Anthony Wins Zecco Photo Contest and Tours the NYSE Trading Floor

As you have come to expect, Zecco is not your average brokerage firm. Next to making sure we deliver a world-class investing experience, we also create fun, innovative ways to learn about the financial markets.

That’s why Zecco is taking a leading role in shaping the intersection of investing and social media, for instance by having a very engaging Facebook page. On our page, we offer our more than 23,000 fans a place to discover and discuss investing news and market trends. And through our Wall Street app, Zecco customers can even trade directly from Facebook. We are the only brokerage firm offering that feature!

For me, the most fun social media thing we did recently was the Zecco photo contest. We asked people to submit a picture of themselves and a prop reflecting their favorite stock that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Stakes were high. The grand prize was a 4-day trip for two to New York City, and an exclusive tour of the NYSE trading floor in the heart of Wall Street.

We received some pretty creative pictures, and the final voting round was very close. In the end, there could only be one winner. Anthony Salas received most votes for a picture of himself in an F-16 fighter jet made by Lockheed Martin (LMT). What can we say – he had a prop nobody could compete with!

Picture 1 – Winning Submission in the Zecco Photo Contest

There turned out to be a great story behind Anthony’s picture. Not only is he a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force Reserve with 13 years of military service, in 2011 he was nominated by his peers to fly in an F-16 as a reward for performing over 200 hours of volunteer work for numerous charities. Isn’t that a great example of good karma coming back around?

I was really looking forward to meet Anthony, and his friend Patric Neese, who he had picked to join him. Due to a happy coincidence,  Anthony was celebrating his 10-year wedding anniversary that same week. So he also brought his lovely wife, Rachel, to New York to make the entire trip even more memorable.

When we arrived at 11 Wall Street, home of the New York Stock Exchange, we were greeted by our hosts. NYSE member firm Cuttone & Company generously offered to give us the trading floor tour, which really is quite unusual. Anthony, Rachel, and Patric were allowed down onto the actual trading floor, where NYSE visitors are generally not permitted.

Picture 2 – Watching the Opening Bell – Rachel Salas, Anthony’s Wife, Patric Neese, Anthony’s Guest, Anthony Salas, Winner of Zecco Contest

And not only that, we all were given the unique chance to stand on the iconic balcony were the opening and closing bell is rung. Luckily, nobody accidentally pushed the wrong button and stopped the trading session.

Picture 3 – On the Balcony – Michael Raneri, CEO of Zecco, Donato J Cuttone, Partner at Cuttone & Company, Anthony Salas, Winner of Zecco Contest, Patric Neese, Anthony’s Guest, Rachel Salas, Anthony’s Wife

In the spirit of Anthony’s photo submission, we also got to meet Michael McDonnell, the floor specialist who keeps the trading in Lockheed Martin’s stock moving smoothly.

Picture 4 – With the Lockheed Martin (LMT) Specialist – Anthony Salas, Winner of Zecco Contest, Michael McDonnell, Lockheed Martin (LMT) Specialist at Barclays Capital

Another big moment for Anthony, given his military service, was to have his picture taken under the POW-MIA flag.

Picture 5 – Under the POW-MIA Flag – Anthony Salas, Winner of Zecco Contest

This was a memorable day for all of us. It was a great honor for me to accompany Anthony, Patric, and Rachel on their tour of the NYSE, and I want to express gratitude to Cuttone & Company for making this a reality!

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