Robert Reich headlines economic outlook conference at NAU

Robert Reich

Robert ReichWith former Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich as a keynote speaker, this year’s Economic Outlook Conference at Northern Arizona University has recaptured the attention of its longstanding audience.

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. 7, at the High Country Conference Center. Individual tickets are $50, and a corporate table (seven seats) may be purchased for $300.

“Reich is an engaging and dynamic speaker,” said Wayne Fox, assistant dean and director of the outreach center. “We have a terrific business program and this is our signature outreach. I wanted the program this year to match that caliber.”

While Reich will focus on the global and national outlook for 2014, other presenters will offer more local views. They include Elliott Pollack, a CEO described by Fox as “a highly recognized figure” in Arizona real estate, 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 John Haeger is scheduled to provide opening remarks.

Reich, named by Time magazine as one of the 10 most successful cabinet secretaries of the past century, served under President Clinton from 1993-97. He is Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and is well known as an active speaker, blogger and author. His film documentary, Inequality for All, will be released nationally on Sept. 27.

To register, call (928) 523-3322, email fcb-eoc@nau.edu or visit the conference website.