RAND Corporation Executive Announced as Opening Speaker for the INVESTPennsylvania Equity Conference

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Susan Everingham, who directs the Pittsburgh operations of a global research think-tank, will be the opening speaker at the inaugural INVESTPennsylvania Equity Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Dec. 6, organizers announced today.

Everingham is director of the Pittsburgh office of the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis. Through a staff of some of the world's pre-eminent researchers, RAND analyzes important issues such as health, education, national security, international affairs, law and business and the environment, among others.

"We are honored that our audience of investment professionals and public company executives will have the opportunity to hear Susan discuss RAND's important role in Pittsburgh, the region and beyond," said Terry McWilliams, the chairman of INVESTPennsylvania and president of Mozaic Investor Relations, Inc.

Everingham will join Barron's associate editor Michael Santoli as the event's two keynote speakers. Santoli is a veteran financial journalist who writes the finance magazine's 'Streetwise' column.

In addition to the expert commentary and analysis from its keynote speakers, INVESTPennsylvania provides a forum for institutional investors, fund managers, analysts and investment professionals to learn about the state's leading public companies through formal presentations and individual meetings.

The 16 companies taking part in the conference are: Allegheny Technologies, Black Box Corporation, EQT Corporation, Federated Investors, Inc., II-VI Incorporated, First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, The Hershey Company, L.B. Foster Company, Mylan Inc., Matthews International Corporation, Mine Safety Appliances, PPG Industries, Inc., S&T Bancorp, Inc., and U.S. Steel.

The event is presented by title sponsors Crowe Horwath LLP and Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. Crowe is one of the largest public accounting and consulting firms in the United States; Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney was ranked the number one corporate law firm in Pittsburgh in a study conducted by Corporate Board Member magazine.

The CFA Society of Pittsburgh is joined by two additional professional organizations supporting the event as organizing sponsors –  the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

Gold and contributing sponsors include NASDAQ OMX, Fort Pitt Capital Group, the University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School of Business and the Wall Street Transcript, plus Civic Science, InGrid Design, O'Neil Arnold Photography and Optimum Companies.

There is no cost for qualified investment professionals to attend the event. However, registration is required at http://www.invest-pa.com/registration. To obtain a registration code, please contact the CFA Society or conference administration at 412-567-3818. For additional information about INVESTPennsylvania, presenting companies, executives, sponsors and conference logistics, visit the website at www.invest-pa.com.

About the INVESTPennsylvania Equity Conference

INVESTPennsylvania was formed to bring together Pennsylvania public companies and the professional investment community through an event featuring formal corporate presentations and individual meetings. The conference is guided by a steering committee that includes chief financial officers and investor relations professionals from participating companies, investment community professionals and representatives of the underwriting sponsors. The group firmly believes in the benefits that a regional equity conference provides to participating companies, to the investment community and to the entire region. Since 2004 INVEST conferences have provided investment professionals the opportunity to interact with public company executives in Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana and Kentucky.

The INVESTPennsylvania logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12324