Georgia Economic Outlook
Agenda
Check-In & Networking:
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lunch:
12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Presentation:
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Introduction
Jere W. Morehead
President, University of Georgia
National Forecast
John Silvia
President, Dynamic Economic Strategy LLC
John Silvia is the President of Dynamic Economic Strategy LLC, where he provides financial and economic advisory services, authors a weekly newsletter and delivers expert presentations on economic concepts and pressing issues at prominent conferences.
Previously, John served as managing director and chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities, a role he held until July 2018. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, he joined Wachovia, a Wells Fargo predecessor, in 2002 as chief economist. Over his distinguished career, John has become a respected voice in the field, frequently appearing on CNBC, Bloomberg (TV and radio), Fox Business and “Nightly Business Report.”
John’s forecasting expertise has earned him notable accolades. In 2024, he received the Bronze Award for his 10-year interest rate forecast from FocusEconomics, and he has been recognized with the Housing Price Forecast Award by Fannie Mae for the past two years.
John serves as an economic advisor to Carolinas Investment Consulting, headquartered in Charlotte, and as an advisor to the AS Staffing Group, which specializes in workforce placement solutions.
Earlier in his career, John held influential roles on Capitol Hill, serving as senior economist for the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee and chief economist for the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
A leader in his field, John was elected president of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) in 2015 and awarded the NABE Fellow Certificate of Recognition in 2011 for his outstanding contributions to the business economics profession and his leadership among economists at the national level. Throughout his career, he has received multiple awards for excellence in economic research.
State Forecast
Benjamin C. Ayers
Dean and Earl Davis Chair in Taxation, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia
Ben Ayers is Dean of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business and holds the Earl Davis Chair in Taxation. He came to UGA in 1996 and served as Director of the highly regarded J.M. Tull School of Accounting for nine years prior to his appointment as the college’s 12th Dean in 2014.
Under his leadership, the Terry College completed a successful Commit to Georgia campaign, raised $275 million to support faculty, programs, and facilities, and dedicated the new home of the Terry College of Business on the UGA campus, known as the Business Learning Community.
Terry’s undergraduate and graduate programs are ranked among the nation’s best, with ten of the college’s programs ranking among the top 10 public business schools in 2024. The college also dedicated the naming of the John Munro Godfrey, Sr. Department of Economics and the M. Douglas and V. Kay Ivester Institute for Business Analytics and Insights, following transformational gifts to endow the units.
Over the past 10 years of Dean Ayers’ tenure, the college has launched a new Online MBA, a master’s in business analytics, a campus-wide Entrepreneurship Program, sought-after executive and dual degree programs, an academic minor in business, and market-driven certificates, all while growing enrollment and achieving the highest percentage employment rates for graduating students in the college’s history.
Dean Ayers serves on the Board of Synovus Bank’s Northeast Georgia Division and the CFO Roundtable. He earned his Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and has received many teaching awards at the school, college, and university levels and national research awards from the American Taxation Association and American Accounting Association. Prior to pursuing his Ph.D., he worked for KPMG in Atlanta and Tampa and Complete Health Inc. in Birmingham.
Closing Remarks
Jere W. Morehead
President, University of Georgia
About Georgia Economic Outlook
Created to convey economic expertise to Georgia businesses and entrepreneurs, the Simon S. Selig Jr. Center for Economic Growth is primarily responsible for conducting research on economic, demographic and social issues related to Georgia’s current and future growth. Dedicated in December 1990, the Selig Center improves upon its predecessor, the Division of Research, which was established in the late 1940s. Through its range of projects — major economic impact studies, economic forecasts, publications, information services and data products — the center’s efforts help to guide business decisions and public policy directions.
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