Business Forecast Luncheon scheduled Jan. 27 in Rogers

The 23rd annual Business Forecast Luncheon, hosted by the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers.

Organizers say more than 1,000 business and community leaders are expected to attend the information and networking event, presented by the Walton College’s Center for Business and Economic Research. It will feature national and international experts who will discuss the economic outlook for Arkansas, the nation and the world.

The moderator will be J.B. Hunt Transport Services executive Shelley Simpson, who currently serves as executive vice president, chief marketing officer, and is president of two of the company’s four business segments — Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS) and Truck.

Other economists who will speak are Stuart Mackintosh, executive director of the Group of Thirty, an international financial think tank comprised of senior leaders from central banking, the financial sector and academia, Ellen Hughes Cromwick, chief economist for the U.S. Department of Commerce and a former chief economist of Ford Motor Co. and Kathy Deck, director of the CBER.

“This is the key economic outlook event of the year for business and community leaders from across Arkansas and the surrounding region,” Walton College Dean Matt Waller said. “The lineup of economic forecasters for the 2017 luncheon is outstanding, and I know they will bring insights about our economy that everyone can use throughout the year.”

Ticket information is available at cber.uark.edu, by calling 479-575-4151 or emailing [email protected].