Economist from Renowned Firm to Give Keynote Address at ALA Conference

Presentations to prepare members for opportunities and challenges in coming years

During the 2023 ALA Conference, Sept. 10-12, in Lake Tahoe, Calif., economist Kyle Stevens of ITR Economics will give a keynote presentation on how members can prepare for 2024 and beyond. 

As a member of ITR Economics’ team of expert economists, Stevens lends his expertise to forecast reviews, economic research, consultative reports, and client communication. During his keynote presentation, he will dive into the opportunities and challenges facing ALA members in 2024. 

In his presentation, Stevens will provide business strategies and tactics that address the projected changes in the economic landscape for the coming years. He will also assess business demand for 2024 and 2025. Stevens will use his and ITR Economics’ research to analyze the labor market and present expectations for availability and labor costs, present a clear picture of inflation and interest rates, and assess the health of financial market trends. Additionally, he will look at ITR Economics’ key leading indicators and what they foretell for ALA members’ markets. 

Following his keynote address, Stevens will present a breakout session on applied rates of change and leading indicators. According to Stevens, the majority of businesses are sensitive to changes in the economic landscape, yet most smaller and midsized firms are ill equipped to measure economic data and apply it to make business decisions. In this session, Stevens will discuss, in detail, the application of the rates-of-change methodology and leading indicators. Members will gain an understanding of how to pick leading indicators and track economic data against their internal business data to make better business decisions on labor, capital expansions, inventory, and more. 

Stevens holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in applied economics from Florida State University. He has served as a returning presenter at American Water Works Association (AWWA) Utility Management conferences and Water Environment Federation (WEF) events. Prior to joining ITR Economics, he worked as a management consultant in the water industry, specializing in economic and financial modeling for local governments. 

ITR Economics is the oldest privately held, continuously operating economic research and consulting firm in the U.S. With a knowledge base that spans six decades, they have an uncommon understanding of long-term economic trends, as well as best practices ahead of changing market conditions. Their reputation is built on accurate, independent, and objective analysis.

During the Conference, members will also hear presentations from leaders in business strategy, personal motivation, marketing, and lighting technology and design. To register for the Conference and book a hotel room at the Everline Resort & Spa using ALA’s discounted group rate, visit ALAConference.com.