Annual Economic Outlook Forum Set for February 23, 2023 at USM
Fri, 02/10/2023 - 07:52am | By: Van Arnold
State and national economic forecasts will take center stage when The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) College of Business and Economic Development hosts the 2023 Economic Outlook Forum, set for Feb. 23 on the Hattiesburg campus.
The annual forum brings together experts from banking, finance, and academia to explore a number of issues and research related to the economic outlook for 2023. The First Bank serves as the title sponsor.
This year’s event returns to an in-person format, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Thad Cochran Center’s third-floor ballrooms. The forum is free and open to the general public. However, seating is limited, and registration is required.
“The annual Economic Outlook Forum is a much-anticipated event in our region,” said Dr. Bret Becton, Dean of the College of Business and Economic Development. “We are thankful for our partnership with The First Bank that allows us to provide this resource to our community. Having experts provide a national, regional, and local outlook is very useful in planning for the current year and those to come.”
Forum speakers include:
Chris Smith, Ph.D., C.B.E.
Assistant Visiting Professor, Economic Development
The University of Southern Mississippi
Dr. Smith is the Visiting Assistant Professor for Economic Development in the School of Finance USM. Smith teaches and researches in the areas of real estate development and land-use planning; regional innovation systems and technology-based economic development; and regional economic development marketing strategy and planning. Prior to his arrival at USM, Smith served as the Bureau Manager for Research and Data Analytics at the Mississippi Development Authority, where he led a team of research analysts in producing data analysis and research products in support of business state and local business attraction projects.
Gary Wagner, Ph.D.
Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Dr. Gary A. Wagner currently holds the Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In this role, he monitors the region's economic environment, conducts research and analysis, and engages with external stakeholders on behalf of the Moody College of Business and University. His research interests range from regional economics to state and local public finance issues, with a particular focus on tax structures and economic development, borrowing costs, and pension systems. He has authored or coauthored more than 60 professional articles and reports and has delivered more than 300 presentations to public audiences on national and regional economic conditions. Dr. Wagner served on the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors in Arkansas from 2008-2011, and he is a quarterly participant in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Survey of Professional Forecasters projecting national economic conditions.
Thanh Roettele
Managing Director of Mortgage Finance
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Thanh Roettele has more than 25 years of experience with JPMorgan Chase and currently serves as managing director of mortgage finance for JPMorgan Chase’s Corporate Client Banking and Specialized Industries. The CCBSI Mortgage group offers independent mortgage companies warehouse lending capabilities and traditional financial solutions. In his role, he oversees the business responsible for coverage of non-bank mortgage, residential and multi-family originators, mortgage REITs, and servicers throughout the United States. The Mortgage Finance team partners with product specialists across the firm to deliver solutions for his clients in areas such as credit, Treasury services, investment banking, asset management and mortgage banking. In 2020, the business funded over $275 billion, approximately 860,000 mortgages.
- Ray “Hoppy” Cole, Jr., President and CEO of The First Bancshares, Inc. noted, “The Economic Outlook forum continues to grow every year, and we expect another large turnout. It gives us an opportunity to visit with people from the Gulf South region, to find out what is going on and how our company can be of service. We believe the conference gives those in attendance a solid foundation of economic expectations upon which to plan the upcoming year.”
To learn more about the 2023 Economic Outlook Forum, call 601.266.4659 or visit: www.usm.edu/business/eof.
About The First Bancshares, Inc.
The First Bancshares, Inc., headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is the parent company of The First Bank (“The First”). Founded in 1996, The First has operations in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The Company’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol FBMS. Information is available on the Company’s website: www.TheFirstBank.com.