From the Classroom to the Trading Floor: Inside the Tozzi Center at Michigan Ross

The Tozzi Electronic Business and Finance Center, founded at Michigan Ross in 2002, is one of the biggest academic trading floors in the United States. It is equipped with advanced tools like Bloomberg and FactSet for analyzing live financial market data and industry trends. The center is a key place for hands-on financial learning, providing classes and student clubs at Michigan Ross and the University of Michigan with real-world investment and stock-trading experiences.

Action-based learning in finance to support classes and clubs

Kai Petainen, classroom services and trading floor manager, and Pedram Nezafat, a lecturer of marketing and the faculty director, operate the Tozzi Center, which is located on the lower level of the Ross building. 

According to Petainen, the center is often used to teach financial analysis, valuation, and portfolio management classes, including Big Data in Finance (FIN 342), Managing the Maize and Blue Fund (ACC 725), and Financial Trading (FIN 640). It is also an important meeting place for student investment clubs. Petainen manages requests from student groups and classes to use the lab’s software and computers. He also oversees student club meetings, facilitates student stock trading requests for the student-managed Maize and Blue Fund, and assists in teaching some classes.

“The Tozzi Center is involved in many classes at Michigan Ross,” said Petainen. “Some classes are held in Tozzi every week, others come in for a session or two, and other classes use the lab for homework or research. All of the venture funds at Ross visit the center for research purposes, and seven investment clubs meet in Tozzi each week.”

Although classes and student clubs have priority use of the lab, Petainen also hosts two non-credit workshops there, which are offered every semester to all faculty, staff, and students. The workshops familiarize participants with the technology in the Tozzi Center and cover the basics of quantitative screening and valuation.

Outside regular lab activities for classes and student clubs, Petainen and Nezafat aim to boost student engagement by hosting the Maize and Blue Stock Pitch Competition. The competition provides opportunities for students to network, work closely with a panel of investors, develop their stock-pitching skills, and win prizes.

A resource for the entire U-M community

According to Petainen, one thing he would like others to know about the Tozzi Center is that the lab is open to all students at the University of Michigan, not just Michigan Ross. It is also available for faculty and staff who want to learn about finance and trading through Bloomberg certification or participate in the workshops.

Additionally, Petainen encourages Ross community members to consider Tozzi for team-building events, where teams can learn new skills in trading and financial analysis.

“I could run a quick workshop on how to use FactSet and Bloomberg, then follow up with a fun group trading simulation,” said Petainen. “The departments should contact me, and we can set a good time to do that if they are interested.”