About the Tozzi Electronic Business and Finance Center

The John R. Tozzi Electronic Business and Finance Center is one of the largest academic trading floors in the United States. Equipped with the most advanced financial research tools, the center is a powerful learning resource for students and faculty members at Michigan Ross.

Dedicated on October 25, 2002, the Tozzi Center was among the first academic trading floors in the nation. From its earliest days, it served as a differentiator for Michigan Ross and as a role model to other business schools, many of which modeled their own labs after the center. The Tozzi Center is a leader in terms of the breadth and depth of its resources.

The Tozzi Center was made possible through the outstanding philanthropy of alumnus John R. Tozzi, MBA ’67. While at Michigan Ross, Mr. Tozzi served as President of the finance club and graduated with distinction. He was an Institutional Associate at Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette and, from 1968 to 1973, he managed the Institutional Department of Lehman Brothers. He was a founder of Montgomery Securities and Senior Member of its Executive Committee. In 1981, he founded Cambridge Investments, an investment management firm that specializes in the energy industry. He continues to serve as CEO and CIO of the firm.

In establishing the Tozzi Center, Mr. Tozzi sought to create a state-of-the-art financial and educational hub that would propel Michigan Ross’ place among the world’s best business schools. While the center’s original home was in the Electronic Resources Building, where Jeff T. Blau Hall now stands, the Tozzi Center is now located at the heart of the Ross Building.

For emerging financial services leaders, the Tozzi Center provides an unparalleled opportunity to familiarize themselves with software that they will rely on throughout their careers. The trading floor provides access to a variety of programs, including Bloomberg, which enables users to observe and analyze real-time financial market data, research companies, and stay up to date on industry news. Other prominent software available at the Tozzi Center includes FactSet, a top-tier program that offers data and analytics, which is used by investment bankers, hedge funds, wealth managers, and corporations throughout the world. Additionally, the center features trading simulation software, which allows students to engage in action-based learning by implementing trading strategies in simulation cases.

“While our educational tools are essential for students pursuing a career in financial services, the Tozzi Center is also a community for those who want to learn about business beyond a textbook,” said Kai Petainen, who is the manager of the center. “This is a gathering place where students and academics debate and discuss the latest developments related to markets, sectors, stocks, commodities—and business in general. Our technology is what drives this action-based learning environment.”

Moreover, the Tozzi Center functions as a state-of-the-art classroom. Classes that are taught in the center focus on topics including financial statement analysis, valuation, risk analysis, portfolio management, financial trading, and more.

For all these reasons, the Tozzi Center is a launch pad for inspired business careers—both in and beyond financial services. In every way, the center epitomizes Michigan Ross’ commitment to delivering a business education that is both innovative and deeply rooted in incredible real-world learning opportunities.