Speaker Information
General Session Speakers
The IEOC general session speakers address today’s leading economic and technical issues with reviews, advice and outlooks to help assess your business environment. Slightly broader in nature, these topic area’s will feature opinions and solution scenario’s that you find extremely useful for the future of your business.
IEOC Quicklinks
Alan Beaulieu, ITR Economics
With a reputation as an accurate, straightforward economist, Alan Beaulieu has delivered award-winning workshops and economic analysis seminars in countries across the world to tens of thousands of business owners and executives for more than 30 years.
Alan has coauthored, with Brian Beaulieu, the books “Make Your Move,” “Prosperity in the Age of Decline,” and “But I Want It!” He has also penned numerous articles and makes up to 90 appearances a year. Alan’s keynotes and seminars have helped thousands of business owners and executives capitalize on emerging trends.
Connor Lokar, ITR Economics
Few economists present their insights with the authority, accuracy, and humor that Connor Lokar brings to the stage. From the intimate executive retreat to trade association keynotes, he delivers with charm and candor, rousing and enlightening all who attend his talks.
As a millennial, Connor brings a new perspective to the world of economics, delivering ITR’s industry-leading accuracy to current C-suite executives while forging connections with the next generation of business leaders.
Connor specializes in construction but consults and presents to businesses across all industries, helping them grow revenue and remain profitable through an everchanging business cycle.
Mike Marks, Indian River Consulting Group
Consulting Group in April 1987. He began his consulting practice after working in distribution management for more than 20 years. Over the years, his narrow focus in B2B channel-driven markets has created an astonishing number of deep executive relationships with virtually every business vertical in construction, industrial, OEM, agricultural, and healthcare.
Mike has led project teams that improve market access by aligning resources to growth opportunities serving manufacturers, dealers, and distributors. Clients have ranged from small privately owned firms to many of the industry’s market share leaders. Ownership structures have included owner-operators, private equity, ESOPs, and publicly traded firms.
Additional details can be found on his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-marks-46a7081/.
Jim Meil, ACT Research Co., LLC
Meil has been recognized as a leading industrial sector economist and planner for over 30 years. At ACT Research he is responsible for analyzing how goods-producing sectors are contributing to freight conditions and vocational activity. Meil will present on the fluid power industry forecast.
Sean Metcalfe, Oxford Economics
Sean is a Lead Economist on the Industry team at Oxford Economics, where he helps shape the team’s outlook for global industrial activity, forecasts the utilities sector and works on climate and energy-related enhancements to the Global Industry Model. He also regularly presents on the global industrial outlook for clients.
Breakout Session Speakers
Breakout session speakers include top industry experts exploring industry specific topics related to market analysis, trends and outlooks for mobile-related and industrial-related markets. Crucial information and data for your strategic planning needs.
Eli Lustgarten, ESL Consultants, Inc.
Having provided a general overview and forecast for the fluid power industry’s key end use markets earlier in the program, Lustgarten will take a deep dive into the drivers and outlook surrounding our industry’s second largest end use market, agricultural machinery, and will include:
- Crop outlook
- Farm investment and income
- U.S. Farm equipment demand
- Tractor and combine sales and outlook
- Global crop and equipment demand
Blake Griffin, Interact Analysis
Blake is an expert in automation systems, industrial digitalization, and off highway-electrification. Since joining Interact Analysis in 2017, he has written in-depth reports on the markets for low voltage AC motor drives, predictive maintenance, and mobile hydraulics.
Chris Chidzik, Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT)
Chris is currently the Principal Economist at AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology where he examines trends in the overall economy that affect the demand for manufacturing technology. For over five years, Chris has managed surveys which compile the data necessary to get a full picture of the U.S. manufacturing landscape. Prior to AMT, Chris held varied roles in data analytics, research, sales and marketing in an array of industries and settings. Chris holds a master’s degree in economics from The American University.
Eric Starks, FTR Transportation Intelligence
Eric is Chairman of the Board at FTR, the industry leader in freight transportation forecasting. Eric has spent his entire career in the freight transportation sector and is a leading researcher in freight modal share analysis and forecasting. His background includes research on rail and truck freight movements and asset equipment purchases. He is currently one of the premier industry forecasters on transportation equipment demand for rail cars, commercial trucks and trailers. Eric is a frequent speaker at Wall Street analyst meetings, association events, and private meetings. He has a unique ability to communicate to his audiences how the economy, logistics, freight, and equipment demand impacts their respective business.