A Shot in the Arm:

What SoCal and the World Need for Economic Recovery

Wednesday, March 24, 2021
8:40 am - 11:00 am

Business leaders from across eastern Los Angeles County gathered online for an up-to-the-minute discussion of where the economy is headed. This year we were excited to host Geoffrey Okamoto, First Deputy Managing Director at the IMF. 

Download this year's 2021 San Gabriel Valley Economic Forecast Report

Download the Powerpoint presentation from the event.

Schedule

• 8:40 am Pre-Event Mix and Mingle
• 9:00 am Welcome Remarks & Introductions
• 9:10 am Robert Kleinhenz: Domestic Economic Forecast
• 9:55 am Q & A
• 10:05 am  10-Minute Break
• 10:15 am Global Perspective: Geoffrey Okamoto, IMF. "Consequences of COVID on International Trade"
• Presentation and Q & A
• 10:57 am Closing Remarks
• 11:00 am Event Adjourns

Speakers

Global Perspective

Geoffrey W.S. Okamoto, a Cal Poly Pomona alumnus (2008, Computer Information Systems) is the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the number two position at the IMF, which he assumed in March 2020.

Before joining the IMF, Mr. Okamoto was Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Finance and Development in the United States government. In this role, he oversaw global financial markets, coordination with the G-7, G-20, and the Financial Stability Board, regional and bilateral economic issues, and international financial institutions. Previously, he served as the U.S. Treasury’s Acting Under Secretary for International Affairs.

Prior to joining the Treasury, Mr. Okamoto held prominent positions in the U.S. Senate, such as Majority Staff Director for the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection, and Policy Director for the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade.

National, State, and Local Economic Forecast

Dr. Robert Kleinhenz is an Executive Fellow at the College of Business Administration, Cal Poly Pomona and the Principal Economist with the firm Kleinhenz Economics. He is leading voice on the economy and the housing market at the national, state, and local level and taps over 30 years of experience to present his outlook for the economy and its industries, and to offer his perspectives on leading policy issues.

Dr. Kleinhenz has held several positions over the course of his career, most recently as Economist and Executive Director of Research with Beacon Economics. He previously served as the Chief Economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and Deputy Chief Economist with the California Association of Realtors, and held academic positions USC, UC Riverside, and Cal State Fullerton. Kleinhenz has worked with numerous clients in the private sector, the public sector, and academia, producing a variety of economic forecasts, economic impact studies, land use, economic development, and industry studies, and public policy analyses.

Dr. Kleinhenz is known for his extensive knowledge of the economy and economic policy. He speaks to a variety of audiences that include leaders in business, government, the nonprofit sector, and education. A frequent contributor to the media, he has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg, and NPR, and has been quoted in news outlets including the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury-News, and numerous Southern California publications. He is a member of the National Association for Business Economics, past President and Treasurer of the National Association for Business Economics-Los Angeles Chapter, and past Treasurer of the Real Estate Research Council of Southern California.

Dr. Kleinhenz holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Southern California with a specialty in urban and regional economics. He also holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Master of Ceremonies

Dr. Laura Pohopien teaches undergraduate classes in the College of Business Administration in Communication for Business and Organizational Behavior at Cal Poly Pomona. She is an avid follower of businesses who emerge successfully amidst chaos and her dissertation focused on creative destruction and the complexity of entrepreneurship within established industries. She is an alumna of the Cal Poly Pomona and is heavily involved in advancement activities; allowing her to give back to her Bronco community for whom she holds high regard. She works closely with the dean of the college on innovative instructional developments.

Dr. Pohopien is also a trained chef. She has instructed thousands of would-be culinarians in the art of bringing delicious food to the table. She has a prime-ingredient philosophy of cooking- “have at least one ingredient from your recipe be the best you can afford.” Her cooking show in 2003 aired nationally - and her new cooking show, The Prime Ingredient, aired on several online platforms in 2020.

Sponsors 

Title Sponsor

• SoCal Gas

Gold Sponsors

• BYD
• Cal Poly Pomona College of the Extended University
• Citrus Valley Association of Realtors
• LifeLine Ambulance
• Majestic Realty
• Pacific Plaza Premier Development Group
• Rebuild SoCal Partnership
• Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
• VMA Communications

Silver Sponsors

• Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud, & Romo
• Dr. Laura Pohopien - "The Prime Ingredient"
• Municipal Water District

Bronze Sponsors

• Bank of the West
• East San Gabriel Valley ROP
• Managed Career Solutions, SPC
• The Ratkovich Company

Leadership Sponsors

• Bank of America
• City of Industry
• Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
• San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority
• Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

Media Sponsors

• Business Life Magazine
• Pasadena Star-News
• San Gabriel Valley Tribune
• Whittier Daily News