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Conference: Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Theme - Assessing the Role of Air Transportation, Hospitality and
Financial Factors in Atlanta's Economy |
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Conference Program |
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8:00 a.m. |
Registration & Coffee |
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| 8:30 a.m. |
Words of Welcome |
H. Fenwick Huss
[read bio]
Dean
J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Georgia State University
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8:35 a.m. |
Leveraging Air Transportation for Economic Growth
With nearly 85 million passengers annually and a $23 billion annual economic impact, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the economic engine for the entire Southeastern United States. The airport has been a magnet for regional business growth and has become a gateway to the world. To keep pace with growing worldwide passenger demand,which is expected to double by 2025, the world's busiest airport is working to expand capacity.
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Ben DeCosta
[read bio]
Aviation General Manager
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
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| 9:05 a.m. |
Special Q&A for Ben DeCosta
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9:10 |
How Tight is the US Labor Market? - A Regional Perspective
The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.5% nationally, and is less than 4% in 21 states and 157 metros. What are the implications for job and wage growth regionally?
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James Diffley
[read bio]
Managing Director
U.S. Regional Services
Global Insight
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| 9:30 a.m. |
Liquidity and Personal Risk Management
Atlanta is a "1099" world; consider the benefits of balancing that entrepreneurial spirit with liquidity.
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Conrad S. Ciccotello
[read bio]
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Personal Financial Planning Programs
Risk Management and Insurance Department
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9:50 a.m.
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The Impact of the Hospitality & Tourism Industry on Atlanta
As one of Atlanta's biggest employers and one of the area's top growth industries, the hospitality and tourism industry encompasses numerous segments that contribute to the local and regional economy. An overview of these segments and their combined impact will be highlighted as well as projections for future growth opportunities.
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Debra F. Cannon
[read bio]
Director
Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration
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10:10 a.m. |
Q & A |
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10:25 a.m. |
Refreshments Break |
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10:40 a.m. |
Forecast of The Nation, State and the Region |
Rajeev Dhawan
[read bio]
Director
Economic Forecasting Center
J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Georgia State University
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11:30 a.m. |
Final Remarks and Q&A |
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11:40 a.m. |
Light lunch and Networking |
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CANCELLATION POLICY: To cancel your registration and be eligble for a refund, call the Economic Forecasting Center at 404-413-7260 before 4pm the day before the conference. A stop payment of a check does not constitute a formal cancellation. Registrants who do not attend the conference and have not cancelled one day prior to the conference are liable for the entire registration fee but will be mailed conference materials.
SUBSTITUTION POLICY: If an annual subscriber cannot attend the conference, another person from the same company can substitute in the subscriber's place.
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Industry Speakers
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Benjamin R. DeCosta
Aviation General Manager
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
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BIO- Benjamin R. DeCosta assumed the leadership of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as aviation general manager in June 1998. Prior to taking this position, Mr. DeCosta worked as the general manager of Newark International Airport.
In 1999, Mr. DeCosta and his staff completed the Airport's first Master Plan in 30 years. He is leading Hartsfield-Jackson's $5.4 billion-dollar expansion program, called the Hartsfield-Jackson Development Program "Focus On the Future", which includes a new fifth runway and international terminal. Among other accomplishments, in 2002 Hartsfield-Jackson retained its title as the busiest airport in the world serving over 76 million passengers and in 2001, the airport received the FAA's top award for airfield operations safety.
A native New Yorker, Ben DeCosta received a BA at Queens College, a JD from New York Law School and has participated in a program for senior government executives Harvard University.
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James Diffley
Managing Director
U.S. Regional Services
Global Insight
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BIO- James Diffley is Managing Director of Global Insight's U.S. Regional Services Group. Since 1998, he has supervised the quarterly economic forecast of the 50 states and over 300 MSA's. He regularly makes presentations of these regional economic forecasts and is also responsible for customized consulting projects.
Diffley was supervising tax analyst with the New Jersey Division of Taxation's Office of Tax Analysis from 1988 to 1996, where he was responsible for developing the state economic forecast for the state executive budget. From 1982 to 1987, he was on the economics faculty at Adelphi University in New York. Diffley did his PhD training in economics at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, completing all requirements but the dissertation.
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GSU Speakers
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Conrad S. Ciccotello
[read bio]
Associate Professor and
Director of Graduate Personal Financial Planning Programs
Risk Management and Insurance Department
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Debra F. Cannon
[read bio]
Director
Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration
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Rajeev Dhawan
[read bio]
Director
Economic Forecasting Center
J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Georgia State University
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