Richard M. Fosmoen, B.B.A.'91

Department of Finance and Commercial Law - Outstanding Alumni Award

After graduating from WMU, Richard Fosmoen hit the ground running in terms of his career. Beginning as a bond, mortgage obligation and equity trader, he quickly rose through the ranks. In 1996, he was named a team leader of the New York trading office for Knight Securities.

In 1998, Fosmoen was promoted to vice president and branch manager of the Chicago office where he spearheaded all aspects of the branch start up, including budget administration, office build-out and workflow, establishing the information systems infrastructure, and staffing and trading models. He developed the Chicago branch into the leading national performer for Knight. During his time in Chicago, he was named a member of the Knight Global Operating Committee where he helped shape the global strategy for the firm.

In 2002, he was named the vice president of analytical trading development at Knight, and in 2003, he was named vice president at Knight U.K., assisting in the analysis and turnaround strategy for an existing U.K. branch on the London Stock Exchange.

In 2004, Fosmoen became the chief executive officer of DENTRUST LLC, growing the firm to a $5-million organization with four branches and 25 staff members within four years.

With more than 20 years of progressive experience across back, middle and front office operations, experience with global markets and business unit start up, business development, trading system and platform design, product development, and risk management and compliance, Fosmoen is now self-employed as a financial consultant.