Leeds School of Business hosts 47th annual Business Economic Outlook Forum

By Donald Tartaglione in Business, Front Page, News on Dec 4, 2011 1:46 / comments

CU’s Leeds School of Business is hosting a forum for students and professionals to network and discuss the future of the economy.

The Colorado Business Economic Outlook Forum, hosted by CU's Leeds School of Business will be held Dec. 5 in Denver. (CU Independent/Robert R. Denton)

The 47th annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook Forum will take place Dec. 5, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Denver. The forum will provide information on how businesses in Colorado will be affected in the upcoming year. Both business leaders and policy makers rely on the Leeds School of Business Research Division for up-to-date economic information and data.

The three concurrent sessions at the event will cover real estate, tips for businesses to succeed in the upcoming year, international trade and strategies professionals have used to benefit from international trade.

Parker Coffin, a 21-year-old senior operations management information systems major, said he is especially interested in the session on how small business can succeed in the upcoming year.

“I want to start a business and it will be a small business when it is a start up,” Coffin said. “Hopefully it will grow, but entrepreneurship is right up my alley.”

Kilioi Miller, a 21-year-old senior finance major, said he would find the session on international trade the most interesting because of how hard it is for businesses to grow to the level of international trade.

“Big businesses are already really international,” Miller said. “I think it will be really useful especially because a lot of small businesses would even know how to become international in the first place.”

The event starts at 1 p.m. Monday and begins with a presentation on how different business sectors will be affected in the upcoming year, which is based on research from the research division.

The division’s research is published in a book that will be available for free at the event. For those who cannot attend the event, a copy of the book is available online Tuesday at Leeds.Colorado.edu/brd.

Brian Lewandowski, a research assistant at the Leeds School of Business, said that students should take advantage of the opportunity to network at the event.

“There is about 600 to 700 professionals in Colorado, mostly business leaders, policy makers, CEOs and executive directors, and they’re down there hearing the same story,” Lewandowski said. “From a networking standpoint, I think that can be really valuable.”

The event is free to the public and requires that attendees must register beforehand. Pre-printed nametags will be provided based on the registration list in order to enhance networking possibilities.

Lewandowski said the event targets the business community. However, the event includes an industry-by-industry breakdown so students, regardless of their major, can find relevant information.

For those who cannot attend the event, live coverage will be available via Twitter courtesy of the Leeds Business School. Search “#beof12” and follow “Leeds Business” for live tweets from the event.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Don Tartaglione at Donald.Tartaglione@colorado.edu.