Former presidential advisor Gene Sperling to headline Economic Outlook Conference

Gene Sperling

As the Economic Outlook Conference at Northern Arizona University nears its 39th year, anticipation is building over the outlook itself and the insights of keynote speaker Gene Sperling, who advised two presidents on economic policy.

The conference, presented by the Alliance Bank Business Outreach Center of the W. A. Franke College of Business, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the High Country Conference Center. Individual tickets are $50, and a corporate table (seven seats) may be purchased for $300.

“Our conference is arguably the best of its kind in the Southwest and is likely the longest running,” said Wayne Fox, assistant dean and director of the outreach center. “Our team of experts will drill down through the current status of international, national, state and local economies and offer their thoughts on what we may expect in the year ahead  and into the future.”

Sperling directed the National Economic Council and served as assistant to the president for economic policy in both the Clinton and Obama administrations—the only person to have held those posts under two presidents. His experience ranges from congressional budget negotiations to tax credit implementation. He was also the founder and director of the Center for Universal Education at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Other presenters include Elliott Pollack, CEO of Elliot D. Pollack and Company, and two NAU faculty members: Ron Gunderson, professor of economics, and Dennis Foster, senior lecturer of economics.

Business dean Craig Van Slyke will moderate. NAU President Rita Cheng is scheduled to provide opening remarks.

Visit the conference website to register.