Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The University of North Carolina Wilmington will host the fifth annual Economic Outlook Conference, presented by the Cameron School of Business, from 7 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, in the Lumina Theatre of the Fisher Student Center. In failing economic times, UNC Wilmington will explore economic forecasts, real estate, sustainability, renewable resources and the impact of the nation's economic status on Southeastern North Carolina through expert speakers and panel discussions.

Close to 300 real estate professionals, business professionals and local government officials are expected to attend the conference, which is open to the public.

Keynote Speaker Larry Shirley, director of the North Carolina State Energy Office, will discuss the economic impact of sustainability and energy initiatives. As manager of the state's alternative fuels and renewable energy programs, Shirley oversees more than 50 projects. He founded an energy use reduction program for state facilities and public universities that saved more than $122 million last year alone.

Former senior official in the Federal Reserve System Thomas Simpson, UNCW economics and finance, will present an insider's view of the current national economic situation. Simpson has consulted for the central banks of both Russia and Iraq, and he is the author of Money, Banking, and Economic Analysis.

William "Woody" Hall, UNCW professor of economics since 1974, will be presenting the economic forecast for southeastern N.C. for 2009. Hall's work forecasting the economy and the business impact of natural disasters has been published in many journals and he remains a popular source of forecasts for economic activity on the local, state and national levels.

Conference agenda:

7:00 a.m. Registration and Breakfast in Fisher Student Center

7:30 a.m. Conference Welcome in Lumina Theater

7:50 a.m. 2008 Economic Summary and 2009 Economic Forecast

9:05 a.m. Break

9:30 a.m. Executive Panel: Real Estate

10:15 a.m. Executive Panel: Sustainability and Renewable Resources

10:55 a.m. Break

11:20 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Larry Shirley, NC State Energy Office

Noon Closing Comments

The 2008 UNCW Economic Outlook Conference is sponsored by Bank of America, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Progress Energy, REALTORS® Commercial Alliance of Southeastern NC, RSM McGladrey, The Small Business Technology Development Center, the Star-News, UNCW, and the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

Conference registration is $45. For more information or to register, visit www.uncw.edu/eoc or call 910.962.2237.

Media are invited to attend breakfast and cover the event.

Media contact:
Joy Davis, UNCW Marketing and Communications, 910.916.8603 or davisjc@uncw.edu