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Economic Forecasting Center, Past Conference

News Release
"National and Local Opportunities Along the Path"
Read news release from May 21, 2008 forecasting conference...

Click the presentation titles to read the pdf files.

Conference: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Theme - National and Local Opportunities Along the Path
Conference Program
8:00 a.m.	Registration & Breakfast
8:30 a.m.	Words of Welcome		Nancy Peterman [read bio] President Georgia State University Foundation
8:35 a.m.	Is the U.S. Losing Its Manufacturing Base? We often hear reports about how the U.S. is losing its manufacturing base. This session will analyze the trends in U.S. manufacturing employment, output, and productivity and determine whether there is a structural decline taking place in U.S. manufacturing.		William Strauss [read bio] Senior Economist and Economic Advisor Research Department Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
9:00 a.m.	Lodging Market Outlook Uncertainties surrounding the domestic economy, fueled in part by high prices at the gas pump that do not seem to let up, have begun to wear on domestic travelers. Softening demand conditions, in the face of a greater volume of new construction and the persistent increases in operating costs brought on by rising inflation, historically spelled turmoil for U.S. hotel owners. Is this what lies ahead? A look at the national and local hotel markets.		Mark Woodworth [read bio] President PKF Hospitality Research
9:25 a.m.	Atlanta Region's Recovery and Emerging Opportunities The roller coaster ride of the National and Metro Atlanta real estate market is slowing and spots of recovery are emerging in numerous micromarkets. While we are several quarters away from any major rebound, opportunities are emerging amidst the rubble. Norton and his research team, representing a number of private investing funds, have spent the last 4 quarters drilling down into the Metro Atlanta market fundamentals, layering data from numerous public and private sources, then focusing their efforts solely on recovery — when, where, how and to what degree. Norton's discussion will help define "bottom" for many market segments, homes, lot inventories, foreclosures, bank owned assets, and raw land investment, and will cover positive signs of market improvement and share opportunities along the way.		Frank Norton [read bio] President The Norton Agency
9:50 a.m.	Q & A
10:10 a.m.	Refreshments Break
10:30 a.m.	Forecast of The Nation, State and the Region		Rajeev Dhawan [read bio] Director Economic Forecasting Center J. Mack Robinson College of Business Georgia State University
11:30 a.m.	Final Remarks and Q&A
11:40 a.m.	Light lunch and Networking

CANCELLATION POLICY: To cancel your registration and be eligible for a refund, call the Economic Forecasting Center at 404-413-7260 before 4pm the day before the conference. A stop payment of a check does not constitute a formal cancellation. Registrants who do not attend the conference and have not cancelled one day prior to the conference are liable for the entire registration fee but will be mailed conference materials. SUBSTITUTION POLICY: If an annual subscriber cannot attend the conference, another person from the same company can substitute in the subscriber's place.
Industry Speakers
Nancy Peterman President Georgia State University Foundation		BIO- Nancy E. Peterman is president of the Georgia State University Foundation and vice president for university development. She has served as executive director of the Old Dominion University Educational and Intercollegiate Foundations, as president of the DePaul Health Foundation, as director of development for the Marist School and as senior executive consultant for the Kellogg Organization. She has more than seventeen years in the development field and fourteen years of foundation management experience. She previously served on the boards of Theatrical Outfit and the Association for Fundraising Professionals board. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she is married to Michael Pratt and has four children. [Top of Page]
William Strauss Senior Economist and Economic Advisor Research Department Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago		BIO- William A. Strauss is a senior economist and economic advisor in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, which he joined in 1982. His chief responsibilities include analyzing the Midwest economy and the manufacturing sector for use in monetary policy. He also produces the monthly Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index, organizes the Bank's Economic Outlook Symposium and its Auto Outlook Symposium. His research includes manufacturing, the auto sector, the Midwest regional economy, the trade-weighted dollar, business cycles, and Federal Reserve payments operations. He currently teaches at the University of Chicago. Mr. Strauss earned a B.A. in economics and geography from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.A. in economics from Northwestern University. [Top of Page]
Mark Woodworth President PKF Hospitality Research		BIO- Mr. Woodworth is the President of PKF Hospitality Research as well as an Executive Vice President of PKF Consulting. Mr. Woodworth has over 25 years of hospitality industry experience. Mr. Woodworth, who is responsible for the firm's hospitality consulting in the south as well a member of the firm's Executive Committee, is based in the Atlanta office. Before joining PKF Consulting, Mr. Woodworth was a Partner and Chairman of the Hospitality Industry Consulting practice for Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., and specialized in the lodging industry. Mr. Woodworth has managed and conducted consulting assignments, involving both the public and private sectors, throughout the U.S. He has been qualified as an expert and has testified in litigation and/or bankruptcy matters in New York, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina and Texas regarding hospitality properties. Mr. Woodworth has been quoted on hospitality issues in such noted publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Barron's, USA Today, The Financial Times, and various industry publications. He recently completed two terms on the Cornell University Council, an advisory group appointed by the University Board of Trustees. He also recently completed a three year term on the Board of Advisors for the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University, and currently serves on the Finance and Buildings Committee of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Board of Industry Advisors at both Georgia State University and Gwinnett Technical Institute. Mr. Woodworth holds both a B.S. and Master's Degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. He also served on the faculty of the Center for Professional Development at Cornell for 12 years, where he continues to guest lecture. Mark and his wife Mary Kay reside in Atlanta with their sons Harry, Will and Sam and daughter Savannah. [Top of Page
Frank Norton President The Norton Agency		BIO- Frank Norton is President of Norton, a conglomerate of family-fun real estate and insurance companies in North Georgia. He has been involved in the real estate industry since 1978 and was elected Realtor of the Year in 1994 and 1996. Norton participates in a variety of community organizations such as the Leadership GA, Economic Development Council, Phoenix, and the Hall Growth Council. Norton is also the Chairman of the Mark Trail Foundation, a former Chairman of Bank South Hall County, the Founder of the Hispanic Alliance and the Founder of Green Street Property Owners. Norton graduated with a BS in Building Construction from Georgia Tech and is a CCIM Candidate. He is married and has three children. [Top of Page]