David Kudla, CEO and chief investment strategist of Mainstay Capital Management LLC, is the executive director of the ENGAGE International Investment Education Symposium. The event is being hosted by Wayne State University and Mainstay Capital Management at the newly renovated Cobo Center in Detroit March 26-27, 2015. ENGAGE will be the world's largest student investment conference.

Kudla, whose Michigan-based investment advisory firm manages $1.8 billion, chose Wayne State University and the city of Detroit as the ideal venue for such a prominent event. Kudla is the former executive director of the RISE (Redefining Investment Strategy Education) Forum, previously held at the University of Dayton. In that capacity, Kudla helped organize and market the forum in 2013 and 2014, the two most successful years in the event's 14-year history. During his tenure as executive director, Kudla grew RISE to be the largest student investment conference in the world, drawing between 2,000 and 2,500 participants each year. 

Currently, Kudla is the chairman of the WSU School of Business Finance Department Advisory Council and serves as an adjunct professor of finance. He is also a member of the school's Board of Visitors, which develops and implements strategic direction and ensures the research programs, educational goals and professional and development activities are well-aligned with the needs of the business community.

"David is an influential leader in the financial services industry and in the community," said Robert Forsythe, dean of the WSU School of Business. "His extraordinary success with the RISE Forum is the result of his keen business sense, combined with a passion to drive the industry forward alongside the next generation. We are honored that he has selected Wayne State University and the city of Detroit to continue this phenomenal event. It aligns perfectly with our educational mission and business community engagement."

When asked why he is volunteering his time to serve as executive director, Kudla said, "Our profession is facing a talent and diversity challenge. ENGAGE meets this challenge by presenting an opportunity for the next generation to interact with the experts. The event brings together students and faculty from similar programs across the country for presentations, panel discussions and lively exchanges with financial professionals from the leading companies in our industry. Being able to host this event in the city of Detroit brings a new level of excitement. I am very proud to lead ENGAGE at Wayne State University in the city of Detroit." 

For more information, contact Shannon Peterson, director of media relations, Mainstay Capital Management, 810- 953-5510, mainstay@mainstaycapital.com.

Also, check out ENGAGE on the Web and social media:

Web: engage.wayne.edu
Facebook: engage.iies
Twitter: @engage_iies

About the Wayne State University School of Business

Established in Detroit in 1946, the School of Business at Wayne State University has a distinguished history of preparing leaders to excel in a wide range of industries. More than 31,000 business alumni can be found around the world, developing innovative entrepreneurial ventures, managing multinational corporations and making a difference in nonprofit and government agencies. The school's academic programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and are regularly recognized for high quality by third-party reviewers such as The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report.

About Mainstay Capital Management

Mainstay Capital Management, LLC is an independent, Registered Investment Advisor with more than $1.8 billion in assets under management. MCM provides comprehensive wealth management services for clients worldwide. The firm specializes in workplace savings plan portfolio management and retirement planning advice for active employees and retirees. MCM has been ranked by Barron's as one of the "Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors" in the country for the past six years and is recognized by Investment News as a "Top 30 Financial Planning Firm" nationwide.