Welcome Aboard, New NABE Members!

Please join the NABE Board of Directors and staff in welcoming new members who joined over the last two months.  Since June 2006, 533 persons have joined NABE. New members are added to the on-line registry at http://www.nabe.com/mem/search.html at the beginning of each month.  The first issue of two IdeaLinks emailed to NABE members each month includes a listing of new members.   Here are selections from brief interviews, conducted by e-mail, with three new members:

Jenny Bates
Counsellor Economic
British Embassy                                                                                
Washington, D.C.

What is your current position?
I am a counsellor economic at the British Embassy in Washington. I head the Embassy's economic section, which is responsible for analysis and reporting on the U.S. economy (macro and micro issues) for a range of customers in the British government (e.g. Treasury Department) and Bank of England.  I was recently promoted to this position and have been in Washington for two and a half years.

What is the main focus of your company or organization?
The British Embassy's main focus is the United Kingdom-United States relationship in all its many forms. The best source of information is our website at  http://www.britainusa.com/.

What are your career highlights and education--before your current job?
I have a B.A. in economics from Cambridge University and an M.A. in international relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C. I joined the British government in 2001, working for the Treasury Department. I have worked on a range of primarily international economic issues for Treasury including the U.K.'s euro assessment, China/Southeast Asia, Iraq reconstruction, and international tax policy. I came on loan to the Foreign Office in 2005 to take up this posting, after which I will return to the Treasury Department.

Why did you join NABE?
Other Embassy colleagues are members and my predecessor was a member.  NABE provides an excellent combination of economic events and networking opportunities, which are very helpful in doing my job.

What drew you to economics?
In England you only tend to study one subject at university for the whole three years of an undergraduate degree -- so you have to choose carefully! I was interested in studying a subject that let me combine my interest in history and politics with some analytical rigour/maths. Economics seemed to offer this, and I think I was right as I really enjoyed my degree.

Chance Van Sciver
General Manager                                                                                       
Early Childhood Resources
Mt. Laurel, N.J.

What is your current position?
I am general manager of Early Childhood Resources.  My duties are to manage all business operations, including sales, purchasing, warehousing, finance, and human
resources.  I have held this position for two years.

What is the main focus of your company or organization?
Early Childhood Resources is a manufacturer/distributor of furniture and
craft products for the school and day care market in the United States and
Canada. Customers include: School Specialty, Kaplan, Costco, and Sam's Club.

What are your career highlights and education--before your current job?
I graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  I have spent the last six years working with some fantastic people in diverse segments of the wholesale distribution industry-- equestrian supply (Weatherbeeta USA) as well as books music and video (Baker & Taylor).  Prior to that, I spent the early part of my career in different segments of the publishing industry.  First with Peterson's, developing surveys and databases to collect data for book and database products, and then at MetroKids magazine, serving as the controller.

Why did you join NABE?
In addition to a love of the subject in general, I have a strong need to forecast economic conditions to chart a course for the company I run.

What drew you to economics?
I welcomed the opportunity to try and understand what drives the world economy.

Flemming Sorensen
Market Intelligence Advisor                                                                
Chevron
Bellaire, Texas

What is your current position?
I am a market intelligence advisor at Chevron, a position I have held for about three months.

What is the main focus of your company or organization?
Chevron’s business is oil and gas exploration and production.

What are your career highlights and education--before your current  job?
I was a business analyst at General Electric from 2001 to 2006.  From 2000 to 2001, I was a financial consultant at American Express.  I worked as a project manager and in marketing at National Oilwell Varco from 1995 to 2000.  I earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Texas at Austin in 1995.

Why did you join NABE?
I joined to increase my knowledge and network with peers.

What drew you to economics?
Its impact in our everyday lives.