Heidtke Trading Room rings in new era in finance education
Nashville investment manager L.O. “Buzz” Heidtke and Tennessee Tech University MBA graduate student Dan Gager ring a bell to mark the official opening Friday of the Buzz Heidtke Trading Room.
Thanks to Heidtke and other donors, TTU students studying finance in the College of Business now have their own trading room to simulate the activities of a real-life investment firm. From Cookeville, students have access to the same research, analysis and information tools to buy and sell stocks as any top-notch Wall Street investment firm.
Students can view the rise and fall of stock exchanges worldwide, commodities, currencies, individual funds or sets of funds, and market newsfeeds from a wall of high-definition television screens. A real-time stock ticker streams quotes at one end of the room on a 20-minute delay.
“This is significant for Tennessee Tech,” said TTU President Bob Bell. “This is a great example of how alumni come back to help their university. It’s just the type of thing that has to happen today to provide a margin of excellence.”
College of Business Dean James Jordan-Wagner noted that only about 100 universities worldwide have the capabilities of the new Heidtke Trading Room.
“This puts the College of Business on the cutting edge of financial education,” he said.
Students currently manage three investment funds totaling about $400,000.
“One of the best investments you can make is an investment in others. On behalf of the students here, thank you,” MBA student Dan Gager of Knoxville told Heidtke. “This is really quite amazing.”
Presented with a golden eagle statue award at the event was Jim Birdwell of Gainsboro, retired from Jackson Bank & Trust, who also contributed to the effort. Other donors include SunTrust Bank and R. John Clark, an alumnus from Texas.
Heidtke, a 1965 graduate of the college, said he marvels at the advancements in technology and information required today for a top-notch financial education.
“Years ago I applied for a job at J.C. Bradford & Co. as a board-marker,” Heidtke said. “Now look at all this information that’s available. It’s amazing.”
- Click here to learn more about the Heidtke Trading Room.
