J. Mack Robinson College of Business Archives

North Fulton Studio

Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: 2021 Economic Outlook with Professor Rajeev Dhawan, Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University

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Wellstar Chamber Luncheon Series: 2021 Economic Outlook with Professor Rajeev Dhawan, Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 55)

Georgia State University’s Dr. Rajeev Dhawan joined this GNFCC WellStar Chamber Luncheon to offer his perspective on the metro Atlanta, Georgia, and national economies. He also commented on singular advantages which North Fulton possesses which aid in recovery, and why he believes a national recovery will not begin in earnest until 2022.

The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright, and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. John Ray and North Fulton Business RadioX served as the media sponsor for this event.

Professor Rajeev Dhawan, Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University

**Professor Rajeev Dhawan, Georgia State University**

Professor Rajeev Dhawan wears a dual hat as holder of the Zwerner Chair of Economic Forecasting and as Director of the Economic Forecasting Center at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.

As director of one of the country’s premiere forecasting centers, Dhawan develops forecasts for the U.S., Southeast regional and local metro Atlanta economies. These forecasts are regularly published and presented to business executives and the media at the Center’s popular, well-respected quarterly forecasting conferences.

Dr. Rajeev Dhawan has served as an advisor to several local and state government agencies and numerous publicly-held companies such as Coca-Cola, Georgia Power, Raymond James and Turner Broadcasting, among others. He currently serves as the chair of the advisory committee for regional growth for the Atlanta Regional Commission and is also a member of the Georgia Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors since 2003.

Dr. Dhawan’s academic research analyzes U.S. business cycles with a special emphasis on the role of credit markets on growth and survival of small firms.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events such as this North Fulton Mayors Appreciation Lunch, follow this link.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Atlanta Business Radio

Richard Phillips with J. Mack Robinson College of Business at GSU, Luis E. Ferrer-Labarca with BitCraft and Jeanine McDonald with Suzi Soma Chokers

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Richard D. Phillips was appointed the seventh Dean of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University in July 2014. He is also the C.V. Starr Professor of Risk Management and Insurance. Under Phillips’ leadership, Robinson is pioneering a new kind of business education, one uniquely capable of developing people from all backgrounds into talented business leaders who create value in an era of digital transformation. Emphasizing the establishment of strategic research relationships and the development of emerging leaders who never stop striving for impact, Robinson helps businesses meet the real and emergent needs of rapidly changing global markets. An expert on risk management, Dean Phillips has produced more than 50 scholarly publications. He has received several research awards, including twice receiving the Robert 1. Mehr Award given to an articlejudged to have had the greatest impact on insurance economics 10 years after publication. Beyond the university, Phillips is a corporate director at Munich American Reassurance Corporation anda senior consultant with Charles River Associates. From 2017-2018 he was president of the American Risk and Insurance Association, he is a past-president of the Risk Theory Society, and he serves as a trustee for the S.S. Huebner Foundation for Insurance Education. Phillips serves on non-profit boards for the World Affairs Council of Atlanta and for The Swift School – one of Georgia’s largest private schools serving dyslexic children. Phillips’ doctoral and master’s degrees in managerial economics are from the Wharton School. He graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Mathematics.

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Luis E. Ferrer-Labarca is originally from Venezuela, son of entrepreneurs, started his entrepreneurial life selling chocolate chip cookies when he was 6. Luis moved to the US in 2014. Co-founder of Panther Hackers, one of the biggest tech student organizations in GSU. Been to 17+ hackathons and achieved Top 5 in the first Atlanta Startup Battle hosted by Tech Square Labs with Upet, a pet rental service during my junior year. In late 2017 started BitCraft, a software development agency specializing in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies, which later switched focus to DevOps and cloud infrastructure. Studied Computer Science with a minor in Entrepreneurship at GSU and graduated in May 2018. Currently working as a Software Engineer at Rigor, one of the most mature startups in Village, while hustling with BitCraft on the side. Ideating a lot more projects on the daily, Motivated to make others’ lives better and sharing the impact that entrepreneurship has had in his life. Inspiring others to find out a way to live fulfilling lives on his Instagram. Serving as an advisor for, and might jump in as a team member, Observe, a digital shadowing experience for people to better decide what careers will fulfill them the most.

Follow Luis E. Ferrer-Labarca on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Jeanine McDonald is the founder of Suzi Soma Chokers with a mission to remind women that they are limitless! Jeanine designs chokers and chains paired with original affirmations to inspire women to focus their dreams into reality. When Jeanine is not hand crafting Suzi Soma Chokers, she is studying Social Entrepreneurship at Georgia State, directing marketing campaigns with the farm-to-skin spa, Iwi Fresh, and letting Beyonce remind her to make lemonade out of lemons.

Follow Jeanine McDonald on Twitter and Instagram.