PARSEC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRESENTS THE 13th ANNUAL ASHEVILLE METRO ECONOMY OUTLOOK

August 15, 2012

                                                                                                         

PARSEC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRESENTS
THE 13th ANNUAL ASHEVILLE METRO ECONOMY OUTLOOK

The 13th 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’s Economic Development Coalition. The event will be held on Thursday, August 23, at the Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 South Pack Square. Networking will begin at 5 p.m.,with presentations starting at 5:30 p.m.  Following presentations, those in attendance will hear a brief update on the progress of the Asheville 5X5 campaign, the capital campaign to fund economic development efforts in the Asheville area through 2016.    

Presenters this year for the 2012 Outlook feature two seasoned economists, Dr. James Smith and Mr. Tom Tveidt, who will share perspectives and insights on the national and local economic outlook.   “We’ve had encouraging news compared to the last few years but continue to feel the effects of the recent recession,” said Heidi Reiber, Director of Research for the EDC.  “This is an excellent opportunity for our community to hear two veteran economists summarize key economic developments.”

Parsec Financial Management's Chief Economist, Dr. James F. Smith, will bring us up to date on the global outlook of the U.S. economy.  Dr. Smith has over 40 years of experience as an economic forecaster and brings extensive knowledge from his work in various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, government, real estate associations, and academia.  As Chief Economist at Parsec Financial, Jim 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 a timely analysis of the local Asheville economy with a special focus on emerging trends.  At SYNEVA Economics, Tveidt interprets trends for communities and private firms across the nation. The firm specializes in revealing the unique character of local economies and demonstrating how to leverage that knowledge into better decision-making. Tveidt is 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). 

The 13th Annual Asheville Metro Economy Outlook is presented by Parsec Financial Management. Additional sponsors include Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville Savings Bank, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, WNCW Public Radio, BMW of Asheville, Epsilon, Inc., MB Haynes Corporation, McGuire, Wood, & Bissette PA, Progress Energy, ARC, Blue Moon Water, Diana Wortham Theatre,and Fastsigns.

The EDC for Asheville-Buncombe Countyis 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 & expansion, small business & entrepreneurship, research, and marketing & recruitment.   The EDC is funded by Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Asheville 5×5 Campaign.

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is a 2,000 member organization representing 86,000 employees.  Chamber members collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to support the community and each other with the mission of increasing the region’s livability by advancing its economic vitality.  The Asheville Chamber works diligently to ensure that Asheville continues to prosper while also protecting the natural beauty of the area.  In 2006, the Chamber moved to a new location and is now home to the 4,000 square foot Visitor Center which welcomes 200,000 visitors per year.