SWFL Women in Investment Management

Our next event will take place on Wednesday, November 6th 11:30AM - 1:00PM at Brio Italian Grille in Naples. The Fireside Chat over Lunch with Dr. Camelia Minoiu of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta will be moderated by Dr. Amelia Biehl of Florida Gulf Coast University. Sign up today! https://lnkd.in/eBMYMr93

We are very excited for our upcoming panel event with SWFL Women in Investment Management and our guest panelists - Tina Turi-Shelley, Lauren Niebrugge, Isabella Arias, and Christina Shaw! This event will be on Wednesday 23, 2024 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, located at Sudgen Room 114. Networking event from 6:30pm to 7:00 pm. Panel event from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Dress Code Required: Business Casual/Professional Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insight! Enjoy Free Food and Drinks! Please RSVP on Eaglelink!

It’s time for our Student Spotlight! Our goal is to highlight young women ready to make a career in Investment Management. This month's spotlight is on Catherine DeRosa. Can you tell us about where you have attended school and your areas of study?  I attended the University of Maryland where I earned a Bachelor’s in Communication with a minor in Leadership Studies in May of 2023, as well as a Master’s in Business and Management in May of 2024. I was a student-athlete for four years on the Women’s Soccer team and a two-time captain. I am currently earning a Graduate Certificate in Integrated Strategic Communications from the University of Kentucky where I’ll conclude my studies in December. I am also a member of the Kentucky Women’s Soccer team. What is/was your favorite class? My favorite class was a Business Ethics course I took during my Master’s program at Maryland. We broke down the psychology of what causes unethical behavior. We also analyzed business leaders and organizations, and the impacts ethics play to those who are in positions of power. Please tell us why you want to live in Naples, FL after graduation. What area of the industry would you like to work in? Over the last couple of years, I have spent a good amount of time in Naples and can see myself living there. I would love to get into Wealth Management upon graduation in December and what better place to do that than in Naples, FL. I love building relationships and connecting with people. I also think that the financial services industry as a whole is so fascinating and has massive opportunities to learn and grow as a young adult entering the workforce. What was your student-athlete experience like? My experience as a student-athlete has been unforgettable. My biggest takeaway from college athletics and my experience as a student-athlete, is to understand the importance of being a good teammate above all else. I built upon my time management skills while juggling the academic and athletic demands of being a student-athlete. I also enhanced my written and verbal communication skills. Lastly, being a student-athlete allows you to dream big and chase your goals. Give us one "Fun Fact" about yourself. I love traveling and finding good local coffee spots! Catherine is interested in networking with financial professionals in SWFL and learning about upcoming local job opportunities. She can be reached via email at catherinederosa2020@gmail.com or (703) 507-9215.

Click the link to attend our Welcome Back Mixer with CFA Society Naples on October 2nd at South Street: https://lnkd.in/eApUkFkE We look forward to raising a glass with you!

SWFL WIM is proud to congratulate our co-founders, Mia Hyatt CFA, CFP (R) and Chelsea Ganey, CFA, for being named President and Vice President of CFA Society Naples. We are looking forward to another successful year of partnership with CFA Society Naples and hosting new events to educate and bring together women in the local investment community. Big shout out to our admins, Lauren Niebrugge and Isabella Arias, who make all of this possible!

It’s time for our Florida Gulf Coast University Student Spotlight! Our goal is to highlight young women ready to make a career in Investment Management. This month's spotlight is on Maggie DiCarlo. Why did you choose FGCU and your major? In 2019, I toured colleges with my older brother and had the chance to join him on his visit to FGCU. Although the tour wasn’t originally for me, I instantly fell in love with the campus and the offerings of the Florida Gulf Coast University Lutgert College of Business, with its accredited business program. My brother chose to attend FGCU, and two years later, I followed in his footsteps, as we both found a school that perfectly matched our academic and personal goals. What is/was your favorite class at FGCU? So far, my favorite class at FGCU has been Business Finance with Professor Thomas Mathews, CFA. As a sophomore, Business Finance was one of the more challenging courses in my major, but with Professor Mathews' encouragement and support, I was able to earn an A. Beyond academics, Professor Mathews has also become a mentor, helping me get involved with local financial organizations like SWFL Women in Investment Management and CFA Society Naples. What are your career goals after graduation? After graduation, I plan to return to Massachusetts to pursue a career in financial planning, although I am also open to staying in Florida if the right opportunity comes along. I’m passionate about helping people gain a clear understanding of their financial situations, and I look forward to teaching others how to organize and optimize their finances to achieve their long-term goals. What clubs and/or organizations are you involved in at FGCU? During my time at FGCU, I've become involved with the SWFL Women in Investment Management group and the CFA Society Naples organization. Outside of class, you can often find me playing pick-up volleyball with friends or collaborating in study groups at the library. Additionally, I work off campus at Grandezza Country Club, which has provided me with valuable professional experience and networking opportunities. Give us one "Fun Fact" about yourself. I have a deep passion for golf! In my freshman year of high school, I tried out for and made the Braintree High School Girls Golf Team, playing throughout my entire high school career. Over the past two years, I've been able to apply those skills as a Junior Golf Instructor at my hometown's course. Each week, I have the privilege of teaching a new group of students the fundamentals of golf, which has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable parts of my summers for the past two years. Maggie is interested in networking with financial professionals in SWFL and learning about upcoming internship opportunities. She can be reached via email at maggie.dicarlo@gmail.com or phone (781)964-1139. 

