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\nAbout Horizons Economic Forecast
\nStart your day and the new year with valuable perspectives at \;Horizons\, \;where local and regional business leaders\, alongside economists\, explore the challenges and opportunities shaping 2026. This premier event offers a unique platform to gain insights into key trends and emerging topics affecting businesses locally\, regionally\, and nationally.
Don?t miss the opportunity to hear from our keynote speaker and subject-matter experts as they provide actionable guidance to help you shape your business outlook for the coming year. Whether you'\;re seeking strategic advice or simply staying informed\, \;Horizons \;is an essential event for decision-makers aiming to thrive in the year ahead.
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\nWe encourage you to attend Coffee &\; Connections where you will have the opportunity to mingle over coffee with other Horizons Economic Forecast attendees prior to the program.
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Global Chief Investment Strategist\, Russell Investments
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\nPaul Eitelman is the Global Chief Investment Strategist at Russell Investments. He is responsible for the firm?s economic outlook and the development of its cycle\, value\, and sentiment investment framework\, which guides tactical positioning for Russell Investments? actively managed funds. Paul also serves as Chairman of the firm?s cross asset and fixed income strategy teams and is a key spokesperson for the firm?s investment outlook with clients and the media.
Prior to joining Russell Investments in 2015\, Paul was Vice President and Senior Economist at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in New York. In that role\, his global macroeconomic research informed asset allocation decisions for the firm?s ultra-high-net-worth clients.
\n\nEarlier in his career\, Paul served as an economist at the Federal Reserve Board\, where he was the lead analyst for several emerging market economies in Latin America and Southeast Asia. In this capacity\, he prepared country briefings and economic analysis for former Chairman Ben Bernanke and other members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).
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Pierce County
\n\nRyan Mello serves as the Pierce County Executive\, leading efforts to make Pierce County a place where everyone feels safe\, welcome\, and connected. His ?Forward Together? vision focuses on affordable housing and homelessness\, public safety\, affordable childcare\, behavioral health services\, parks\, safe and accessible infrastructure\, and good-paying jobs.
\n\nRyan?s passion for public service was sparked early. Born in Kailua\, Hawaii\, he moved to Tacoma in 1997 to attend the University of Puget Sound\, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Politics &\; Government. After college\, he joined AmeriCorps\, coordinating the Youth United program at United Way of Pierce County to inspire young people to serve their communities.
\n\nSince then\, Ryan?s career in public service reflects his deep commitment to providing access to equal opportunity by creating safe\, accessible\, livable communities. He has emerged as a regional expert in smart growth and housing.
\n\nPrior to becoming Executive\, Ryan represented District 4 on the Pierce County Council\, serving communities in Tacoma\, Fircrest\, and University Place. In 2023\, his peers unanimously elected him Chair of the County Council. He led bipartisan initiatives in public safety\, passed the landmark Maureen Howard Affordable Housing Act\, protected rural and resource lands from conversion\, and expanded programs related to childcare access\, broadband\, and emergency shelter for those experiencing homelessness.
\n\nRyan served on the Tacoma City Council from 2010 to 2019 and was Chair of the Infrastructure\, Planning &\; Sustainability Committee. He led the Puget Sound Regional Council?s Growth Management Policy Board and the Pierce County Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee.
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The Port of Tacoma
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\nDick Marzano \;is a Port of Tacoma Commissioner \;focused on job creation and growing Port operations in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. \; \;
A Tacoma native and long-term Pierce County resident\, Marzano \;was \;a Tacoma longshore worker for more than 52 years and served a six-year term as president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23. \;
\nHe is a member of the Tacoma Propeller Club\, the Transportation Club of Tacoma\, and a former board member of the Foss Waterway Development Authority\, the United Way\, and St. Leo?s Hospitality Kitchen. \;He is also past president of the \;Washington Public Ports Association. \;
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Chief Executive Officer\, Washington State Fair Event Center
\n\nRenee McClain is the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington State Fair. She has been in this role since October 2022. Prior to becoming CEO\, McClain served as the organization?s Chief Financial Officer for 26 years.
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\nShe started her career in Tacoma as a CPA in public accounting\, then became corporate controller of a $75 million forest products company in Seattle before beginning her career at the Fair. With more than 35 years? experience combined in accounting and the fair industry\, McClain?s experience in management and organizational leadership is vast.
