Introduction
Functionally, REIN encompasses a set of activities by Atlanta-based staff and regional executives to gather data on regional economic activity, both qualitative and quantitative, in a systematic way.
In addition to branch boards of directors and industry-specific advisory councils, regional executives have hundreds of contacts who are drawn from large businesses and small firms from all sectors of the economy and representatives from community groups. Regional executives meet frequently with individual businesses, collections of small and large firms, and community groups to assess current economic conditions and outlooks.
These meetings provide the Atlanta Fed firsthand knowledge about trends and developments affecting demand, costs and prices, employment, investment, and exports and imports. The process helps Atlanta Fed staff form a view of the economy and inflation risks. Regional executives also have relationships with leading academics through the Atlanta Fed's Local Economic Analysis and Research Network (LEARN) program.
Ongoing dialogue
When contacts talk to our regional executives, they are speaking to Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart and through him to the Federal Open Market Committee.
This broad range of contacts provides a representative picture of economic conditions across the region. The Bank's economists and regional executives brief President Lockhart on a regular basis on economic data reports and REIN intelligence, discussing and interpreting this information and addressing items of special interest.
Economists and analysts at the Atlanta Fed also gather qualitative data from periodic surveys of southeastern business contacts as well as quantitative economic data. Combining REIN input from businesses and community groups allows the Atlanta Fed's input into the monetary policymaking process to be deep, broad, and inclusive.
Sharing information
REIN is not only about bringing information into the monetary policymaking process, it's about sharing information with our contacts and the public.
Meetings also give the regional executives the opportunity to explain the Fed's view on the economy and address any questions that our business and community contacts may have. This open exchange of information and opinions help build relationships and understanding.
Staff
Atlanta
Mike Chriszt
Vice President, Research
Email: Michael.Chriszt@atl.frb.org
Tom Cunningham
Vice President, Senior Economist, and Regional Executive
Email: Tom.Cunningham@atl.frb.org
Shalini Patel
Senior Economic Research Analyst
Email: Shalini.Patel@atl.frb.org
Whitney Mancuso
Senior Economic Research Analyst
Email: Whitney.Mancuso@atl.frb.org
Birmingham
Lesley McClure
Vice President and Regional Executive
Email: Lesley.McClure@atl.frb.org
Teri Gafford
REIN Director
Email: Teri.Gafford@atl.frb.org
Susan Remy
REIN Analyst
Email: Susan.F.Remy@atl.frb.org
Jacksonville
Christopher Oakley
Vice President and Regional Executive
Email: Chris.Oakley@atl.frb.org
Sarah Arteaga
REIN Director
Email: Sarah.E.Arteaga@atl.frb.org
Chris Viets
REIN Analyst
Email: Chris.J.Viets@atl.frb.org
Miami
Juan del Busto
Vice President and Regional Executive
Email: Juan.A.DelBusto@atl.frb.org
Lon Lazzeri
REIN Director
Email: Lon.Lazzeri@atl.frb.org
Marianela Bonet
REIN Analyst
Email: Marianela.Bonet@atl.frb.org
Nashville
Lee Jones
Vice President and Regional Executive
Email: Lee.Jones@atl.frb.org
Galina Alexeenko
REIN Director
Email: Galina.Alexeenko@atl.frb.org
Troy Balthrop
REIN Analyst
Email: Troy.Balthrop@atl.frb.org
Amy Pitts
Senior REIN Analyst
Email: Amy.Pitts@atl.frb.org
New Orleans
Robert Musso
Senior Vice President and Regional Executive
Email: Robert.Musso@atl.frb.org
Gail Psilos
REIN Director
Email: Gail.K.Psilos@atl.frb.org
Kathleen Glover
REIN Analyst
Email: Kathleen.E.Glover@atl.frb.org
Advisory Councils
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta uses councils representing various industries, such as agriculture and energy, that advise the Bank on matters of economic importance in the Sixth District. These advisory councils provide an important channel of communication between the Bank and constituents in the Sixth District business community and enrich the Atlanta Fed's discussion of monetary policy with this valuable information and insight.
Agriculture
The Agriculture Advisory Council is made up of 12 members who represent diverse agriculture and agribusiness interests from citrus, cotton, timber, and row crop farming to cattle, biofuel, and yogurt manufacturing. Council members offer the Atlanta Fed their unique perspectives on current and projected economic conditions.
