Hear from top business leaders during new Economic Club of Phoenix season


Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of US Airways

The heads of US Airways and Sony Pictures Technologies are among those headlining the new season of the popular Economic Club of Phoenix speaker series. Every year, Phoenix-area audiences are invited to attend the club’s luncheons and hear from some of the biggest names in the business world.

“We always strive to bring internationally-regarded business leaders to talk with Valley businesspeople,” says W. P. Carey School of Business dean Robert Mittelstaedt. “Recently, the series has taken on an even more important tone, with the current economy and high interest in what’s going to happen next in the fast-changing business environment.”

The Economic Club of Phoenix (ECP) was founded by a group of prominent business executives called the Dean’s Council of 100, in conjunction with the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. The club is now the preeminent Arizona forum for the exchange of ideas about business and the economy. Its monthly luncheons and other activities offer business leaders and others opportunities to network and engage.

This season’s speaker lineup (subject to change) is:

Thursday, Oct. 6 – Gary Dirks, director of ASU LightWorks and former president of BP Asia Pacific and BP China

Thursday, Nov. 10 – Chris Cookson, president of Sony Pictures Technologies

Wednesday, Jan. 11 – Hamish Brewer, president and chief executive officer, JDA Software

Thursday, Feb. 2 – Curtis Frasier, executive vice president, Americas Shell Gas & Power

Tuesday, March 13 – Doug Parker, chairman and chief executive officer, US Airways

April (Date TBA) – Dean’s Council of 100 Executive of the Year

Tuesday, May 15 – Annual Economic Outlook Luncheon

All luncheons run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The first event will be held at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, with the rest of the locations still to be announced.

Guests are welcome for a $75 luncheon fee. The Dean’s Council of 100 Executive of the Year event in April costs $125. Funds in excess of the cost of the lunch are used to support student scholarships and faculty research at the W. P. Carey School of Business.

For more information about the club or to reserve seats, call (480) 727-0596, e-mail wpcarey.ecp@asu.edu or go to www.econclubphx.org.