TAMPA BAY − Inflation. Resiliency. Insurance. Employment. Housing. What’s in store for our economy during the year ahead?
For some perspectives, the Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce presents Focus on 2023: A Tampa Bay Economic Forecast. It takes place Thursday, Feb. 2 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 1160 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater.
This signature event celebrating its 16th year, features a panel of business and academic experts who will share predictions and provide insight on significant global, national, and regional issues destined to impact the Tampa Bay economy. Presenting sponsors of the program are Regions Bank and Sheraton Sand Key Resort. Cost to attend is $56 for open seating which includes breakfast or reserved tables of six for $330. Tickets can be purchased online at www.CentralChamber.biz or by calling 727-584-2321.
This year’s Focus panelists and their topics include:
Coastal Environmental Forecast
• Alec Bogdanoff, Ph.D., Principal & Co-Founder of Brizaga, Fort Lauderdale, is a policy-trained oceanographer and meteorologist. He founded Brizaga to focus on assisting homeowners, businesses and communities in facing the challenges of sea level rise and long-term environmental changes head-on. He has two decades of political experience, including managing campaigns, and extensive experience in science communication. Alec has addressed the United States House of Representative’s Climate Solutions Caucus and Florida Legislature on planning for and the financial implications of sea level rise.
Real Estate Forecast
• Brad O’Connor, Ph.D. is the Chief Economist for Florida Realtors, the state’s largest trade association with about 200,000 members. As the head of the research department at Florida Realtors, he oversees the production of the association’s widely cited monthly housing market statistics, as well as numerous other economic and statistical research projects. His commentary on Florida’s real estate markets regularly appears in major daily newspapers around the state and has been featured in many national publications, including Bloomberg Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.
Inflation Impact Forecast
• Michael Snipes, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Instruction of Economics, USF and MUMA College of Business. He was associated with a recent USF statewide survey on the impact of inflation and attitudes toward government responses to the rising costs of goods and services. Current area of research interest is tourism and its effects on the economy. He received his MA (2004) and PhD (2008) from the University of Colorado, Boulder.