August 2010 Conference

Are we Headed for a Global Jobless Recovery? »

The global recession added over 20 million people to the ranks of the unemployed worldwide. How quickly will these people find jobs? The talk will present evidence on prospects for job creation in the U.S., Europe and major emerging markets. There is a strong risk of a jobless recovery in many countries, with grave implications for social welfare and political stability. The talk will discuss policy options to accelerate the recovery in jobs.

IT Demand and the Business Cycle »

The relatively mild recession of 2001 caused a stall in PC unit sales growth that lasted into 2002.After five good years of world economic and PC unit sales growth from 2003 to 2007, it was reasonable to expect an actual decline in unit PC sales during the severe world recession of 2008 and 2009. Yet, unit sales continued to grow during this recession.
What changed between 2003 and 2008 to make PC demand less sensitive to an economic downturn? We'll look at the changing nature of PC demand and the changing role of IT in consumer and business sectors to understand the current robustness of demand, its potential in future economic downturns, and what this means for the role of IT in U.S. and world economic growth.

Paul Thomas is Chief Economist and Manager of Market Sizing and Forecasting at Intel Corporation in Santa Clara, California. He joined Intel in December, 2004, after working at Continental Airlines in Houston, Texas, from 1997 to 2004 and as Chief Economist from 2001 to 2004. Paul was Senior Economist at Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California from 1988 to 1997. Prior to that, he served on the economics faculties of Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois, and of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Paul holds a Ph.D. in Business Economics from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He holds an M.S. in Social Science and a B.S. in Biology from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. Paul was a National Science Foundation Fellow in Economics. He also served as a Research Fellow in Economics Studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

Paul and his wife, Kim, who is also an economist, live in San Jose, California. Paul is a member of the National Business Economics Issue Council, the Conference of Business Economists, the Harvard Industrial Economics Group, the European Council of Economists, and the Global Interdependence Center. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics, on an AEA advisory committee for the US Census Bureau, and on an advisory panel for the Blekinge Institute of Technology's School of Management.

Paul has published papers on regulation of scientific research, on social choice and organizational theory, and on the airline industry. He has given recent presentations on the PC and semiconductor industries, the recession of 2008-2009, international trade, and economic geography. His current research interests include the PC industry, economic geography, and economic growth.

Raymond King was named President & CEO of Zoo Atlanta, effective June 1, 2010.   In that capacity, he will lead Atlanta's oldest cultural institution and one of its' largest.  Founded in 1889, the zoo has roughly 220 employees and an annual budget of $15 million.

Prior to Zoo Atlanta, Raymond enjoyed a 22 year career with SunTrust Banks, Inc., most recently serving as their Senior Vice President for Community Affairs in Atlanta.  In that role, he oversaw their various civic and philanthropic activities including foundation grant-making, public relations, and employee volunteerism in metro Atlanta.  In addition, he served as Corporate Secretary for SunTrust Bank, Atlanta with administrative responsibility for activities of the Board of Directors.

Previously, Raymond was Senior Lending officer of the Receivables Capital Management Division.  He spent his entire career at SunTrust in various capacities within the Corporate Banking and Receivables Capital Management Divisions.

In addition to his business experience, Raymond also has extensive non-profit leadership experience, having Chaired 6 non-profit boards.  His various civic activities have included:  Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Board Chair and Chair of $8 million capital campaign); Regional Business Coalition (Board Chair); Georgia Chamber of Commerce (Board); Georgia Corporation for Economic Development/Georgia Allies (Board); Committee for a Better Atlanta (Board Chair); Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (Board); Metro Atlanta Arts & Culture Coalition (2005-06 Board Chair); Theatre in the Square (2005 Board Chair); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (2006 Capital Campaign); Mayor's Arts Funding Task Force; 2004 Timeless Affair benefiting Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Chair); Woodruff Arts Center (2003-04 Chairman of Employees for the Arts); Theatrical Outfit (2003-04 Capital Campaign Cabinet); 2003 Regional Arts Task Force; 2002-03 United Way Campaign Cabinet; Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (Board); The Civic League (Board); Consumer Credit Counseling Service (Board); Research Atlanta (2000-01 Board Chair); Homeward (Board); and Joint Tech-Georgia Development Fund.

In recognition of his community leadership, Raymond received the 2009 United Way Chairman's Award; was placed on the "Watch List" of  "25 Atlantans Making a Difference" by Atlanta Business magazine (June 2007); was recognized as:  a "Notable Georgian" in the 2006 Georgia Trend listing of Most Influential Georgians; the February 2005 "Lexus Leader of the Arts;" a member of the 2004 Georgia Trend "Top 40 Under 40;" a member of the 2004 Atlanta Business Chronicle "Top 50 Under 40;" a 2003 recipient of the Charles R. Yates Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service at the Woodruff Arts Center; a 2002 honoree of Outstanding Atlanta; and a member of the 2000 Leadership Atlanta class.

Raymond spent his first year of college at Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina, where he played on the Men's Tennis Team.  He then went on to Georgia Tech where he graduated with a B.S. in Management with Honors in 1987 and was active in The Chi Phi Fraternity.  He is age 44.  A native of Atlanta, he is married to Robin Lord King, and they have a 8 year old daughter, Courtney King.  They are members of Cherokee Town & Country Club and Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.  Raymond also serves on the Board of Hire Dynamics, an Atlanta-based staffing company.