In this NEC webinar, Cliff Waldman of New World Economics, Kristin Dziczek of the Center for Automotive Research and Don Leavens of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association will discuss the impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic on US manufacturing. Panelists will discuss the hit to total manufacturing growth and the growth of key manufacturing subsectors before considering plausible recovery scenarios. The discussion will also include an assessment of longer-term effects on such critical matters as sourcing and supply chain, innovation investment, automation, and workforce development. This webinar will be hosted by the NEC and broadcast as an episode of Manufacturing Talk Radio’s ‘Manufacturing Matters’.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! A link to the webinar will be sent prior to the event to those who sign up. Registration will be open until 2pm, Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Any questions should be directed to manager@national-economists.org.

Meet the Panelists

Cliff Waldman, 2020 National Economists Club Board of Governors Chair and 2019 President, is the CEO of New World Economics, a consulting firm that offers a range of forecasting and data creation services to private companies, trade groups and governments. He is also the host of “Manufacturing Matters with Cliff Waldman”, a weekly podcast show on Manufacturing Talk Radio. Cliff is an active and in-demand public speaker on topics ranging from the U.S. and global economic outlooks to productivity and automation. Cliff served as Chief Economist of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) research foundation. His primary responsibility during his 15-year tenure at MAPI was to write and speak on the global economic outlook. Cliff’s career has also included positions with a state government policy research unit as well as with a small business research team in Washington, D.C. He has won three national research awards for his published work on the Chinese economy, productivity, innovation, and demographics. Cliff currently serves as co-chair of the NABE Manufacturing Roundtable. In 2018 he was awarded the Certified Business Economist (CBE) designation by NABE.

Kristin Dziczek is Vice President of Industry, Labor & Economics at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR). Dziczek joined CAR in 2005, and has more than 25 years of experience as a researcher and policy analyst. She is globally recognized as an expert on automotive labor, employment, and talent issues, especially on the topic of labor union relations and contracts, and she regularly presents at conferences and industry events throughout North America. Kristin leads the ILE team—a group whose expertise includes economic analysis, forecasting & modeling, policy, and economic development. The ILE team’s research portfolio is focused on developing a better understanding of the connections between the automotive industry, technology, the economy, society, and public policy, and is home to CAR’s Automotive Communities Partnership program. Kristin’s research includes analyzing the competitive cost position of the U.S. automotive industry, and evaluating how different tax, trade, or industrial policies and incentives could impact overall automotive sales, production, and employment. Prior to joining CAR, Kristin served as the associate director of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, and has worked for the U.S. Congress, International Union UAW, and General Motors Corporation. She has published articles in the Monthly Labor Review, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, the Journal of Technology Transfer, and the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, among others. She earned her B.A. in economics, M.P.P. in public policy, and M.S. in industrial and operations engineering, all from the University of Michigan.

Donald R. Leavens, PhD, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s Vice President and Chief Economist, holds a Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University. He also received a master’s degree in economics from Virginia Tech and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Virginia. At NEMA, he heads an in house consulting operation known as NEMA Business Information Services, which provides econometric modeling, macroeconomic forecasting, market research, economic analysis, and industry data collection services to a wide range of businesses including many of the world’s largest companies. The Wall Street Journal has acknowledged NEMA/BIS as consistently among the most accurate forecasters on its panel of nationally recognized economist forecasters. He is a frequent speaker at industry and company events where he focuses on the economic outlook and business trends. In addition, serves as an observer on the board of the Industry Data Exchange Association, IDEA, which operates an industry data warehouse and EDI services for the electrical industry. Prior to joining NEMA, he served as Director Tax Policy Research for the National Association of Realtors and Director Federal Budget Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and has held academic appointments at George Mason University and Virginia Tech. He has also written articles on public choice and public finance economics that have appeared in academic journals and has contributed articles to several books. In addition, he has served as a member of the Governor of Virginia’s Advisory Board of Economists.