share their investment expertise. The event is designed for students, the financial community and individuals interested in investments.

The Summit Investment Fund began in 1999 when Bob Everitt, CEO of Everitt Companies, and his wife Joyce donated $50,000 after attending a student presentation. He also involved other local Fort Collins business leaders to add to the fund.

The Summit Student Investment Fund is capped at 15 students who are chosen after extensive interviews. The group meets twice a week to review each stock in their current portfolio and to debate the pros and cons of stocks that are being proposed for purchase. Members also look at the economy and competing industries as part of decision-making factors. Each member of the group spends hours researching companies and promotes their stock to the group, which requires nine members to approve it before it can be added to the portfolio.

As a part of the Summit Investment Symposium, two highly topical panel discussions will be held. The "Redefining the Values and Principles of Investing" panel will include Doug Johnson from Charles Schwab; John Roberts from Denver Investment Advisors; Dan Thomas, Colorado State Instructor of Accounting; Lucas Garland from Lipper, Inc.; and moderator Vickie Bajtlesmit, professor of finance and real estate in Colorado State's College of Business.

The second panel will discuss "The U.S. Economy and Global Marketplace." This panel will include Craig Blessing from Merrill Lynch; John Olienyk, professor of finance and real estate at Colorado State; Paul Bergman from the U.S. Department of Commerce; Nan Hinton from Vectra Bank Colorado; and moderator Paul Mallette, associate dean of research in the College of Business.

During the panel presentations, there will be an open floor discussion, which will include the audience.

A complete schedule of the symposium follows.
- 10 a.m. , Modern Portfolio Theory - Bill Schifani and Mike Kelly, vice presidents, Investments USB Albuquerque.
- 11 a.m., Currency Risk and Exposure in Foreign Exchange Markets - Emmanuel Salvetti.
- 1 p.m., Panel Discussion - Redefining the Values and Principles of Investing.
- 2 p.m., Panel Discussion - The U.S. Economy and Global Marketplace.
- 3 p.m., Keynote Speaker - Mike Coffman, Colorado State Treasurer.
- 4 p.m., Afternoon Reception - Introduction of Bob Everitt, Founder, The Summit Fund Student Investment Fund, Longs Peak Ballroom, Colorado State Lory Student Center.

For more information about the symposium, contact Sara Vaccariello, Summit Fund vice president, at (970) 482-6293 or visit www.biz.colostate.edu/investment.