North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will hold its grand opening of The School of Business and Economics Financial Trading Room, Thursday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., in Craig Hall.

The Financial Trading Room is the culmination of years of skillful planning to produce a classroom where students can observe the interaction of market concepts and behaviors through simulated trading analyses. Located on the second floor of Craig Hall, home to the School of Business and Economics, the classroom features 32 student workstations with dual monitors, two large screen display boards, a 2-line electronic stock ticker with 20-minute delayed data feed and an instructor workstation. Tours will be given during the opening reception.

“The Financial Trading Room is an exciting and valuable resource for North Carolina A&T State University. The educational opportunities for business students as well as the educational interactions with students campus-wide will add significant academic and practical value. This interactive technology-based facility engages students in a “learning by doing” environment. In addition to providing opportunities for college students, we look forward to working with students and teachers from local public schools as we seek to advance their overall understanding of financial markets. The response of our executive advisory board, alumni, and parents who toured the facility during this summer’s orientations indicates that this facility will provide a win-win opportunity for the community and the University," said the School of Business and Economics Dean Quiester Craig.

Keynote speaker will be Jeffrey Kane, senior vice president and officer in charge of the Federal Reserve Bank, Charlotte office. Prior to this 2003 appointment, Kane's entire tenure at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond was in the banking supervision and regulation department. He first joined the staff as an examiner in 1977 and was later promoted to examining officer in 1988. He continued climbing the ladder, holding positions as assistant vice president, vice president and then senior vice president. As senior vice president he oversaw the supervision of large complex, regional and community banking organizations in the Fifth Federal Reserve District.

Kane earned a B.A. degree in mathematics at the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of The Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University and the Virginia Bankers School at the University of Virginia.

The inaugural Closing Bell Speaker Series will kick off at 4 p.m. on the same day in Merrick Hall Auditorium, with guest speaker Joseph T. Wilson, Jr., managing director of Citigroup Global Markets, New York, N.Y. His topic will be "Financial Markets – Reaching a New Generation."

The CBSS will support the experiential learning environment of the Financial Trading Room by bringing to the School senior executive business leaders who hold significant financial, operational, legal/governance, or other corporate/non-profit responsibilities. The principal objective of the presentations will be to increase financial industry awareness, with an emphasis on the interdisciplinary aspects of the industry. There will be additional speakers through the course of the academic year with topics that span the financial and economic climate of today's society.

For more information regarding the grand opening and other scheduled activities call 336.334.7846, ext. 4029.