Annual Asheville Metro Economy Outlook event set for Aug. 8

Here’s the press release from the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville:

PARSEC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRESENTS
THE 14th ANNUAL ASHEVILLE METRO ECONOMY OUTLOOK

The 14th Annual Asheville Metro Economy Outlook, a presentation of the latest significant economic trends at the local and national level, will be offered by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Coalition on Thursday, August 8, 2013. The event will be held at the Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 South Pack Square, with networking beginning at 5:00 p.m. and presentations starting at 5:30 p.m.

This year’s event will feature three of the Asheville area’s premier speakers. With over 40 years of experience, Parsec Financial Management’s Chief Economist, Dr. James F. Smith, will bring the audience up to date on national and global developments. Dr. Smith brings extensive knowledge from his work in various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, government, real estate associations, and academia. As Chief Economist at Parsec Financial, Smith provides information on the economic outlook to the firm’s partners and clients. He is past president and an active member of several economics groups, including the National Association for Business Economics and the National Business Economic Issues Council, as well as past co-chair of the European Council of Economists.

Tom Tveidt, President of SYNEVA Economics, will offer an analysis of the Asheville area’s key economic trends and drivers, with a special focus on wages. At SYNEVA Economics, Mr. Tveidt interprets trends for communities and private firms across the nation. His firm specializes in revealing the unique character of local economies and demonstrating how to leverage that knowledge into better decision-making. Tveidt has been an invited instructor for the National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA), International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER).

Chris Cavanaugh, President and Founder of Magellan Strategy Group, will provide an enlightening view on how Leisure & Hospitality, one of the Asheville area’s largest sectors, supports business in the region. Mr. Cavanaugh began his career in Asheville tourism with The Biltmore Company as the vice president of marketing, and then founded Magellan Strategy Group in 2004 with the vision of providing organizations with greater focus upon profitable opportunities in the marketplace. Cavanaugh has been past chair of both the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and the state of North Carolina’s Travel and Tourism Board.

“We’re looking forward to a very informative evening,” said Heidi Reiber, Director of Research for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and EDC. “A diverse economy is increasingly advantageous and we’ll hear more about this at the Metro Outlook.”

The 14th Annual Asheville Metro Economy Outlook is presented by Parsec Financial Management. Additional sponsors include Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville Savings Bank, BMW of Asheville, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, Duke Energy Progress, ERC Broadband, HomeTrust Bank, MB Haynes Corporation, McGuire, Wood & Bissette PA, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Diana Wortham Theatre, Blue Moon Water, Fastsigns, and WNCW Public Radio.

The EDC for Asheville-Buncombe County is a public-private partnership committed to: creating and retaining high quality jobs, community leadership, and being a resource for better business decisions. The EDC accomplishes this mission through its four core services: business retention and expansion, small business and entrepreneurship, research, and marketing and recruitment. The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Town of Weaverville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the AVL 5×5 Campaign.

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is a member organization with over 1,800 member businesses and organizations. Chamber members collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to support the community and each other with the mission of building community through business. The Chamber is home to a 4,000 square foot Visitor Center which welcomes over 195,000 visitors per year.