2018 REMI D.C. Policy Conference Policy Innovation and the Economy

SPEAKERS

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  Michael Siers

  Towson University

  Michael Siers joined Towson University’s Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) within the Division of Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research (SPAR) in 2016. As Senior Research Manager, Michael is in charge of managing RESI’s projects for private companies and state agencies, as well as leading the development of RESI’s independent analyses. Michael leads the creation and implementation of RESI’s research methodologies and is especially interested in workforce development in the state. Prior to his role as Senior Research Manager, Michael served as RESI’s Senior Economist. In prior positions he worked as a Senior Research Analyst at IMPAQ International, LLC as well as a Research Analyst at the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Michael holds an M.S. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in Economics from Goucher College.

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  Scott Williamson

  Center for Climate Strategies

  Scott Williamson is a Program Management Officer for the Center for Climate Strategies. He specializes in oversight of low-carbon planning projects, as well as technical work on transportation policy analysis and macroeconomic analysis. He has worked on REMI analyses of a range of infrastructure and low-carbon strategies, including an analysis of the SCAG Regional Transportation Plan funded by a half-cent sales tax, low-carbon fuel standards in Washington and Oregon, a dozen efficiency-oriented policies in the Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan, over 20 distinct policy measures developed and designed as part of Minnesota’s climate action planning process (the Climate Solutions and Economic Opportunities project), and most recently the coalition-led initiative to promote a carbon fee and rebate for the District of Columbia. Over the past 8 years, he has provided analytical and management support to US states and federal agencies on both domestic and international projects related to a range of policy issues, both within and beyond the subject of climate change. He holds a Master of Public Policy Degree in Environmental and International-Development Policy from Georgetown University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.

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  Jennifer Budoff

  The Council of the District of Columbia’s Office of the Budget Director

  Jennifer Budoff has been the Budget Director for the Council of the District of Columbia since January 2011. In this capacity she leads the Council’s oversight of the District’s $13.8 billion operating budget and $1.2 billion capital improvement plan, making make vital investments in Council priorities such as affordable housing, school improvement and tax reform. In January 2016, the Office of the Budget Director’s portfolio was expanded to include preparing economic and policy impact statements for Councilmembers to provide them with an independent, data- and evidence-based resource for weighing the policy implications and economic costs and benefits of major pieces of legislation. Jennifer has leveraged her knowledge of the District and her expertise in economic development finance in various capacities throughout the city. Prior to serving as the Budget Director, she served as the Committee Director of the Council’s Economic Development Committee. During her tenure in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer she worked on the tax increment financing of neighborhood economic development projects and the convention center hotel. As a Senior Project Manager at the National Capital Revitalization Corporation, she managed the DC USA project, earning her the Washington Business Journal’s Deal of the Year 2007 in the financing category. Jennifer lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, two kids, three cats and one dog.

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  John MacNeil

  The Council of the District of Columbia’s Office of the Budget Director

  John S. MacNeil is a Senior Budget Analyst in the Budget Office of the DC Council. John leads the REMI analysis that supports the Budget Office’s economic impact assessments of Council legislation, and advises Councilmembers and staff in their budget oversight of the District transportation and public works agencies. Prior to working for the DC Council, John spent eight years at the Office of Management and Budget as a Program Examiner for environmental and transportation programs.

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  Susanna Groves

  The Council of the District of Columbia’s Office of the Budget Director

  Susanna Groves is a Senior Budget Analyst for the Council of the District of Columbia. She previously worked for Pew Charitable Trusts, the Migration Policy Institute, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Ms. Groves holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.

• MC

  Michael Chow

  NFIB Research Center

  Michael J. Chow is Lead Data Analyst/Economist for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Center. Prior to joining NFIB, Michael briefly served in government by working at the President’s Council of Economic Advisers in the White House and for the Office of the Chief Economist in the Department of Labor under Secretary Chao. A recipient of the NABE Abramson Scroll and the NABE Contributed Paper Award, both of which are awarded by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) for outstanding papers in the field of business economics, Michael has been invited to present research at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and at the NABE annual meeting. He holds a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University, an M.Sc. in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from the London School of Economics, and an M.A. in Applied Economics from the Johns Hopkins University.

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  Paul Bettencourt

  NFIB Research Center

  Paul Bettencourt is a Policy Analyst at the NFIB Research Center, where he synthesizes and communicates research about public policy issues affecting small businesses. He also assists in the production of the monthly Small Business Economic Trends survey. He was previously an International Trade Analyst at TradeMoves, LLC, a small consulting firm in the Washington, DC area. He has undergraduate degrees in International Studies and Economics from American University and is a current evening student at the Georgetown University Law Center.

