Utah students to be honored at The Stock Market Game™ Awards Banquet on January 4
State Treasurer David Damschen to recognize 32 Utah students and teachers for winning statewide financial education competition
SALT LAKE CITY – January 3, 2019 – Students, teachers, government officials and local business leaders will celebrate the 32 winning students and teachers of The Stock Market Game™ fall 2018 statewide competition during an awards banquet on January 4. The banquet, hosted by Utah State Treasurer David Damschen, will feature student speeches, information about the competition and opportunities to learn more about financial responsibility.
Northridge High School student Alexis Aguirre’s team placed first in the high school division. “My favorite part of the game was getting an opportunity to invest into a real-time market simulation – getting to see if the decisions we made would make or lose us money,” she said. “We learned how society plays a key factor to investing, how to invest during a bullish market, deciding when was the right time to buy and sell a stock and competing against a lot of other high schoolers.”
The winning team in the elementary division based some of their most significant investment decisions on the news, which helped them claim their victory. “Our favorite parts of the Stock Market Game were the tension and the competition of the last few weeks, as we climbed up the rankings and passed the previous first place team in the last few days of the competition,” Nibley Elementary students MaCade Brown, Kaid Johnson and Brooklyn Bishop said. “We also improved our teamwork and decision-making skills. It was hard to decide on whether or not to sell our stocks. We had a terrific time learning about companies and how and why they are traded on the stock market.”
The Utah Office of State Treasurer recently assumed the responsibility of administering the game from the Utah Division of Securities. Complementary to this new charge, Treasurer Damschen chairs the Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education, an organization comprised of more than 50 private and public entities that share a common mission to increase the financial capability of Utahns.
“A primary objective of the Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education is to advocate for and strengthen financial education in Utah schools. The Stock Market Game piques student interest in some of the important concepts taught in the classroom by adding an element of competition,” Treasurer Damschen said. “I appreciate the incredible efforts of teachers and students to improve financial knowledge and look forward to the opportunity to celebrate their success.”
The awards banquet will be held at noon in the Wasatch Room on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The ceremony will begin at 12:35 p.m. This event is open to the media. Due to capacity limitations, other guests may attend by invitation only.
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How The Private Sector
Is Fighting Climate Change
From deadly wildfires to historic hurricanes, scientists are convinced that climate change is affecting the United States. Those concerns are reflected in the recently released National Climate Assessment, which says climate change poses a major threat to our health, economy, infrastructure and natural resources.
The private sector is near the center of the potential crisis – both as part of the problem and as vital contributors toward solutions.
Many climate scientists agree the main cause of the global warming trend is the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. And 46 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are caused by the private sector, according to the November 2016 White House Mid-Century Strategy for Deep Carbonization. Encouragingly, though, some businesses are taking the initiative to combat climate change in innovative ways.
“These are very important steps, but many more must be taken,” says Barry Breede (www.koppersuip.com), chief innovation officer at Koppers Utility & Industrial Products and author of Transforming the Utility Pole. “The social and environmental costs are too high.
“We’re on a collision course with disaster, especially if the private sector, in particular, doesn’t step forward and lead the way, but there are good signs that they’re starting to get it. Innovation has become one of the premier business buzzwords, but now it includes ways of improving the environment. Businesses realize that emphasis can align with their bottom line and their overall mission.”
Breede cites a few ways businesses are innovating and changing to help battle climate change:
Increasing reliance on renewable energy. Many companies are already taking steps to reduce emissions by using renewable energy. Numerous Fortune 100 companies have committed to procuring 100 percent of their energy from renewable sources. “They realize that investing in clean energy is not only good public relations, but it’s also profitable, because energy costs are declining and they have the ability to lock in to fixed-price contracts,” Breede says. “In addition, they can influence business partners to make the move to renewables.”
Green financial tools. Companies are using “green bonds” to achieve climate and energy goals. “Green bonds act as a vehicle for institutional investors who put their capital in projects that address climate change,” Breede says. “Green bonds also help drive innovation and development of low-carbon products.” Another tool is green pricing. Large energy-buying businesses purchase it from a renewable project operated by a utility, allowing the company to use environmentally-friendly sources such as wind, solar, and low-impact hydro.
Tech developments. Technology companies are keeping pace with clean energy investment decisions by developing new types of battery storage and intelligent solar inverters, which convert DC output from solar panels into AC that can be fed to a commercial electrical grid. “Leading firms can make the best use of technology and see how it can benefit them significantly in savings and energy efficiency,” Breede says. “More importantly, all these advancements reduce greenhouse emissions.”
