LANCASTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2006--Emerald Asset
Management has announced that Mercantile Bank Corp (NASDAQ:MBWM) will
be presenting at the 13th Annual Emerald Groundhog Day Investment
Forum. Emerald has also announced that U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
John Snow will be the keynote speaker at the Thirteenth Annual Emerald
Groundhog Day Investment Forum dinner, scheduled for Wednesday,
February 1, 2006 at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia.
Secretary Snow is scheduled to speak at the invitation-only dinner at
7:00 pm on Wednesday in the Grand Ballroom of the Radisson. Secretary
Snow's speech, entitled "America Competes: Keeping America's Economy
Strong in the 21st Century", will be followed by a brief question and
answer session.
"We are thrilled Secretary Snow has chosen the Emerald Groundhog
Day Investment Forum as an opportunity to discuss the President's
economic policy with leading business and investment executives," said
Emerald Founder and CEO, Joseph E. Besecker.
The Forum will showcase investment opportunities in some of the
Mid-Atlantic region's fastest growing companies, as well as industry
leaders from across the country. Senior management from several public
and private companies are scheduled to make 30-minute formal
presentations during concurrent sessions.
The Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum provides a unique
opportunity for portfolio managers, analysts, and investment industry
professionals to interact with senior executives representing a wide
array of industries ranging from banking & financial services, capital
goods, consumer goods, life sciences, technology, and transportation.
In addition, analysts from Emerald Asset Management will be sharing
their views on the most compelling growth opportunities for the coming
year.
This year's Forum is being sponsored by Forward Funds, Avondale
Partners, Stevens & Lee, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Griffin Financial Group
LLC, Sturdivant & Company, and Trout Ebersole & Groff.
Emerald Asset Management is a diversified investment services
company that operates through its wholly owned subsidiary Emerald
Advisers, Inc. With over $2.5 billion in assets under management,
Emerald Advisers, Inc. offers a series of research-driven investment
products through institutional separate accounts and sub-advising
mutual funds, including the Forward Emerald Growth Fund (HSPGX),
Forward Emerald Banking & Finance Fund (HSSAX), and the Forward
Emerald Opportunities Fund (HSYTX) within the Forward Funds Group.
Emerald is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and operates
satellite offices in King of Prussia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and
San Diego, California.
Additional information on the Forum, including registration
information, can be found at http://www.teamemerald.com/groundhog.
CONTACT: Emerald Asset Management, Lancaster
Julie Orpneck, 717-396-1116
or
Jennie Knox, 717-253-0098
SOURCE: Emerald Asset Management