President’s Letter

Dear Fellow NABE members:

Got NABE?  OK, so this question is not nearly as ubiquitous as the “Got Milk?” slogan from America’s Dairy Farmers, but let’s face it, NABE might well be as important to businesses as milk is to strong bones!  

Or, at least what NABE represents might be as important…that is, the application of economic principles and methods of analysis.  Whether our members have “economist” in their title or simply find ways to add value by bringing the insights of economic analysis to their employers and clients, there is no denying that there is a place, an important place, for economic analysis in business planning and decision making.  The same goes for the policymaking arena too, but that is subject to a wholly unique set of forces, making it deserving of a dedicated discussion saved for another time. 

Adding Value? What many members tell me is that their affiliation with NABE helps them add value because it keeps them wired in to new developments in their field of professional interest (through our top-flight journal, Business Economics, our Policy Conference and Annual Meeting, and numerous teleconferences); connected to professional colleagues facing similar workplace challenges (through our meetings and Get Connected; up-to-date on macro, industry, and policy developments thorough our regular surveys; and “tooled-up” through a variety of offerings.  These conduits of “professional protein” help our members provide more value to their organizations by remaining informed, connected, and relevant.

Importantly, NABE is embarking on an initiative designed to make NABE a life-long partner for those who use economics in their work by continuing to add value throughout their careers and helping them to meet their career goals.   With the encouragement and continued participation of my predecessor, Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, we are beginning by defining a body of knowledge or BOK–a map if you will, that shows where specific types of economic training can add value across the business and policy landscape.  This will serve as a basis for generating a professional and career development curriculum that will serve the life-long learning needs of this diverse group.  We just concluded the Professional and Career Development Summit in Washington, D.C.   With the aid our of consultants and the benefit of the results of our recently completed member survey, a diverse group of NABE members met to help define this BOK and generate ideas for how to effectively deploy the BOK in designing a life-long learning curriculum that will benefit our members.  Many thanks to those who gave up their weekend to assist in this effort! 

A lot of hard work remains to be done to see this work come to fruition, but Lynn Reaser and I are committed to begin the process of expanding NABE’s course offerings and developing a comprehensive plan that makes NABE the place to turn for training to enhance the professional and career goals of those who use economics in their work.

I am very happy to report that the search committee charged with identifying a replacement for Susan Doolittle, who will be retiring in October, has selected and the NABE board has approved the hiring of Tom Beers as her replacement.  Tom received a B.A. in economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an M.S. in economics from Johns Hopkins.  He has “association” experience with both the National Association of Realtors and currently with the Manufactured Housing Institute.  (See the article about Tom in this issue.)   He brings a fresh perspective regarding key member benefits, and is a strong supporter of the “career partner” approach NABE is now pursuing.  He will arrive at NABE on July 15 as executive director-designate, and assume the positions full responsibilities in mid-October.  Please join me in welcoming Tom to NABE. 

One activity that helps new members get their careers off to a good start is NABE’s new Mentoring Program, about which I am very excited.  The goal of this program is to help promote the professional development of newer members and facilitate the building of professional relationships between newer members and veteran members.  The NABE Mentoring Pilot Program pairs senior NABE members with new or junior NABE members.  Among the benefits of the program to mentees are: 1) to aid their professional development by providing an opportunity to tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience from an objective third party, 2) develop a broader view of one’s profession and potential career paths by increasing exposure to different ideas and experiences, and 3) provide an opportunity to build networks and establish professional relationships.  This program will go a long way toward building loyalty to NABE through tangible career enhancement and strengthen the ties that bind us as an organization of professionals with mutual interests.  I strongly encourage seasoned NABE members who wish to give back something to NABE and to younger professionals to consider serving as a mentor.  All members of the national NABE may apply for the program.  See the Mentor Page for more information.

Finally, it is election time at NABE.  The nominating committee has identified a terrific slate of candidates to stand for election as directors, and brought forward the names of Lynn Reaser, our current vice president, to run unopposed for president and Rich Wobbekind, associate dean at the Leads School of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder, to run for vice president.  I heartily endorse Lynn and Rich, and I am confident that they, along with Tom and the team that you will help select, will quite ably lead the renaissance of NABE.

All the best,

Chris