LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 22, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An economist who served as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and executive director for the American Bankers Association has been chosen as keynote speaker for the 2013 INVESTKentucky Equity Conference, event organizers announced today.
William F. Ford, Ph.D., associate editor for Business Economics and the Weatherford Chair of Finance professor of economics at Middle Tennessee State University, will share his thoughts on the economic outlook, including the impacts of Federal Reserve monetary policy, the budget sequester and the acrobatics of ongoing fiscal policy.
"There are some major risks that could derail the plans of some investors," he said.
Terry McWilliams, chairman of INVESTKentucky, said, "We are looking forward to Professor Ford's insights and perspectives based on his career as an academician, a businessman, economist, consultant and editor."
First launched in 2004, the INVESTKentucky Equity Conference is the pre-eminent equity event connecting the professional investment community with Kentucky's top public company executives. The June 6 event, held at Churchill Downs, attracts institutional investors, analysts, fund managers and finance and investment professionals, who attend formal company presentations and meet individually with company executives.
Opening the conference is Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson, who was elected to the Commonwealth's second-highest executive office in 2011 after serving 21 years as the City of Louisville's mayor and as head of merged metropolitan government.
Abramson will welcome conference attendees and provide perspective about the city's and state's economic development roles and the advantages of doing business in Kentucky. Abramson led the city during a period that included the addition of 4th Street Live, the Frazier History Museum and Muhammad Ali Center and the expansions of major employers such as UPS, GE and Ford. Abramson recently chaired the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform.
Sponsored by Hilliard Lyons and endorsed by Louisville chapters of the CFA Society and Financial Executives International, INVESTKentucky features 12 public companies in various industry sectors and sizes, including companies in food service, banking, healthcare, entertainment, specialty chemicals, energy, and E-commerce.
Professor Ford is the latest keynote speaker in a series of INVEST conferences that have featured Sarbanes Oxley co-author Michael Oxley, Barron's editor Michael Santoli, Cleveland Federal Reserve CEO Sandra Pianalto, PNC Financial Services Chief Economist Stuart Hoffman, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson and SEC Enforcement Chief Linda Chatman Thomson.
Ford has authored or co-authored around 100 articles in business and academic journals, and has served on the boards of six corporations, the National Association for Business Economics and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In addition to his positions with the Federal Reserve Bank and the American Bankers Association, he was president and COO of First Nationwide Bank, senior vice president of Wells Fargo Bank, and dean of the University of Denver's business school.
About the conference
The professional investment community is invited to attend INVESTKentucky. Associated costs (admission, continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon activities) are underwritten by the conference. To register, use the code included in the conference invitation. Other professionals may attend the conference for a fee of $150, which provides access to all presentations, sessions, meals and activities.
Questions about attendance qualifications, registration and payment can be directed to Terry McWilliams at 502.410.2113 or terrym@mozaicir.com. Registration ends at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 2.
Schedule change
Ashland Inc. (NYSE:ASH) will present at 11:30 a.m. in the Crowe Derby Room. The Delta Natural Gas Company, Inc. (Nasdaq:DGAS) presentation is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. in the same room.
Sponsors
The title sponsor of INVESTKentucky is Hilliard Lyons, a Louisville-based firm which provides comprehensive financial services and advice to clients through more than 70 offices in 12 states. Founded in 1854, Hilliard Lyons focuses on the creation, preservation and distribution of its clients' wealth.
Support for the conference also comes from Platinum Sponsors Crowe Horwath LLP and Frost Brown Todd LLC, Gold sponsors NASDAQ OMX, The University of Louisville College of Business, Hays Companies, R.R. Donnelley, The Wall Street Transcript, and Contributing Gold sponsors InGrid Design, O'Neil Arnold Photography, Wall Street Calendar, mergermarket, Vivid Impact and media sponsor Business First.
Professional organizations representing the investment community and chief financial officers also support the conference. The Louisville chapters of the CFA Society and Financial Executives International serve on an advisory board of investment, corporate and investor relations professionals that plan and oversee the conference.
More information can be found at INVESTKentucky's website, www.investky.com.