NABE: Looking for Balance Between Services and Professionalism
Is NABE Going To Be A Professional Organization, A Membership Organization, or a Hybrid?
Duncan Meldrum is the chief economist
for Air Products, a $7 billion
industrial gas and chemicals company
serving customers in over 30
countries. As chief economist, he
assesses the impact of the economic
environment on the company’s performance
for the executive management
team and develops global
economic assumptions for the company’s
operating plans. He provides operating groups
with pricing assistance, contract support, and market
analyses. He also serves as the company’s economics
spokesperson. He received a B.S. degree from the U.S.
Naval Academy, a M.S. degree in Operations Research
from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and a Ph.D.
in Economics from Lehigh University. He is a member of
the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Census Bureau. He
serves as a director on the boards of the APCI Federal
Credit Union and the nonprofit Parkette National
Gymnastics Center. His other professional associations
include the Conference of Business Economists, the
National Business Economic Issues Council, and the
American Economics Association.
It has been some time since presidential addresses have examined NABE as an association. Since there have been important structural changes in NABE, and others are looming, it seems like an appropriate time for a reexamination. One of the key questions is what kind of association is NABE going to be: a “professional” association, a “membership” association, or a hybrid. This paper addresses the history of NABE through the lens of past presidential addresses, identifying the common themes and the evolving changes in NABE since its inception. It then seeks to provide insight into the choices facing NABE members and how NABE may evolve in the future.
NABE Presidential Address delivered at the NABE Annual Meeting on October 5, 2004 in Philadelphia, PA.
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