The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education

Barrett Wragg is a vice president and regional investment consultant with T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, Maryland. Barrett Wragg gives back to the Baltimore community by supporting local students as a volunteer for the Speakers Bureau of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education.

The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education supports Maryland students from underprivileged backgrounds. The organization works toward education reform to give all Maryland students the skills they need to become successful community leaders.

The Roundtable brings local businesses, employers, and successful professionals together to help students succeed. They identify ongoing issues within Maryland schools, and find solutions to these problems. In the past, the organization has successfully made leadership changes in local legislature as well as the State Board of Education. It has improved school standards and graduation requirements across the state.

The Roundtable was instrumental in the recent creation of STEMnet, which promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs within Maryland’s schools. These STEM programs offer virtual courses, hands-on experiences, and special STEM field challenges to help students succeed.

The Many Benefits of Playing Chess

An experienced investment professional, Barrett Wragg has worked for T. Rowe Price for more than a decade. He has become one of the Divisional Sales Managers in the Financial Advisor segment. When he is not using his strategic prowess to serve T. Rowe Price, Barrett Wragg enjoys the cerebral challenge of chess.

Chess has been known to improve memory in people both young and old. Good chess players rely on their memory to remember rules and strategies. This is great practice for everyone, but especially helpful to senior citizens.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, chess and similarly challenging games can help stave off Alzheimer’s. People over the age of 75 who play chess are significantly less likely to develop dementia symptoms.

Perhaps most remarkably, chess can significantly speed up recovery after a stroke or other brain-related injury. Cognitive engagement paired with fine motor skill work makes the game very valuable to recovering stroke patients. The calming effects of quiet concentration during a chess game are important for patients as well.

Tips for Effective Public Speaking

Barrett Wragg, a vice president at T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, Maryland, speaks to audiences of all ages about doing well in school, preparing for a career and the foundations of financial planning. Learning to communicate his messages effectively has helped Barrett Wragg to connect with high school and college students as well as adults.

When preparing to give a speech, it is helpful to remember the following:
1. Be Prepared- Your audience members have chosen to give you their time and attention. They are waiting to learn from you and are expecting to hear a well-organized presentation. Preparation involves thorough research while writing your speech as well as sufficient time practicing your speech.
2. Open Well- Start your speech with a strong introduction. You can incorporate an interesting or funny anecdote, facts, or statistics, or even an appropriate joke.
3. Speak Naturally- When you are tense, your audience is more likely to be tense. By slowing down and engaging with your audience whenever possible, your manner with be more conversational and better received. Avoid reading your speech verbatim for a more natural tone.
4. Grade Yourself- If possible, record your presentation. Later, you can listen or watch your speech and observe potential areas of improvement. Be mindful of your delivery speed, your verbal stalls and body language.

INROADS Program Helps Minorities Access Top Internships

A Vice President for T. Rowe Price, Barrett Wragg works as a Regional Investment Consultant in the company’s USIS Financial Advisor segment. Barrett Wragg first served as a college intern with the company from 1999-2001 through the INROADS program at the University of Maryland.

Founded in 1970 by Frank C. Carr, who was then a corporate executive, INROADS is a program that helps minority students obtain internships in a variety of business sectors. INROADS participants not only gain valuable experience through a paid, multi-year internship with a leading company, but they also have the potential to be placed in a full-time, career-oriented position following graduation.

Along with customized professional development training, participants also get the opportunity to network with a range of corporate executives and receive their own corporate mentor who serves as a guide throughout their INROADS experience. Scholarships and free tutoring services are available to students in select locations.

Leo Van Munching Scholarships Funds Marketing Majors at U of Maryland

Barrett Wragg, a Vice President with T. Rowe Price, forms partnerships with investment advisors across the Mid-Atlantic in order to pursue greater returns for their clients. While attending the University of Maryland, Barrett Wragg was a recipient of the Leo Van Munching, Jr. Marketing Scholarship.

Established in the fall of 1995 by family and friends of Leo Van Munching, Jr., the scholarship helps fund junior and senior marketing majors enrolled in the Robert H. Smith School of Business. The award’s purpose is to inspire students to set ambitious goals as they prepare themselves to become future entrepreneurs. Many of the program’s participants spend time at Fortune 500 companies or high-profile consulting firms. The award amount varies based on the individual candidate.

The 2015-2016 scholarship was awarded to marketing majors Kayla M. Carson and Catherine M. Kreps. To find out more or to make a donation in support of the Leo Van Munching, Jr. Marketing Scholarship visit: https://giving.umd.edu/Giving/homepage.php.