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2024 Speaker Line-Up

A Perspective on the Economy

Gary Wagner

University of Louisiana Lafayettte

Dr. Wagner is an economic researcher and advisor with interests ranging from regional economics to state and local public finance issues, with a particular focus on state rainy day funds, municipal borrowing costs, and public pension plans. Wagner has authored or coauthored more than 40 professional articles and reports on a variety of state and local policy issues and has delivered more than 200 public and non-academic presentations over his career. He is a respondent in the Survey of Professional Forecasters, the oldest quarterly survey of national economic forecasters in the United States. Prior to joining the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dr. Wagner was Vice-President & Senior Regional Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (2016-2018) and Regional Economic Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia (2015-2016) where he conducted research on emerging regional economic issues. He was Professor of Economics at Old Dominion University (2011-2015) and University of Arkansas- Little Rock (2008-2011), Associate Professor of Economics at University of Arkansas- Little Rock (2006-2008), Associate Professor of Government at University of North Caroline- Chapel Hill (2005-2006), and Assistant Professor of Economics at Duquesne University (2001-2005) and University of Arkansas- Little Rock (2000-2001). Wagner earned a Ph.D. and master’s degree in economics from West Virginia University and his bachelor’s degree in economics and political Science from Youngstown State University.

Closing Remarks

Guy Williams

Gulf Coast Bank

Guy Williams is the president and co-founder of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. The bank focuses on local development and real estate finance. Gulf Coast Bank was recognized by American Banker as one of the top twenty banks in America. He leads Gulf Coast Bank with a shared vision of building a true community institution backed by cutting-edge banking technologies, equipping individuals and businesses with the strength and resources they need to succeed.

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