About Us

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.

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.

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.

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.