Monday, June 10, 2013

AIM Students Assisted the Milwaukee Repertory Theater - Community Applied Learning Project

Milwaukee Repertory Theater Project 
Beginning in October, a group of AIM students from the Class of 2013 were privileged to work with the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre’s Investment Committee. The project entailed the development and scoring of a request for proposal to select an investment consultant for the Repertory Theatre Foundation.  

Five students (Varun Varma, Heinz Schelhammer, Kobe Seoungbyung Park‎; Peter Lemek, and Nicholas Hartnell), along with guidance from the AIM program director, Dr. David Krause, developed an RFP and evaluated the detailed proposals of the respondents. The students were privileged to be involved in this unique learning experience. Leslie Fillingham, Finance Director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and Michael Jolin, Investment Committee Chairman, provided the AIM students with the background of the Rep’s investment policies and portfolio performance. The team had an opportunity to observe the presentations of the five investment consultant finalists. 


The students also had the opportunity to attend the Rep’s investment meeting with the new consulting firm (Marquette Associates). This project was an excellent applied learning experience for the AIM students. Each of the students had an opportunity to work on a ‘real world’ investment project that also helped a major non-profit institution in the Milwaukee community. The experience of presenting before an investment committee was a highlight for many of the students who worked on this project. Dr. Krause said, “This type of applied learning experiences helps bring the curriculum to life. It was a pleasure working with this group of students and the members of the Rep’s investment committee.”