William T. Boone
Entrepreneur Outreach Specialist
University of Georgia Small Business Development Center
Doug Bournique
Vice President
Indian River Citrus League
John E. Estes Jr.
Vice President
J. E. Estes Wood Company Inc.
David Kahn
President and Chief Executive Officer
Yogurt Mountain
Gaylon Lawrence
Partner
The Lawrence Group
Larkin Martin
Owner
Martin Farms
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Thomas B. Paulk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Alabama Farmers Cooperative Inc.
William E. Powell
Executive Vice President
Alabama Cattlemen's Association
James H. Sanford
Chairman of the Board
HOME Place Farms
W. Gilbert Sellers
President
Sellers Inc.
Jill Stuckey
Director of Alternative Fuels
Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority
Robert M. Thomas
President
Two Rivers Ranch Inc. |
Energy
The Energy Advisory Council meets with members of the energy industry to consider all facets of the industry. The council investigates trends in the oil-related industries, nationally and globally, which in turn helps inform the Atlanta Fed's assessment of the economy and its monetary policy deliberations.
Donald T. Bollinger
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Bollinger Shipyards Inc.
W. Paul Bowers
President and Chief Executive Officer
Georgia Power Company
Kerry Chauvin
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Gulf Island Fabrication
Brian Ferraioli
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Shaw Group
Charles Goodson
Chief Executive Officer
PetroQuest Energy
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Lee Lampton
President
Ergon Inc.
Mark Maisto
President, Commodities and Retail Markets
Florida Power & Light
Deloy Miller
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Miller Energy Resources
Earl Shipp
Vice President
Dow Chemical Worldwide
Stephen Toups
Corporate Vice President
Turner Industries |
Trade and transportation
The Trade and Transportation Advisory Council affords the Bank a deeper insight into key economic information related to the transportation and domestic and international trade sectors in the Sixth District. The council consists of senior-level executives who have extensive knowledge in such areas as trucking, rail, maritime shipping, ports, and air cargo. Council members also represent organizations involved in the transportation pipeline, such as shipbuilders and infrastructure engineering firms. By providing an important channel of communication between the Bank and important constituents in the region's business community, the council assists in the Bank's assessment of the economy and, ultimately, in its monetary policy deliberations.
Reid Dove
President and Chief Operating Officer
AAA Cooper Transportation
John Giles
President and Chief Executive Officer
RailAmerica
Clarence Gooden
Executive Vice President
CSX Corporation
Myron Gray
President
U.S. Operations
United Parcel Service of America Inc.
John Hourihan
Senior Vice President and General Manager
Latin America Services
Crowley Maritime Corporation
Bill Johnson
Port Director
Port of Miami |
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Gary LaGrange
President and Chief Executive Officer
Port of New Orleans
Chris Mangos
Director–Marketing Division
Miami-Dade Aviation Department
Miami International Airport
Deborah A. McDowell
Director of Customer Service and Business Development
Seaonus
Clifford K. Otto
President
Saddle Creek Logistics Services
David Parker
Chairman, President, and CEO
Covenant Transportation
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Travel and tourism
The Travel and Tourism Advisory Council members offer up-to-date economic information on their respective sectors, which include convention and visitors' bureaus, cruise lines, airports, restaurants, entertainment, and hotels. The council provides valuable intelligence on economic factors such as costs, prices, labor, investments, and more on an ongoing basis.
David Bernstein
Senior Vice President–Chief Financial Officer
Carnival Cruise Lines
Robert Dearden
Chief Operating Officer
The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
Patricia Denechaud
President and Chief Executive Officer
Crescent City Consultants
Cynthia Flowers
Executive Manager
Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel
Nicki Grossman
President and Chief Executive Officer
Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
David Kloeppel
President
Gaylord Entertainment Company |
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Tony Quintero
Associate Aviation Director–Government Affairs
Miami-Dade Aviation
Miami Int'l. Airport
Brian Rice
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
William D. Talbert III
President and Chief Executive Officer
Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau
Chris Thompson
Executive Director, President/Chief Executive Officer
VISIT FLORIDA
Mark Vaughn
Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau
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