MEDIA RESOURCES

DALLAS, Texas (SMU) - "Tomorrow's investment leaders" is not just a slogan for the new Cox Buyside Club, it's the driving force behind the club's leadership, goals, and actions. Sam Chase (MBA '04) and Jack Weiss (MBA '04) began the Buyside Club in August 2002 to improve the visibility and perception of SMU Cox and its students in the private equity, hedge fund, and investment management industries.

"In this market you have to be specialized," said Chase, president of the Buyside Club, "you can't be a generalist. The Buyside Club showcases Cox MBA students and their talents in the financial industries. In fact, from our research, we believe the Cox Buyside Club is the only student-run financial club specializing in hedge fund, private equity, and investments."

The Buyside Club hit the streets to promote its members and their talents. In March, Chase and Weiss along with club members networked with industry executives in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. "The spring break network tour was an ideal opportunity to promote SMU Cox and introduce members to senior managing directors in the investment banking, investment management, hedge fund, and private equity industries," said Weiss. "During our spring break week, we will meet with executives, distribute résumé books, and highlight the skills and specialties of our members. Each meeting will be followed with a networking happy hour for executives, members, and local alumni. So far we've been successful through our networking, including the placement of seven of our members into full-time summer internships."

Since August, the Club has gained two pro bono consulting engagements with The Halifax Group and Crestmont Holdings in Dallas. With close to 60 members, the Cox Buyside Club includes both full-time and professional MBA students from diverse professional backgrounds including financial services, engineering, technology, and consulting. For each consulting engagement, the Club creates a specialized team of MBA students targeted to meet the firm's needs. Club members recently completed a strategic marketing plan for Halifax Group. Currently, at the request of Crestmont Holdings, club members are challenging the firm's recent research on market trends.

Chase and Weiss work tirelessly to promote and increase the Club's reputation. "We truly believe that the Buyside Club is a way for SMU Cox to distinguish itself from other top business schools in the country," Chase said. Aside from the consulting engagements, the Club established an advisory board, organized networking events, and developed a distinguished speaker series, featuring leaders such as John Massey, senior managing director of The Crossroads Group, and Dr. Harvey Rosenblum, senior vice president and director of research for the Dallas Federal Reserve.

*** The SMU Private Equity, Investment Management and Hedge Fund Club ("Buyside Club") is a student-run club that seeks to raise the awareness of the Cox community to the Private Equity, Investment Management and Hedge Fund industries via industry and career education programs, distinguished speakers series, The Southwest Venture Forum, a new annual Conference, and other various networking opportunities. ***

SMU's Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, from BBA and full-time MBA to Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), and Executive Education. Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications including Business Week, The Economist, Financial Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the school's Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute of Owner-Managed Business, American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), and Associate Board executive mentoring program are recognized nationally and internationally.