TVA INVESTMENT – The UT Martin students who participated Oct. 2-4 at the Student
Managed Investment Fund Consortium Conference in Chicago are (L-R) Archie Scott, Kayla
Potete, Mackenzie Smith, Madison Everett, Toby Bolkcom, Zach Crawford and Nathan Jones.
Haddad, Mahmoud
MARTIN, Tenn. – The UT Martin TVA Investment Challenge students attended and participated
at the 2024 Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium (SMIFC) Conference on Oct. 2-4 in
Chicago.
While attending the SMIFC Conference, the students presented a poster that showcased the UTM
Tennessee Valley Authority’s annual performance, holdings, investment allocation and
investment philosophy.
Students interacted with competition judges and fielded questions from judges, other student-
managed investment fund participants and industry professionals.
Students Toby Bolkcom, a senior finance major from Millington, and Kayla Potete, a Master of
Business Administration student from Waynesboro, competed in a financial case analysis and
gave introductory speeches for the conference speakers from Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. and
Ariel Investments.
Other UTM students who attended or participated were Zach Crawford, a senior finance major
from Dresden; Madison Everett, a senior finance major from Bolivar; Nathan Jones, a senior
finance major from McKenzie; Archie Scott, a senior finance major from Harvest, Alabama; and
Mackenzie Smith, a senior finance major from Covington.
Dr. Mahmoud Haddad, professor of finance, who advises the UTM TVA Investment Challenge
program, moderated the question-and-answer session for the Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.
speakers.
“Each semester, finance students can participate in the SMIFC conference,” Haddad said. “The
main purpose of this consortium is to give students the opportunity to develop a leadership role
in investment management and network with industry leaders, recruiters, scholarships,
internships and employment.
“Participants are required to solve financial problems and enhance their financial education and
research skills. Students compete in two distinct projects. The poster session allows SMIFC
teams to showcase their SMIF performance. Each team is judged on their fund's performance,
visual presentation and engagement with judges. In the other project, teams analyze selected
company financial performance using various data sources and financial tools.”
While in Chicago, students tour the Chicago Board of Trade, the Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago, and the city's famous landmarks.