Industry experts to take stage for Economic Forecast 2005

A powerhouse panel of Northern Colorado industry leaders will highlight The Northern Colorado Business Report’s Economic Forecast 2005, scheduled for Jan. 18 in Greeley.

The annual luncheon program, which started in 1998, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the University of Northern Colorado’s University Center Ballroom, 2045 10th Ave.

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The forecast will include a panel discussion moderated by NCBR news editor Tom Hacker. Panelists will discuss major industries and topics, including agriculture, banking, health care, real estate, technology and the economy overall. Panelists include:

• The economy: John Green, a regional economist who compiles The Northern Colorado Business Report’s quarterly Index of Leading Economic Indicators. Green is a former economics professor at UNC.

• Agribusiness: John Simons, CEO, Swift & Co., Greeley. Swift is Weld County’s largest private employer. Simons will describe the year ahead for the region’s agribusiness community, from producers to processors.

• Banking: Darrell McAllister, president & CEO, Bank of Choice. McAllister will talk about the banking industry’s fortunes during 2005.

• Health care: George Hayes, president & CEO, Medical Center of the Rockies, Loveland. Hayes will offer a view of the regional health care industry’s future.

• Real estate: Martin Lind, president, Trollco Inc., Windsor. Lind is one of the region’s most active developers of both residential and commercial properties. He will offer his take on the state of the real estate market.

• Technology: Michael Duncan, president, QLT-USA Inc. (formerly Atrix Laboratories Inc.), Fort Collins. QLT-USA is a Fort Collins pharmaceutical and biotechnology company. Duncan will view the near horizon for the region’s technology sector.

“This represents one of our strongest Economic Forecast panels thus far,´ said Business Report co-publisher Christopher Wood. “Northern Colorado’s economy is going through a series of restructurings, and these industry leaders will help our attendees put everything in perspective.”

McAllister, who has a long record of involvement in the Business Report’s annual forecast event as a panel participant and sponsor, said he welcomed a chance to return as a panelist.

“It’s a very valuable event,” McAllister said. “I remember last year saying there was going to be a lot of change in our industry, and a lot of consolidation,” he said. “And look what happened: A lot of it. It’s been moving very rapidly, and I think it will continue to move rapidly.”

Sponsors of Economic Forecast 2005 include Bank of Choice, Colorado & Santa Fe Real Estate Co./TriPointe, KUNC, MediaTech Productions, Invision/Buzz Events and Genteel Graphics.