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  Scott Nystrom

  FTI Consulting

  Scott Nystrom is a Director at FTI Consulting in the McLean, VA office. Mr. Nystrom is in the Network Industry Strategies (“NIS”) practice within the Economic Consulting segment. He is an expert on regional modeling and applying it to policy analysis, economic impact analysis, and energy modeling. For the past seven years, Mr. Nystrom has conducted economic, climate, energy, fiscal, and demographic impact studies for federal agencies, regional planners, state and local governments, academic institutions, think tanks, nonprofits, associations, utilities, and major corporations. His areas of research have included energy and the environment, infrastructure, healthcare, economic development, project analysis, labor markets, and fiscal policy at the state and federal levels. In testimony, Mr. Nystrom has presented to state and federal policymakers, budget committees, and national conferences. Highlights include briefing the staffs of the House Ways & Means and Senate Finance committees on the impact of the federal “fiscal cliff” and the Arkansas legislature’s Joint Agriculture, Forest, and Economic Development Committee on a $1.1 billion steel mill. He has spoken before budget committees in Massachusetts, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Vermont. He presented to the conferences of the National Association for Business Economics (“NABE”) and Transportation Research Board (“TRB”), one of the national academies, and the board of the Cone Health Foundation. Prior to FTI, Mr. Nystrom worked at Regional Economic Models, Inc. (“REMI”), a firm that builds models of state, regional, and national economies for analysis. He was the head of their consulting practice, client software training, technical support, and their Washington, DC office. He has extensive experience with REMI and IMPLAN, working knowledge of energy models such as CTAM and Power System Optimizer (“PSO”), and using such models in concert with one another. Mr. Nystrom has authored many reports, including the following: • Ken Ditzel, Scott Nystrom, and Evan Klein, “Oregon Cap-and-Trade: An Analysis of the Economic Impacts of Oregon SB 1574 (2016),” March 2017 o George I. Treyz Award for Excellence in Economic Analysis (2017) • Leighton Ku, Scott Nystrom, Brian Bruen, Erika Steinmetz, and Tyler Bysshe, “The Economic and Employment Costs of Not Expanding Medicaid in North Carolina: A County-Level Analysis,” December 2014 • Scott Nystrom and Patrick Luckow, “The Economic, Climate, Fiscal, Power, and Demographic Impact of a National Fee-and-Dividend Carbon Tax,” June 2014 • Fred Treyz, Sherri Lawrence, and Scott Nystrom, “New Residence Adjustment and Unemployment Calculations for PI+ v. 1.5 Models,” June 2014 • Ken Ditzel and Scott Nystrom, “The Economic Impact of the Access Northeast Pipeline on Rhode Island,” September 2016

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  Frederick Treyz, Ph.D.

  REMI

  Frederick R. Treyz , Ph.D. is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Economist at Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI), a leading provider of dynamic economic modeling software and consulting. He is an authority on the macroeconomic and demographic effects of policy changes on states and regions. Under Dr. Treyz’s leadership, REMI has shaped public policy debates by helping clients evaluate economic development, energy, immigration reform, healthcare policy, and other topics. The company’s clients include federal, state, and regional agencies, leading national associations, metropolitan planning organizations, universities, and consultants who seek to analyze the implications of public policy. Dr. Treyz has overseen the research and development of REMI’s suite of regional policy models, and has academic publications in leading journals. He holds an A.B. in Economics from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Regional Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

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  Peter Evangelakis, Ph.D.

  REMI

  Peter Evangelakis , Ph.D. is an Economist at REMI. Since joining REMI in September 2017, he has assisted clients in planning and conducting economic analysis using the REMI model, contributed to the firm’s business development efforts, and prepared and presented in-person and online seminars on topics such as Amazon HQ 2.0 and innovation in transportation. Prior to starting at REMI, Dr. Evangelakis taught undergraduate Intermediate Microeconomics as a lecturer at the University of Chicago. He is an experienced economic researcher and analyst; highlights of his work include measuring the effects of climate change on mortality and electricity usage and estimating air quality effects of the NOx Budget Program. Dr. Evangelakis has written papers analyzing the effects of Florida property tax reform and the non-pecuniary benefits of building a professional sports stadium. He also served as an intern at The Washington Economics Group, Inc., and The Human Services Coalition of Miami-Dade County. Dr. Evangelakis holds Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in Economics from University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from Swarthmore College.