Chapter History
In 1968 a group of prominent economists set about to create a new chapter of the then called National Association of Business Economists. On October 18, 1968 the national organization awarded this group its 16th area chapter. It was the fourth chapter awarded that year, behind Seattle, Denver, and Chicago. Raymond Jallow, Chief Economist of First Interstate Bank of California, was elected the first president of the new chapter and served for two years. In 1970 the present policy of electing presidents annually was instituted with the election of Conrad Jamison, Vice President & Economist of Security Pacific National Bank.
Membership grew steadily throughout the 1970’s. By 1979 the organization had 157 members. Three years later membership peaked at 167. Cutbacks and consolidations, particularly in the banking and savings and loan areas, caused membership to decline to 110 by 1985. Thereafter membership leveled off as private economists took jobs in a wider variety of industries.
Many local members have gone on to distinguish themselves in other areas. Thus far, 11 former chapter members have been elected to serve on the national NABE Board of Directors. National NABE Fellows from Los Angeles now total eight. Four have been elected as president of the national organization. Robert ‘Bob’ Parry served as president of the San Francisco Federal Reserve. Kathleen Cooper was the Chief Economist at Exxon and later was Undersecretary for the Department of Commerce. Lynn Reaser was Chief Economist at First Interstate Bank and now holds a similar position with Bank of America Capital Management.
Our local chapter holds monthly luncheon meetings except during the summer. Speakers have come from business, government, and academia. The local chapter has been addressed by members of the Federal Reserve Board, including its Chairman, chief economists from Fortune 500 companies, Nobel Laureates, senior government policy makers, as well as directors of national economic forecasting services. To best serve the local membership, many speakers come from various areas of the Los Angeles and California economic and financial community. National NABE meetings are generally held in the fall in cities across the nation. The local chapter has hosted two of these meetings, in 1980 and 1991.
In the 1990’s the name of the organization was changed to the National Association for Business Economics to better reflect the membership’s interests. The national and local organization welcomes all persons interested in economics that affect business.
“I am always looking for avenues that will challenge my views, and I appreciate inputs from other NABE economist and professionals”
-Elizabeth O’Connor, Economist, Capital Strategy Research
1968-70 |
Raymond Jallow |
United California Bank |
1970-71 |
Conrad C. Jamison |
Security Pacific National Bank |
1971-72 |
Arthur J. Shaw |
California Federal Saving & Loan |
1972-73 |
Harry R. Biederman |
Lockheed Corporation |
1973-74 |
G. Russell Morrissey |
Douglas Aircraft Company |
1974-75 |
Robert T. Parry |
Security Pacific National Bank |
1975-76 |
J. Howard Craven |
Union Bank |
1976-77 |
Sol L. Rabin |
Coldwell Banker Management Corp. |
1977-78 |
Edward C. Crosby |
United California Bank |
1978-79 |
Ted A. Gibson |
Rockwell International |
1979-80 |
Neal Pepper |
Union Oil Company |
1980-81 |
James H. Lewis |
L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce |
1981-82 |
Grace Wickersham |
Security Pacific National Bank |
1982-83 |
Charles R. Adams |
Security Pacific National Bank |
1983-84 |
A. Lynn Reaser |
First Interstate Bank |
1984-85 |
Kathleen M. Cooper |
Security Pacific National Bank |
1985-86 |
Edmond D. Villani |
Scudder, Stevens, & Clark |
1986-87 |
P. Kenneth Ackbarali |
First Interstate Bancorp |
1987-88 |
Jack Kyser |
LAEDC |
1988-89 |
Peter B. Jaquette |
ARCO |
1989-90 |
Jennifer Edwards |
DRI/McGraw-Hill |
1990-91 |
R. Paul Weddell |
Douglas Aircraft Company |
1991-92 |
Nancy D. Sidhu |
Security Pacific Corporation |
1992-93 |
Adam Pilarski |
Douglas Aircraft Company |
1993-94 |
Leslie Appleton-Young |
California Association of Realtors |
1994-95 |
Adrian R. Sanchez |
First Interstate Bancorp |
1995-96 |
Howard Roth |
Bank of America |
1996-97 |
Abraham J. Falick |
Navigator Press |
1997-98 |
Gerd-Ulf Krueger |
California Association of Realtors |
1998-99 |
Gordon Palmer |
Port of Long Beach |
1999-00 |
James M. Goldberg |
Trust Company of the West |
2000-01 |
Ross C. DeVol |
Milken Institute |
2001-02 |
Laurie King Matthias |
Capital Guardian |
2002-03 |
Ssusan Forte O’Neill |
Forte Designs |
2003-04 |
Chad Ahrens |
Garret Aviation |
2004-05 |
Josh Lichtman |
Fulbright and Jaworski, LLP |
2005-06 |
Lynda Lo-Hill |
Lo-Hill Consulting |
“I like LA NABE because my job is so focused that when I’m at work, I don’t have time to learn about issues beyond my specific task at hand. NABE luncheons give me an opportunity to think broadly, to think about themes and topics that I am unable to address in my everyday work.”
Dr. Nancy D. Sidhu, VP & Sr. Economist LAEDC, LA NABE Past President
