Babson Capital Management has renewed its sponsorship of the UNC Charlotte Economic Forecast with a new three-year agreement. Babson Capital has sponsored the program since 2010.
The forecast will continue to be known as the Babson Capital/UNC Charlotte Economic Forecast, and Forecast Director John Connaughton will continue to hold the title of Babson Capital Professor of Financial Economics in the Belk College of Business.
“We’re pleased to continue our relationship with UNC Charlotte and the Belk College of Business through our sponsorship of the Economic Forecast,” said Babson Capital Chairman and CEO Thomas Finke. “The University is a vital intellectual resource for the Charlotte region and the state, and Dr. Connaughton’s reports provide valuable information for business and community leaders.”
Finke is a member of the Belk College Board of Advisors.
Connaughton, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from Northeastern University, joined UNC Charlotte in 1978; he began producing the economic forecast in 1981. He has established a reputation as a top regional economist and is frequently cited by media on regional, state and national economic issues.
The Babson Capital/UNC Charlotte Economic Forecast is published quarterly and presented by Connaughton at a community luncheon and press conference. It provides both a review of North Carolina’s recent economic performance and an estimate of the state’s future growth, focusing on industrial sectors.
The Belk College and Babson Capital are seeking to expand the program by sponsoring an annual business outlook conference, which would feature Babson executives collaborating with Belk College faculty and regional industry leaders. The first business outlook conference is tentatively scheduled for January 2014.
“We are grateful to Babson Capital for their continued support of the Forecast,” said Belk College Dean Steve Ott. “This sponsorship not only allows the Belk College to continue to produce the Forecast as a public service, but to expand its impact as well. We look forward to collaborating with Babson for the next three years and beyond.”