To top off a day of showcasing Graphic Packaging International to investors at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), CEO Mike Doss and fellow executives were honored to participate in the ceremonial ringing of the closing bell on Thursday, September 26.
The closing bell is rung to signify the end of the day’s trading session on Wall Street. Between 1870 and 1903, a gong was used at the NYSE. A brass bell was then introduced when the exchange moved to its current home, and a brass bell is still in use today. The bell at the NYSE is now controlled electrically, and the ringer presses a button for approximately 15 seconds. In conjunction with the bell, a gavel is used as a throwback to earlier times when gavels were employed to keep order during trading sessions.
NYSE began having special guests ring the closing bell on a regular basis in 1995. This daily tradition is highly publicized and quite an exciting event for participants. Joining Mike on the nySE podium were Alex Ovshey, VP, FP&A; Steve Scherger, EVP & CFO; Bill Sedlacek, VP, Innovation & New Business Development; Joe Yost, EVP & President, Americas; and Melanie Skijus, VP, Investor Relations.