Financial Smarts for Students

Show Date

Friday
December 14, 2007

Memorial Union
University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island

Up to 7 CEU Credit Hours Approved by RIDE

Free of Charge for educators

Continental breakfast & lunch provided

....................................................

Promoters

Performers

We proudly present our ’07 “Performers!” (in order of program appearance)

	Laura Levine Executive Director Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy Laura Levine has devoted her career to helping people of all ages better understand financial services through marketing and outreach, communications, and most recently, through education. In 2004, she became only the second executive director of the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, a Washington DC-based coalition of more than 180 national partners and 48 affiliated state coalitions, which share a commitment to “financial smarts for students” in kindergarten through college. Laura began her career with Vista Federal Credit Union at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA, and served as Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the California Credit Union League. She relocated to become a credentialed, Capitol Hill correspondent for a credit union trade publication before moving into the securities industry. Laura served as Director of Editorial Services for the National Association of Securities Dealers and, later, as Director of Education and Information for the NASD Office of Individual Investor Services. From 1999-2004, Laura was Director of the NASDAQ Educational Foundation. Since taking over at Jump$tart, Laura has continued raise awareness about financial literacy through presentations and the media, while growing the coalition at both the state and national levels. Laura has served on a number of boards and committees, including the Industry Advisory Committee for DC Public Schools and the Education Advisory Council for Visa USA. A native of Los Angeles, Laura holds a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of the Western CUNA Management School. She does not consider herself a financial expert, but rather, a staunch advocate for financial education and information.
	Claudia M. Kerbel Director of Outreach University of Rhode Island Center for Personal Financial Education Claudia serves as the Director of Outreach at the University of Rhode Island Center for Personal Financial Education. She is also an adjunct faculty member and academic advisor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University. Over her career as a financial educator, she has managed numerous outreach programs, including a workplace financial education project and community-based personal finance workshops for women. Since 1998, Claudia has served as a state Cooperative Extension representative to the National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning Program. In this capacity she trains teachers, financial service providers and community-based educators in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island on implementation of the program materials. In 2006, Claudia served on the national Jump$tart Coalition task force to revise and update the National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education. Currently, she is President of the Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. Her background also includes teaching, program administration, and Cooperative Extension work at two other universities. She holds a Master of Science degree in Consumer Economics from Cornell University.
	Karen Healey Education Manager Junior Achievement of Rhode Island, Inc. Karen Joined Junior Achievement of RI’s professional staff as Education Manager in September 2006. Karen’s previous work with Junior Achievement includes; Education Manager with JA of RI (1996-1998) and Education Manager and Acting Marketing Manager with JA of Greater Boston (1992-1994). Other professional roles include; Sales Associate with REMAX (2005), Educational Instructor for the Audubon Society of Rhode Island (2001-2007), and Director and Head Teacher of “The Village Cooperative Nursery School” in Kingston, RI (1999-2001) Karen received a BS in Education and Teacher Certification from Springfield College (1988), and engage in Masters Level Courses in Education at University of RI 1999-2001. She completed the Rhode Island Real Estate Licensing Course and License in 2005. Karen has been a Piano Instructor in North Kingstown from 2001 to present. She is a LINKS Volunteer in the North Kingstown School System and Past President of the North Kingstown Newcomers Club. She is also an Assistant Girl Scout Leader in North Kingstown.
