Big picture trends and local economic shifts come together again at the Appalachian Highlands Economic Forum.  

Now in its fourth year, the East Tennessee State University‑hosted event will bring back familiar faces and introduce new voices from across the economic landscape.

Set for Friday, March 27, at 8 a.m., the forum will take place at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

“The Appalachian Highlands Economic Forum reflects our college’s commitment to serving as a hub for meaningful dialogue on the economic forces shaping our region,” said Dr. Tony Pittarese, dean of the College of Business and Technology. “Hosting these conversations at ETSU aligns directly with our college’s mission to support regional development, cultivate informed leadership and foster collaboration between higher education and industry. Our students and faculty benefit from direct engagement with leaders who are shaping industries and communities throughout the region, making the forum an important bridge between academic insight and professional practice.”

Headlining the forum is keynote speaker Tom Barkin, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

In his role, Barkin oversees the Richmond Fed’s operations and serves on the Federal Reserve System’s Federal Open Market Committee. Before joining the Richmond Fed, he was a senior partner and CFO at McKinsey & Company, where he led the firm’s offices in the southern United States.

The event will also feature:

  • Leton L. Harding Jr., president, chair and CEO of Powell Valley National Bank;
  • Dr. Aryaman Bhatnagar, assistant professor of economics;
  • Dr. Anca Traian, associate professor of finance;
  • Dr. Jon Smith, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research and associate professor of economics; and
  • Dr. William J. Trainor Jr., professor of finance and director of the Center for the Study of Finance.

Registration is also available on the forum’s webpage. Space is limited.

Events like the Appalachian Highlands Economic Forum reflect ETSU’s role as the Flagship University of Appalachia, bringing together leaders, ideas and research to help strengthen the region’s future.

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