Ohio Wesleyan to Host 2016 Economic Outlook Conference
Experts to Share Local, National, International Financial Forecasts at Free Nov. 17 Event
Delaware, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University will host its annual Economic Outlook Conference at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Benes Rooms of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, 40 Rowland Ave., Delaware. The free event will feature three experts who will share insights and opinions on how the local, national, and world economies are expected to perform in 2016.
The 2016 Economic Outlook Conference is co-sponsored by Ohio Wesleyan’s Department of Economics and by the university’s Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship. During the conference, each expert will speak for 15 minutes and then respond to questions and comments from the audience and from panel moderator, Goran Skosples, Ph.D., Ohio Wesleyan associate professor of economics.
About the panelists:
 Ben Ayers, M.S., is a senior economist for Nationwide Economics. He works to support the company’s macro-consumer analytics and macroeconomic analysis functions. His responsibilities include understanding and analyzing the enterprise business drivers to assist the strategic planning process. Ayers holds a master’s degree in economics from The Ohio State University, specializing in applied economic analysis. |
 George Mokrzan, Ph.D., is the director of economics at The Huntington Trust and Huntington National Bank. He provides economic analysis and commentary to management and clients, giving them insight into the global economy and into the local economies served by Huntington. Mokrzan earned his doctorate in economics from Duke University, with a specialization in macroeconomics, international economics, and econometrics. |
 Mark Schweitzer, Ph.D., is the senior vice president of external outreach and regional analytics at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He oversees the bank’s public outreach activities and analysis of regional economic conditions. Schweitzer advises and informs the Cleveland Reserve Bank president and directors on regional economic developments and economic policy issues. His research focuses on the macroeconomic impact of the labor market and the identification of factors contributing to regional economic growth. Schweitzer earned his doctorate in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. |
Skosples, panel moderator, joined the Ohio Wesleyan faculty in 2006. His teaching focus includes economics of transition, macroeconomics, development economics, international economics, research methods and economic principles. His research deals with institutional changes in post-communist countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, banking and credit, and small business finance. He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan’s Department of Economics at www.owu.edu/economics and more about The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship at www.owu.edu/wcebe. Founded in 1985, the Woltemade Center’s mission is to enhance academic programming and real-world opportunities to create future generations of business and world leaders. The center also serves as a resource connecting the university and business communities, which includes bringing speakers to campus to share expertise and creating partnerships with businesses to provide mutually beneficial student internships.
Ohio Wesleyan University, founded in 1842, is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers 87 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Ohio Wesleyan combines a challenging, internationally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world experience. OWU’s 1,675 students represent 43 U.S. states and territories and 33 countries. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the latest President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.