	Jim Hedemark Executive Director Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy Jim has served as Executive Director of the Coalition since its inception in May of 2004. His duties include the day-to-day administration of the coalition, internal and external communications, development strategy and execution, management of the budget, policy development, outreach to partners, support of the Directors and program management. Prior to joining the Coalition, Jim worked as a public affairs consultant serving clients in the business, non-profit and government sectors and as a senior campaign advisor at the state and federal levels in Arizona, California and Washington State. Highlight projects include: coalition building to support the approval of an 18,000 seat, $40 million amphitheater in Southwest Washington State; organization of an emergency management system along the United States’ largest pipeline; community relations for the renovation of the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle; focus group research documenting prevailing opinion leader sentiments regarding natural resource conservation in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho; national market research for the United States’ only 100% Native American owned national bank, and organization of a Colorado statewide town-hall meeting focused on engaging people with disabilities in the local, state and federal political process. He has also worked as a political organizer for the Washington State Labor Council and as a residential loan originator in Arizona. Jim graduated from Washington State University in 1995 with a B.A. in political science with an emphasis on public administration. He resides in Providence, RI.
	Sue Bennett Business Department Chair North Providence High School Susan Bennett is the Business Department Chairperson at North Providence High School. She has been teaching for 17 years. She serves on the executive board of Rhode Island Business Educators Association, currently as President. In addition, she services as an advisory board member for Davies Business Technology Program and New England Institute of Technology Computer Business Management Program. Sue earned an M.Ed. in Secondary Administration from Providence College, an M.Ed. in Secondary Education and a B.S. in Business Education from Bryant College. Personal Finance is included in the curriculum for all Juniors at North Providence High School in a 1/2 credit course. In addition, the NPHS Business Department also offers a full credit course in Career and Financial Planning.
	Catherine DiChiaro & Colleen Sweeney Mathematics Teachers Lincoln School Catherine DiChiaro (pictured left) holds an A.B Mathematics from Salve University and an NSF Masters Program from Boston College. Cathy has served as a mathematics teacher at Lincoln School, an all girl’s independent Quaker school in Providence, RI since 2001. She began her teaching career in Smithfield, RI in 1970. She also taught at North Providence High School. Colleen Sweeney (pictured right) holds an A.B. Mathematics from Stonehill College and an M.A.T. Mathematics from Rhode Island College. Colleen has served as a teacher at Lincoln School, an all girl’s independent Quaker school in Providence, RI, since 1994. Prior teaching experiences include Barrington, RI and Freetown-Lakeville school system in Massachusetts. She began her teaching career in 1970. Colleen and Catherine initiated the Personal Finance junior/senior elective at Lincoln School in 2004. Colleen and Cathy are also responsible for planning and implementing Greenpower Day at Lincoln School.
	Gloria Rossiter Mathematics Teacher & Adjunct Professor Aldrich Middle School & Providence College Gloria Rossiter has been an educator for twenty years. She is a math teacher at Aldrich Middle School in Warwick. She is an adjunct professor at Providence College teaching a graduate level course, Math for Elementary School Teachers for the past five years. Gloria received her undergraduate degree in 1979 and her masters of education in 1999, both from Rhode Island College. She has worked with the Department of Education on NECAP testing and the Statewide Curriculum in Mathematics. Gloria is active in her school system promoting mathematics education for all. She is an advocate for Finance Education at the middle school level as well as senior high level.
	George “Scott” Guild Director of Economic Education Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB) George “Scott” Guild is the Director of Economic Education at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. He has held this position since May 2000. Prior to taking this position he was a Senior Manager in the State Government Strategy Practice at Andersen Consulting where he provided expert consulting services based upon his twenty-three years as a public school teacher and administrator. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Government from Harvard College and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Cambridge College. He has also served on the advisory boards of The Boston History & Innovation Collaborative and the Massachusetts Money Management Program.
	Bobbie McCrackin Vice President and Public Affairs Officer Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Bobbie McCrackin, Vice President and Public Affairs Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, directs the Bank’s external relations, which include media relations, publications, Web sites, conferences, and outreach activities such as speeches, economic education, and community service. She also oversees the Bank’s research library. Ms. McCrackin is also active at the System level, particularly in the area of economic education and the Internet. Currently she chairs the Federal Reserve System’s Web Steering Committee, which coordinates the Fed’s Internet presence. She also represents the System’s public information function on several information technology steering groups. In addition, she has consulted with or presented to other central banking organizations, such as the National Bank of Ukraine and the Bank for International Settlements. Ms. McCrackin joined the Atlanta Fed as an economist in 1982 and has published articles on the southeastern economy, the economics of education, and the history of the Fed. In addition to her Bank responsibilities, she is also active