Lecture Topics

Keynote Speaking
David Greenberg’s energetic, comprehensive, and engaging lectures have riveted students and audiences across the country.

Lecture 1:
The Pit, The Transition & The Aftermath
David takes listeners into the fast-paced world of floor trading and helps them live vicariously through being on the trading floor of the world’s largest futures and energy exchange. This interactive lecture walks the audience through the historic “Transition from Open Outcry Trading to Electronic Trading” in the futures and options industry. David explains how this transition happened, why it happened, the players behind it, and the seismic impact on the global markets.

Lecture 2:
A Study of Key NYMEX Decisions
The most transformative years of the exchange took place during 2000-2007 and involved many crucial decisions facing the NYMEX Board and Executive Committee. David examines and explores the results of these key decisions, some of which include:

• The immediate business recovery of the exchange following the 9/11 catastrophe. This was made possible by quick-thinking teamwork, and it resulted in NYMEX being the first New York exchange to reopen;
• Providing a safe haven for the energy industry in the wake of the Enron collapse;
• The introduction of off-exchange clearing (NYMEX ClearPort), the most innovative and successful new line of businesses at any exchange in the previous 15 years; and
• Converting to a demutualized company and positioning the exchange for the private equity purchase by General Atlantic Europe. This and many other major Board decisions helped prepare the exchange to have one of the most successful IPOs’ in U.S. history.

Lecture 3:
Moving Past Mistakes in Trading, Business, and Life

David has learned throughout his experience on the NYMEX Board of Directors, as president of Sterling Commodities, and trading commodities for over 22 years that even the best laid plans can often go astray.

Lecture 4:
MF Global: From a Clearing House and Traders’ Perspective
In this lecture, David examines all aspects of what happened to the “Non-Clearing” clearing houses that were under the MF Global umbrella and how events were handled by the CME and the CFTC. David also reviews the issues facing traders who had to deal with the trustee, CME, while seeking monetary compensation. As President of Sterling Commodities and an account holder whose money (and clients’ money) was held captive, David offers a unique personal and professional perspective on this market loss.