It’s time for our Florida Gulf Coast University Student Spotlight! Our goal is to highlight young women ready to make a career in Investment Management. This month's spotlight is on Melanie Oliva. Why did you choose FGCU and your major? I chose FGCU due to the university’s reputable business program. Initially, I pursued a major in Marketing, but taking Microeconomics with Amelia Biehl during my second semester sparked my interest in potentially switching. My interest in Economics had been present before college, but Dr. Biehl’s passion for the field and our various discussions about possible career paths solidified my decision. I remain incredibly grateful for her influence and guidance throughout my time at FGCU.    What is/was your favorite class at FGCU? My favorite class at FGCU was Labor Economics with Dr. Biehl, which I took during my second to last semester. I enrolled in as many of her classes as I could because of her remarkable ability to make complex theories and concepts easily digestible. This course provided insights into both private and public sectors of the labor force and provided students with many factors to consider when choosing between career paths.   Where have you interned in your field? During my senior year, I had the privilege of interning at the Regional Economic Research Institute (RERI) as a Research Assistant, where I contributed to the development of the SWFL Equitable Jobs Pipeline. The RERI aims to connect underemployed and unemployed residents of Southwest Florida with training, job opportunities, and additional support. My time at the RERI was incredibly valuable, as it involved comprehensive data collection, analysis, and presentation of labor force trends in SWFL, providing me with essential skills that enriched my professional growth.   What are your career goals after graduation? After graduation, I was selected for an internal post-graduate internship at Apple with the Vision Products Group (VPG) in California until November. My role is Data Collection and Data Analysis which aids in developing algorithms for Spatial Computing, and I am aiming to deepen my understanding of data analysis within the tech industry. This role has broadened my perspective and deepened my interest in innovative problem-solving. I'm thrilled to be in the next phase of my career and am actively exploring new opportunities where I would be able to apply my skills and experiences   Give us one "Fun Fact" about yourself. Before college, I was a Salsa and Bachata dancer with Hotspot Dance Company in Miami. I still have a huge love for dance and try to take classes at local studios and join social dance events whenever I get the opportunity to do so! Melanie is interested in future job opportunities and can be reached via email mel.oliva03@gmail.com or phone (305) 498-9521.

Congratulations to our Administrator, Isabella Arias, on passing her CFA Level 1 exam. We are beyond proud, Isa!

It’s time for our Florida Gulf Coast University Student Spotlight! Our goal is to highlight young women ready to make a career in Investment Management.   This month's spotlight is Lauren Kazmierczak. Lauren is a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University studying Finance with a concentration in Financial Analysis and Management and is expected to graduate in May 2025. She was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, and moved to Naples, FL in 2020.     Why did you choose FGCU and your major? I chose FGCU because it is a smaller school that offers great opportunities. I had just moved to the area and wanted to stay in Naples, so FGCU was my first choice! I found that the finance program is very reputable, especially in assisting students to get involved in the finance community in SWFL.     What is/was your favorite class at FGCU? So far, my favorite class at FGCU was Business Finance with Professor Mathews. I found this class very interesting and informative; I look forward to taking Security Analysis with him in the fall! Not only did I learn a lot from the material in class, but Professor Mathews also got me connected with many professionals in the finance industry and has guided me with the growth of my plans for my future career.     What are your career goals after graduation? After graduation, I plan to stay in Naples and hope to pursue a career in an analytical position at a wealth management firm. I also plan to study for the CFA Level 1 exam. What clubs and/or organizations are you involved in at FGCU? Currently, I am a part of the STOC club and attend meetings hosted by fellow students and various finance professionals. For my last two semesters at FGCU, I will be the Bloomberg lab coordinator and assist students in using the Bloomberg terminals we have on campus. Give us one "Fun Fact" about yourself. Growing up I used to do competitive dancing and had the opportunity to dance with Janet Jackson at the Air Canada Centre when I was just thirteen years old!    Lauren Kazmierczak is interested in connecting and networking with other finance professionals in the Southwest Florida area. She can be reached at lekazmierczak3293@eagle.fgcu.edu or (716) 243-5464.

What a fantastic way to end our second full season! BMO Private Wealth graciously hosted a special book club event in partnership with the Collier County Women's Bar Association . We were thrilled to have Annabelle Tometich, the acclaimed author of *The Mango Tree*, join us in person. Annabelle captivated the audience as she answered questions and gave a special reading from her book. It was an unforgettable evening of literary inspiration and engagement. We look forward to seeing everyone in the fall!