in the community. She is vice chair of the board of directors of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. She serves on the boards of Junior Achievement of Georgia as vice chair of the education committee, vice chair of the finance committee and a member of the executive committee. She is past Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair of the Georgia Council for Economic Education, and she was president of the Atlanta Economics Club as well as a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of ’93. She was a founding board member of the Georgia Consortium for Personal Financial Literacy. She has also served on the editorial board of The Forum, a publication of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the boards of the Georgia Tech Center for International Business Education and Research, the Harper Magnet School for Financial Services, the Atlanta Academy of Finance and the Academy of Economics and Finance, an association of southern economics and finance professors. She also has served as an elder at Morningside Presbyterian Church. Ms. McCrackin is a member of the American Economic Association and the National Association of Business Economics. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ms. McCrackin earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in economics, summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She studied in the Soviet Union as a Fulbright Scholar and later earned a master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College and a doctorate from Emory University. She has also completed Northwestern University’s Advanced Executive Program.
	Maureen Hunt Senior Account Executive Credit Services Experian Maureen Hunt joined Experian in January, 1988. She has held the positions of Customer Service Representative, Sales Support Representative, Account Executive, and is currently Senior Account Executive and responsible for Named Accounts throughout the Northeast Region. As Senior Account Executive she manages the client relationships between Experian and their largest clients. Experian is a global leader in providing information, analytical tools and marketing services to organizations and consumers to help manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions. Organizations rely on Experian for help in finding new customers and developing successful relationships with their existing customers. Maureen is responsible for the development and management of a positive customer experience. Maureen has over 15 years of experience in the credit industry and resides in North Providence, RI.
	Prof. Joan Gray Anderson Research Director University of Rhode Island Center for Personal Financial Education Joan has been a faculty member of the University of Rhode Island since 1984, and was promoted to the rank of Full Professor in 1997. Her primary assignment at the University is teaching, and she has taught such courses as: Personal Finance, Consumer Economics, Debt Management, Retirement Planning, and Financial Issues across the Lifespan. She has been instrumental in several program revisions as well as the development of new courses. She is responsible for the certificate program in Family Financial Counseling and Planning, which is available to graduate, undergraduate and non-matriculating students. In the area of research and outreach, her most recent focus has been on the impact of personal finance educational programs for changing financial behavior of consumers. She is a Co-Director of the University of Rhode Island Center for Personal Financial Education, and has a 15% outreach appointment to focus on outreach projects in the area of personal finance through the Center. Joan also serves as a Director of the Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition.
	Prof. Paul Maloney, MBA, CPA, CFP® Chair of Department of Finance Providence College Professor Maloney is a finance professor at Providence College where he teaches courses in personal Financial planning, investments, insurance and entrepreneurial finance. He also serves as Chair of the College’s Department of Finance. Paul is a 1976 summa cum laude graduate of Bentley College and received his MBA with distinction from McGill University (Montreal, Quebec) in 1978. Paul is an officer of the Financial Planning Association of Rhode Island, where he has served as Treasurer for the past three years. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Financial Planning Association and the Academy of Financial Services. Paul has over twenty years of experience as a financial consultant to individuals and small businesses. He and his wife, Janet, reside in Barrington, RI and have five children. He also serves as a Director of the Rhode Island Jump$tart Coalition.
