Dana Rossi

Dana was born in Springfield, Massachusetts and grew up in Monson, MA. He attended the University of Massachusetts where he graduated with a major in Chemical Engineering. He received an MBA in Finance from the NYU Stern School of Business and is a CFA charterholder. Upon graduation he worked for GE Plastics (as a Chemical Engineer in the 2 year rotational Technical Leadership Program), then Engelhard Corporation (as a process control lab supervisor). He currently works as a Product Manager of quantitative and risk applications for FactSet Research Systems (Ticker: FDS)

Performing Background

Dana’s first acting experience came at the tender age of 9 when he played the blue bear that turned into a prince at a children’s theater production. He never looked back. For nine years through high school and into college he performed in musicals at the Monson Summer Theater, culminating with his performance as Fagin in Oliver in 1993.

While at UMass he performed in many college plays, including “Escape from Happiness” which went on to the regionals of the American College Theater Festival. He also performed with the improv comedy team “Mission Improvable” for over 4 years (directing them for one semester) and did some radio work, including a show on musical theater.

In 1997, Dana formed the improv group “Sheer Idiocy” at RPI and directed the group for two years. He also acted in several plays with the RPI players and is a member of the Delta Xi cast of Alpha Psi Omega (the National Honorary Theater Society). He was a founding member of the Albany area long form improv troupe “Just Good Friends.”

In the Fairfield County area, Dana performed with the Stamford Playback Theater at Temple Bar in 2003 and 2004, has acted in Diamond Hill Theater's fall show in 2003, 2004, and 2005, and this past summer performed at the Carriage House Theater in Norwalk, CT in productions of "Sister Mary Ignatious.." and "On Golden Pond"

Dana’s improv training includes attendance at many professional workshops and the completion of five courses at Upright Citizen’s Brigade – including sketch writing. He also took acting classes while at UMass-Amherst. Dana was an actor in “Dark Practice”, an independent short film by Chris Parker. Now available for viewing on Vimeo.

Dana is a Life Master in bridge, and has played in the Grand National Teams three times, representing Westchester County (most recently coming in 2nd in the 2012 summer national tournament in Philadelphia). He is an ACBL-certified director and teacher. He is a former tournament chess player. He ran the high school chess team and was 1991 Western Massachusetts State Chess Champion. His peak USCF rating was over 1800. In 1995, he found himself at the Quarter Finals for the US Magic: The Gathering Championship at Origins in Philadelphia (later broadcast on ESPN2).

Dana can be contacted at DanaRossi@yahoo.com

Links: FactSet, CFA Institute