Internal carbon pricing. Companies that establish a corporate carbon price assign a monetary value to carbon-dioxide emissions associated with a business activity. “This price signal is factored into investment decisions, providing an incentive for the company to move from emissions-intensive programs and products to low-carbon, climate-resilient alternatives,” Breede says.
“Business leaders across industries face the challenges of a changing economy and environmental sustainability,” Breede says. “And they are finding they have a real opportunity, and moreover a responsibility, in adjusting to climate change.”
About Barry Breede
Barry Breede (www.barrybreede.com), author of Transforming the Utility Pole, is the chief innovation and marketing officer at Koppers Utility & Industrial Products―a national leader in the sale of wood utility poles. He leads the company’s efforts in commercializing new business ventures, products, and services. Breede also assists Cox Recovery, a Koppers subsidiary providing utilities with environmentally friendly methods of disposing of wood waste. A graduate of the University of Oregon, Barry has also worked extensively in the innovation area with several global companies including Electrolux AB, Umbro International, and Specialized Bicycles. Barry currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.
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6 Leadership Habits To Develop In 2019
Bad habits can be hard to break, and for business leaders who have them, they can be deal-breakers.
In a survey by Leadership IQ, an online training firm, the primary reasons CEOs were fired - mismanaging change, ignoring customers, tolerating low performers, and not enough action - were often related to unproductive habits.
“Although leaders who display these behaviors generally know what to do, and how to do it, their unproductive habits render them unable to get things done - with dire consequences,” says Mark Green, a speaker, coach to CEOs and author of Activators: A CEO’s Guide to Clearer Thinking and Getting Things Done (www.Activators.biz). “The most common unproductive leadership habits include avoiding decisions and conflict, maintaining comfort-zone networks, needing to be liked, neglecting to listen enough - and they are hard to break.”
But Green says they can be broken and suggests replacing them with foundational habits that make leaders successful. He lists six of them here.
Capitalize on luck. This is a habit of forward-moving thinking in response to both good- and bad-luck events. Green says bad luck, such as the extended absence of a key employee, affords an opportunity for the leader to empower others by challenging them to learn, grow and contribute in new ways. “Whatever the circumstances, leaders rapidly come to understand the value of generating return on luck,” Green says. “Everyone wins.”
Be grateful. “When you appreciate and value what you have, you gain a clearer perspective,” Green says. “A daily meeting ritual of appreciation creates space for each executive to share what they appreciate most, and it opens up the room to clearer thinking and increased collaboration.”
Give - within limits. Research shows there are many advantages to being a giver, but striking a balance is important to remain productive. “Sharing information and resources cultivates an abundance mindset, bringing benefits that both the company and the leader can reap,” Green says. “But there are limits; if you’re giving away too much time and too many resources, you won’t be able to accomplish your own objectives. Give, but know when to say no.”
When problems arise, focus on process - not people. “When something goes wrong, a common approach is to find fault with the people involved,” Green says. “But bad or poorly communicated processes can make even the most talented, dedicated staff look terrible. Question processes and communication first, before you explore the intentions, character or capabilities of those involved. Research shows that believing in your people pays off.”
Have high expectations of others. Leaders who set the bar high and then give their teams latitude to execute reap more benefits than those who simply tell their teams what to do,” Green says. “Those whose habits include valuing autonomy and individual responsibility can build something great over time. High expectations and empowerment are key.”
Maintain intentional focus. “Countless research studies have exposed excessive multi-tasking as ineffective,” Green says. “To make real progress, hold a small number of very important things in your mind and let go of the rest. Ruthless prioritization and focus in execution will set you free.”
“With our thoughts, we make our world,” Green says. “Check your beliefs about your leadership habits, choose just one or two to change, enlist others to support your efforts, then get to it.”
About Mark E. Green
Mark Green, author of Activators: A CEO’s Guide to Clearer Thinking and Getting Things Done (www.Activators.biz), is a speaker, strategic advisor and coach to CEOs and executive teams worldwide. He has addressed, coached and advised thousands of business leaders, helping them unlock more of their potential and teaching them how to do the same for their teams. He is a Core Advisor to Gravitas Impact Premium Coaches (formerly Gazelles International), a mentor to coaches worldwide, and an active contributor to programs and content for their global ecosystem.