	Robert E. Pirri, Esq. Vice President, Client Manager Bank of America Global Wealth & Investments Management Robert E. Pirri is a Vice President and Client Manager with Bank of America Global Wealth & Investments Management in Providence, RI. In this capacity he is responsible for the financial and estate planning needs of clients in the middle market and emerging affluent sectors. He leads groups and initiatives focused on meeting clients’ personal wealth needs. A 1997 graduate of Roger Williams University School of Law, Mr. Pirri has been with Bank of America and its predecessor banks in excess of 11 years. He is a member of the Massachusetts and American Bar Associations. Prior to joining the Bank of America Global Wealth & Investments Management in February 2000, Mr. Pirri was a human resources manager for the Company from April 1996 until his transition. He also held various human resources positions at J. Baker, Inc. in Canton, MA and Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, where he is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Legal Studies Department. Mr. Pirri graduated cum laude in 1988 from Stonehill College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. He was subsequently chosen for a graduate teaching fellowship at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, completing his tenure in 1990. He is also a graduate of the Cannon Financial Institute and holds NASD Series 7 and 63 licenses. Mr. Pirri is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the RI Chapter of the March of Dimes and their 2001 “Elaine Whitelaw Leadership” recipient. He is an Alumni Council Member of both Roger Williams University School of Law and Stonehill College, elected to a 3 year term at both institutions. He is also on the Board of Directors of Team Bank of America. He is a standing member of the Justinian Law Society; Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity; and the LaBella Sicilia Society. He is a communicant of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and a resident of Bristol, RI with his wife, Julie.
	George L. Glover Assistant Coordinator of Employment and Training Programs RI Department of Labor and Training Labor Market Information Unit George L. Glover is an Assistant Coordinator of Employment and Training Programs in the Labor Market Information unit of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, where he has been employed for the past 32 years. He supervises the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey - the monthly count of jobs in Rhode Island, and the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Occupational Injuries and Illnesses survey. Mr. Glover is a 1974 graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, earning a B.S. degree in Mathematics. He previously attended Roger Williams University, majoring in Electrical Engineering. In 1992, he was elected state president of his professional association - the Rhode Island Chapter of the International Association of Personnel in Employment Security (IAPES), and in 1997 was elected to serve on the International Board of that association. Mr. Glover, a native Rhode Islander, resides in the town of Coventry, Rhode Island.
	Allan Fung Government Relations Counsel Metlife Allan W. Fung is Government Relations Counsel for MetLife and manages the legislative and regulatory affairs nationwide for its subsidiary, MetLife Auto & Home, the 14th largest personal lines property and casualty insurer in the United States. From 2003 to 2007, Fung was a Citywide Councilman in Cranston and helped improve the city’s bond rating, which was the worst in the country. Prior to these positions, Fung was a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General from 1999 to 2001 and from 1996 to 1999 was a litigation associate for the firm of Mandell, Schwartz & Boisclair. Fung was born in Providence, Rhode Island and attended Classical High School. He graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science from Rhode Island College in 1992 and cum laude with a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in 1995. In 2001, he completed the Leadership Rhode Island program. Fung is Chairman of the Governor’s Insurance Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Past President of the Rhode Island Association of Chinese Americans. He is also a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association Committee on Involvement of Minorities, and the Thurgood Marshall Law Society. In 2006, Fung was the recipient of the Rhode Island College Political Science Alumni Honor Roll Award. In 2006 and 2005, he was named to Providence Business News’ 40 Under Forty. In 2004, he was named a fellow of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation and was also the Rhode Island Chinese American Citizen of the Year.
	Charles P. Kelley, CFA, CPA Executive Director Rhode Island Student Loan Authority Charles Kelley is the Executive Director of the non-profit Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA) and the College Planning Center of Rhode Island and started with RISLA in 1990. RISLA was founded in 1981 and provides the majority of the federally guaranteed and private loans in Rhode Island. Kelley founded the College Planning Center in 1998 to provide free assistance to students and families with college selection, SAT preparation, admissions counseling, assistance in filing financial aid forms and scholarship searches. The College Planning Center has year round locations in the Warwick Mall, and will soon be opening additional offices in Bristol, Middletown and Providence. Kelley started his career with the international accounting firm of Arthur Young where his primary clients were Textron and Narragansett Capital and obtained his CPA in 1980. Mr. Kelley received his BS in Accounting from the University of Rhode Island where he was elected President of the honor society Beta Alpha Psi, and holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (the professional designation for investment management), and is a long time member of the South County Hospital Finance Committee and past Chairman of the Education Finance Council in Washington, DC. Kelley is married to Ann Kelley, Associate Professor at Providence College and has one son in College and a daughter who is a Junior in high school.