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\nMcClain proudly serves the South Sound community as a Board member with the Washington State Fair Foundation \;and the Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce\, as well as participating on the \;United Way of Pierce County Finance Committee since 2018.
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Washington'\;s 10th Congressional District
\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland represents Washington?s 10th Congressional District\, \;covering parts of Pierce and Thurston Counties. Strickland is \;Whip of the \;New Democrat Coalition \;and \;Secretary of the \;Congressional Black Caucus.
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\nServing on the \;House Armed Services Committee\, Strickland secured a 14.5% pay increase for junior enlisted servicemembers\, and fights against rising costs of living. She has increased the housing supply on and surrounding Joint Base Lewis-McChord\, and restored the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) back to 100%\, strengthening our nation?s military readiness\, and supporting servicemember families.
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\nIn the \;House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee\, Strickland leverages federal dollars for the South Sound. She secured nearly $120 million for her district from the bipartisan Infrastructure\, Investment\, and Jobs Act (IIJA) for broadband\, clean water\, public transit\, road maintenance\, and more. She lowered the cost of living for families and seniors through the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)\, and championed incentives to improve aviation workforce recruitment\, retention\, and development. \;
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\nStrickland is the first African American to represent Washington state and the Pacific Northwest on the federal level and is one of the first Korean American women elected to Congress.
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Provost\, University of Puget Sound
\n\nDrew Kerkhoff serves as the Provost at the University of Puget Sound\, where he leverages his extensive background in academic leadership to enhance our institution?s liberal arts education. Prior to joining Puget Sound\, Kerkhoff was a faculty member teaching ecology and quantitative biology at Kenyon College for nearly two decades\, where he held various leadership roles including associate provost. His tenure at Kenyon was marked by significant achievements\, such as integrating computational and data science approaches into the biology curriculum\, developing interdisciplinary programs in science and nature writing\, and steering initiatives towards carbon neutrality by 2040.
\n\nProvost Kerkhoff?s academic journey began with a B.A. in English from Rutgers University\, followed by a transition into biology with a master?s degree and Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. His research\, supported by the National Science Foundation\, focuses on the ecology and evolution of plant biodiversity and the global carbon cycle\, and has resulted in over 40 peer-reviewed publications. At Puget Sound\, Provost Kerkhoff is dedicated to fostering an intellectually vibrant\, inclusive\, and sustainable campus community\, deeply engaged with the diverse human histories and natural environments of the Pacific Northwest.
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Northwest Now Host &\; Managing Editor\, KBTC PBS
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\nTom Layson is KBTC'\;s Managing Editor and worked in Yakima\, Terre Haute\, Louisville\, Sacramento\, Columbus\, and New York-New Jersey. Tom anchored 13 hours of live coverage in the NY/NJ market during 9-11 - just one example of the many thousands of hours he?s been on set or in the field covering politics\, natural disasters\, courts and crime\, economic development\, personal finance and the environment the past 40 years. Tom grew up in the Maple Valley area and is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University.
Associate Professor of Economics\, University of Puget Sound
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\nAndrew \;serves as the team lead for the 2026 Pierce County Economic Index. His research focuses on the theory of strategic decision making\, industrial organization\, and game theoretic applications across economics. Andrew also conducts research in economics education and in experimental economics through the Puget Sound Experimental Economics Laboratory. \; \;
Washington'\;s 6th Congressional District
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\nBorn and raised in Washington?s 6th Congressional District\, Emily Randall is the proud product of a union\, working-class family?like many in the 6th District. \;
Emily is fueled by her family?s experiences. When her sister Olivia\, born with complex disabilities\, received access to newly expanded Medicaid\, Emily became a fierce advocate for quality\, affordable healthcare. And as the first in her family to attend a four-year college\, Emily knows the importance of education that aligns with the community?s needs and leads to family-wage jobs. \;
\n\nEmily?s legislative track record proves she doesn?t just talk the talk\, she gets results and wins the toughest races. In 2018 and 2022\, Emily won the most competitive state senate district in Washington by focusing on the most important issues and her track record of success.
\n\nIn Congress\, Emily will fight for affordable and accessible healthcare\, including reproductive freedom for all\; common-sense gun reform\; a just transition to a green economy\; and affordable education\, job training\, and apprenticeship programs. Emily?s ready to go beyond partisan politics and focus on the practical solutions that address the dynamic needs of the 6th District.
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