State of the Economy Panel

On January 8, 2026, the NACD Three Rivers Chapter joined forces with ACG Pittsburgh, FIN, FEI Pittsburgh, the PVCA, SIOR Western PA Chapter, and TMA Pittsburgh to host the Annual State of the Economy Panel. The event welcomed a record-setting 260 attendees, continuing the long-standing tradition of these organizations coming together each year to kick off the new year with timely insights and thoughtful dialogue on the economic landscape.

Attendees heard from an esteemed panel of economists:

• Charlie Doughtery, Director, Senior Economist at Wells Fargo
• Gus Faucher, Senior Vice President & Chief Economist at The PNC Financial Services Group
• Dr. Risa Kumazawa, Associate Dean for Academic Systems & Accreditation and Associate Professor of Economics at Palumbo Donahue School of Business at Duquesne University
• Joe Quinlan, Chief Marketing Strategist at Bank of America
• Avery Shenfeld, Managing Director and Chief Economist at CIBC
• The panel was moderated by Bill Flanagan, Host and Producer of "Our Region's Business."

who provided expert analysis on the forces shaping the economy at both the local and global levels. The discussion covered a wide range of critical topics, including the macroeconomic overview and regional economic conditions, current labor market trends, and the financial and market-related outlook.

Panelists also shared forward-looking perspectives on the 2026 macroeconomic environment, with particular attention to commercial real estate, U.S. and global economic conditions, Federal Reserve interest rate policy, and the broader economic implications of the current level of U.S. government debt. The conversation offered valuable takeaways for directors, investors, and business leaders as they navigate the year ahead.