What: The Bureau of Business and Economic Research’s mid-year economic update sponsored by First Interstate Bank, NorthWestern Energy, Benefits Health System, and Sibanye Stillwater. The program will cover topics affecting Montana’s economic future as a state with a special focus on the supply chain disruptions that have impacted just about every business in the state.
When: Tuesday, August 2nd - Thursday, August 4th
Billings - (August 2nd, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.)
Bozeman - (August 2nd, 11:30 - 1:00 p.m.)
Butte - (August 2nd, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.)
Helena - (August 3rd, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.)
Great Falls - (August 3rd, Noon - 1:30 p.m.)
Missoula - (August 4th, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.)
Kalispell - (August 4th, Noon-1:30 p.m.)
Where: The BBER’s mid-year economic update will travel to the following 7 cities:
Billings (Double Tree Billings)
Bozeman (Best Western GranTree Inn)
Butte (Northwestern Energy General Office)
Helena (Best Western Great Northern Hotel)
Great Falls (Holiday Inn)
Missoula (Hilton Garden Inn)
Kalispell (Hilton Garden Inn)
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE EVENT:
-This year’s program will have a special focus on the supply chain disruptions that have impacted just about every business in the state, and University of Montana Wilson Logistics Faculty Fellow Dr. Simona Stan will present her assessment of how, and how much longer, these disruptions came about.
-Discussion topics will range from recession fears, surging inflation, tight labor markets, empty store shelves, and how these issues will impact Montana’s economic future as a state.
-$35 registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, or appetizers depending on the time of the event.
Guest Speakers:
Patrick Barkey, director of the BBER
Patrick Barkey has served as Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research since 2008. He has been involved with economic forecasting and policy research for more than 30 years, in both the private and public sectors. Before coming to Montana he served as Director of the Bureau of Business Research at Ball State University in Indiana for fourteen years. His recent research has been on the economic impact of energy development, the property tax treatment of the telecommunications industry and the economic impact of trade with Canada. He holds a B.A. and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan.
Simona Stan, professor at the University of Montana College of Business
Simona Stan has served as a professor of marketing at the University of Montana College of Business for the past 15 years. Since last year, she is also the Wilson Logistics Faculty Fellow. She has a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Missouri and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sibiu, Romania. Before UM, she taught for five years at the University of Oregon. Prior to her academic life, she was a production engineer and manager in Romania. At UM, she teaches Logistics and Transportation and Global Supply Chain Management along with a selection of marketing courses at undergraduate and master level. Her current research interests are in global logistics and supply chains, sales, and services marketing.
William A. Fitzgerald, vice president and senior portfolio manager with First Interstate Bank
Bill is a vice president and senior portfolio manager with investment responsibility for individual and institutional portfolios. He has 30 years of experience in investment management, including securities analysis, portfolio management, economic analysis, and alternative investment strategies research. Bill is the firm’s Chairman of the Investment Policy and Strategy Committee and serves on the First Interstate BancSystem Economic Committee and the bank’s retirement Investment Policy Committee. Bill received a B.A. in Management from Lynchburg College and an M.B.A., with a concentration in finance from the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University.