Andrew Sorkin to speak at forecast event

(BEND, Ore. - Sept. 26, 2011) Financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin will speak at the 2012 Central Oregon Forecast presented by the California Lutheran University Center for Economic Research and Forecasting (CERF) on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Riverhouse Hotel and Convention Center in Bend.

CERF Executive Director Bill Watkins will present the annual economic outlook for Central Oregon as well as the state and nation. Tim Boyle, president and CEO of Columbia Sportswear Co., will make a presentation, and Martin Regalia, chief economist and senior vice president for economic and tax policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will speak via satellite.

Sorkin wrote the 2009 bestseller "Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System - and Themselves." He co-produced the HBO film based on the book that premiered in May. Described by New York magazine as "the most famous financial journalist of his generation," he is an assistant editor of business and finance news for The New York Times and the editor of The Times' DealBook, an online daily financial report that he started in 2001. He is a frequent guest host of CNBC's "Squawk Box" and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

Boyle began working for Columbia during his senior year in high school in 1970 and now oversees operations of the global company from its Portland headquarters. He serves on the boards of Widmer Brothers Brewing Co., NW Natural and The Freshwater Trust and as a trustee of Reed College, Crater Lake National Park Trust and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Regalia helps develop the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's policy on tax and economic issues and oversees the organization's Council on Small Business and Corporate Leadership Advisory Council. He has appeared on national television news and debate programs, testified before congressional committees, written articles on a variety of economic topics and spoken to many groups across the country.

Watkins has provided unflinching forecasts for more than a decade and has been widely published in academic journals, traditional media and new media. He and other members of the CERF team have been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, NBC, Fox Business Network, Forbes and Bloomberg News.

Attendees will receive a copy of the forecast on CD. Realtors, appraisers and certified public accountants can receive continuing education credit.

Registration and breakfast begin at 7 a.m. The Riverhouse Convention Center is located at 2850 NW Rippling River Court.

Early bird registration is $75 until Dec. 15. The cost is $95 after that date and $110 on the morning of the seminar. To register, go to http://oregon.clucerf.org/events/. For more information, call 541-322-6130.