News & Media
What’s New at the Florida Council….
Florida Council on Economic Education Names New Executive Director
(TAMPA) – December 7, 2009 – The Florida Council on Economic Education (FCEE) announced a change in key personnel. Clinton Mueller will be leaving the post of Executive Director after serving in that role for nearly 3 years. He is credited with helping revitalize and restructure the FCEE during the past several years. He is relocating to South Florida to get married.
The Florida Council on Economic Education’s new Executive Director is Robin Warren, who joined the Council December 1st. Ms. Warren has had a successful career in banking and law. She served as Associate General Counsel and Public Policy Executive for Bank of America at its corporate headquarters in Charlotte N.C.
In 2005, Ms. Warren retired from Bank of America and moved to the Tampa Bay area. During the past several years, Ms. Warren has been actively involved in serving the community. In 2007 she co-founded Project Prosper, a financial literacy and micro-lending program that helps working legal immigrants in Pinellas County achieve success in the community. She also co-chairs the Financial Education and Bank Products Committees for Bank on St. Pete and is also the chair of the Asset-Building Committee of the Wealth Building Coalition of Pinellas County.
Ms. Warren is enthusiastic about her new role, “In the current economic environment, we need to provide students and teachers with the financial and economic tools to make informed decisions. Those tools have always been important, but now more than ever.” Ms. Warren added, “The Florida Council has a vital role to play in making sure students in Florida become savvy consumers and knowledgeable, productive workers.”
Under the direction of Clinton Mueller, the FCEE experienced a new level of efficiency, increased outreach to educators, and improved relationships with the business community, state colleges and universities. “While I’m sad to be leaving the Florida Council, I’m thrilled about what’s on the Council’s horizon. I plan to remain an active advocate of the FCEE’s programs and mission”, said Mr. Mueller. “I can’t say enough about the support and leadership the Board of Directors has provided over the past few years. We’ve made great strides together and I know Robin will be able to build upon that Board support.”
FCEE Chairman Don DeFosset said, “Clinton will be a tough act to follow. He has been a great asset to the Florida Council over the past three years. His leadership and his tenacity have been tremendous. We wish Clinton and his fiancé all the best in their new life together.” DeFosset adds, “We are fortunate to have a person with Robin Warren’s talent, experience and passion to help us expand our programs and enhance our relationships with state colleges, universities and educators throughout the state.”
FCEE in the News
FOX 13 - March 2009
Students see profits
where many don’t
Fifth graders earn profits in stock
market game
BRANDON - These days, where the closing bell winds up is anyone’s guess.
But a group of gifted fifth graders at Yates Elementary might just have it all figured out. They’re little capitalists, with a big profit margin. While the rest of the nation was tanking in the fourth quarter of 2008, they made a two percent return on their investments.
“It was a game of fun and strategy and skills,” 11-year-old Sierra Ellis said.
The rules of the Stock Market Game were simple. Start off with 100,000 imaginary dollars. Then buy stocks, no fewer than three, and see.
“My favorite stock was Target because it made us the most money,” Sierra explained.
The group also selected Disney and Southwest Airlines.
“It was right around November and Halloween and family members were coming down to see their families,” Americo Menendez said.
“They keep it simple,” said Yates Gifted Program teacher Regina Grandner. “They see it with very simple eyes.”
They bought Apple and Wal-Mart.
“Wal-Mart has low prices,” Menendez explained, “When the economy’s low, people shop at Wal-Mart.”
“We’ve had students count cars in parking lots to see if there were more people at McDonald’s or Wendy’s, more people at Target versus Wal-Mart,” Grandner told FOX 13.
For three months, they had working lunches, ticker tape stuck to their desks and computers, subscriptions to the Wall Street Journal and information online for any and every stock they could think of.
“The fun thing is they invested in things like Dollar Tree or Dollar General because they knew people didn’t have as much money,” said Grandner.
So they were practical and learned some very grown up lessons.
“I learned that money is a very hard thing to keep in your wallet considering how the stock is,” said fifth grader Thomas Peck.
And they learned the biggest lesson of all- never get greedy.
“[Our picks] made a small amount but as days and more time went on it got higher and higher and we made a lot of money,” Ellis said.
FOX 13 financial adviser Geoff Simon says the students’ results are nothing short of amazing.
“I don’t know anybody, anybody who had positive returns in the fourth quarter,” he said, “So for fifth graders to do that is unbelievable.”
The Stock Market Game was a statewide competition with the Florida Council on Economic Education. They placed first, second and third in their district.
“I was about 6-feet off the ground, I had a huge grin on my face,” Grandner said still beaming. “I’m sure everyone was wondering what was going on.”
For their efforts, the school won $100. The teachers, true to their lesson plan, turned around and gave each of the students $5 to start a savings account.
The students met with Mayor Pam Iorio and were honored at a dinner for the 2009 Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame inductees.
“Dr, Judy Genshaft, President of USF was there,” Simon said. “So was Don Wallace owner of Lazy Days RVs, Bill Starkey, former president of GTE- they were all inducted, all of the biggest names in Bay Area Business were there and the real heroes were these fifth graders from Yates Elementary. They all wanted to know how they beat the market.”
“We were sitting there eating dinner, and one of the students turned about and said, ‘Can we brag a little when we get back on Monday?’” Grander added. “I said, ‘Okay, you can brag a little!’”
FLORIDA TODAY, March 2, 2008
Students Win with Mock Stock
“The stock market can be a daunting world for people unfamiliar with finance. But a savvy team of high school students is doing so well, even adults are impressed with the return on their investments. Four seniors at Merritt Island High recently won the Florida Stock Market Challenge, a program now in its 20th year, which is sponsored by the Florida Council on Economic Education….read the story
TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, January 27, 2008
4th Graders Get Market-Savvy
“Is your knowledge of the stock market broader than a fourth-grader’s? Chances are it’s not if that student attends DeSoto Trail Elementary School. Divided into the Geek Squad, Star Squad and the Soulja Girls, 16 students invest a hypothetical $100,000 in different companies…. read the story
TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL, January 7, 2008
2008 Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame Inductees Named
A decision has been made in an annual rite for the Tampa Bay business community. A selection committee has named seven new members to the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame. The 2008 inductees are…. read the story
FCEE “Dollars & Sense” Newsletter
February 2008
Newsletter
“ FCEE Scores A Hole-In-One With the 7th Annual Ocala Palms Free Enterprise Open.”
The FCEE would like to thank Board Member Art Tait and the Ocala Palms Golf and Country Club for hosting another successful tournament. Proceeds of over $6000 were raised to support the FCEE and its mission.
“Ocala Palms Golf and Country Club considers our commitment to the Florida Council on Economic Education an affirmation of our interest in helping the youth of Florida learn how to become financially responsible,” says Art Tait, President of Ocala Palms Golf and Country Club…..more
Download the February 2008 Newsletter
Press Releases
Wednesday, January 22, 2008
(TAMPA) - The Florida Council on Economic Education announces the launching of its new website, new program partnership and hiring of two key staff members….more
Media Materials: Help Spread the Word!
The Florida Council is able to provide marketing materials free of charge to anyone conducting a professional development workshop or public relations event. Please contact us if you would like posters or other materials.
