Economic Outlook Luncheon

Economic Outlook Luncheon | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Cashion Academic Center, Baylor University

The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, Baylor University, Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce and Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will partner to bring the business community together to explore economic development work and progress over the past year and provide a vision for what the next year may hold. By leveraging academic and professional thought leaders from within our local economy, participants will hear about trends, programs, projects, and initiatives that will continue to thrust Waco forward.

The Economic Outlook Luncheon will feature a data-driven keynote presentation from Dr. Sandeep Mazumder, Dean of the Baylor University Hankamer School of Business, a look at the regional economy from Chris Furlow, CEO of the Texas Bankers Association and a Chamber panel discussion regarding our local economy. The Chamber panel will include:

John Bible, President & CEO, Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce
Andrea Kosar, President & CEO, Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Matt Meadors, President & CEO, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce

Purchase Tickets

Registration Information

The public is invited to join us.

Individual Member Ticket - $65 | Table of 8 for Members - $500

Individual Non-Member Ticket - $100 | Table of 8 for Non-Members - $800

Schedule & Speakers

The Economic Outlook Luncheon will feature presentations from local economic leaders as well as a data-driven keynote presentation from Dr. Sandeep Mazumder, Dean of the Baylor University Hankamer School of Business and a look at the regional economy from Chris Furlow, CEO of the Texas Bankers Association.

Dr. Sandeep Mazumder, Dean, Baylor University Hankamer School of Business

Sandeep Mazumder was appointed as the William E. Crenshaw Endowed Dean of Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business in 2021. He previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Economics at Wake Forest University.

Mazumder's research and teaching interests include macroeconomics, monetary economics, international monetary economics and time-series econometrics. He has focused much of his research on U.S. inflation dynamics and the Phillips Curve, and has published more than 30 articles in journals such as the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Macroeconomic Dynamics and the Journal of Macroeconomics, for which he serves as an associate editor. In 2022, Mazumder and co-author Dale K. Cline published the textbook Money, Banking, and Financial Markets: A Modern Introduction to Macroeconomics. He is a member of the American Economic Association, Southern Economic Association, Eastern Economic Association and International Atlantic Economic Association. He also teaches several courses, including Intermediate Macroeconomics, Applied Econometrics, Monetary Theory and Policy and International Finance.

Mazumder received his BA and MA in Economics from Cambridge University and his MA and PhD in Economics from Johns Hopkins University.

Christopher J. Furlow, President & CEO, Texas Bankers Association

Chris Furlow took over as President & CEO of TBA in July 2018. He brings a diverse background to his position, including experience in communications, grassroots and advocacy and risk management. He previously served as President/Chief Operating Officer/Principal of Ridge Global LLC, an international risk management and security advisory firm founded by Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and former Pennsylvania governor. He was a co-founder and partner of The Pennant Group LLC, a homeland security consulting and business development firm; Executive Director of the Homeland Security Advisory Council in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Director, State Affairs for the Office of Homeland Security, Executive Office of the President; Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Secretary – Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Commerce; National Field Director/Deputy Political Director for the Republican National Committee; Communications Director for The Office of U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.); and Executive Director for the Republican Party of Louisiana.