DOVER—
“Technically, the recession is over.”
Those were the words of local economist Brian Gottlob of PolEcon Research at a recent Economic Forum hosted by the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce. The 2010 Economic Forecast was the first in a four-part Forum Series presented by Federal Savings Bank, with additional events scheduled for May, September and November of 2010.
Gottlob acknowledged that to those who continue to feel the pinch of the recession, his words may be difficult to believe. However, several times during his presentation to a crowd of more than 50 local residents, business owners and political representatives at the Hampton Inn in Dover, he re-iterated his strong belief that the New Hampshire seacoast – and Dover in particular – was poised for a strong rebound in the months and years to come. Gottlob’s optimism is not merely speculation or wishful thinking, but the result of years of experience and many hours of recent research, which he carefully outlined in a series of informative graphs and charts.
The other panelists at the Forum, Federal Savings Bank President and CEO Jay O’Neill, and Maria Simos of e-Forecasting.com, both agreed that recent trends indicate that better days are on the near horizon. Chamber Executive Director Kirt Schuman summed up the overall tone of the presentations with the term “guarded optimism,” and congratulated the many business owners in the audience on having successfully weathered the storm.
“The news of a recovery couldn’t come at a better time,” noted Schuman, “and although we’re not completely out of the woods yet, I think everyone found it refreshing to receive some information that was more positive than the economic doom and gloom we’ve been inundated with for so long.”
Though markedly optimistic, the trio of presenters was careful to sprinkle doses of caution into their words. Simos pointed to 2011 as being the more likely period of economic growth, with 2010 serving as more of a stabilization period. Gottlob cautioned Dover residents and elected officials against “shooting themselves in the foot” by slowing progress as a result of looking to recapture the past, and O’Neill noted that increased government regulation of banks could also be damaging to the economic recovery process.
Nevertheless, the audience left with a much more upbeat feeling about the prospects of recovery – a welcome and long-awaited breath of fresh air.
The 2010 Economic Forecast is the first installment in a four-part Forum Series presented by Federal Savings Bank, in partnership with the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce. Each morning session covers a different topic, and includes a full breakfast. In May, the annual “State of the City” Forum will be held at the Cochecho Country Club, followed by a segment on local Advertising and Public Relations in September, and an analysis of the Creative Economy in November.
Residents may register for any of the Federal Savings Bank Forum Series events by visiting the Dover Chamber’s online Calendar at www.dovernh.org.
Photo caption: Jay O’Neill of Federal Savings Bank, Brian Gottlob of PolEcon Research and Maria Simos of e-forecasting.com comprised the panel at the Dover Chamber’s recent Economic Forum, which was held before a crowd of over 50 residents, business owners and political leaders at the Hampton Inn in Dover. (Courtesy photo)
“Technically, the recession is over.”
Those were the words of local economist Brian Gottlob of PolEcon Research at a recent Economic Forum hosted by the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce. The 2010 Economic Forecast was the first in a four-part Forum Series presented by Federal Savings Bank, with additional events scheduled for May, September and November of 2010.
Gottlob acknowledged that to those who continue to feel the pinch of the recession, his words may be difficult to believe. However, several times during his presentation to a crowd of more than 50 local residents, business owners and political representatives at the Hampton Inn in Dover, he re-iterated his strong belief that the New Hampshire seacoast – and Dover in particular – was poised for a strong rebound in the months and years to come. Gottlob’s optimism is not merely speculation or wishful thinking, but the result of years of experience and many hours of recent research, which he carefully outlined in a series of informative graphs and charts.
The other panelists at the Forum, Federal Savings Bank President and CEO Jay O’Neill, and Maria Simos of e-Forecasting.com, both agreed that recent trends indicate that better days are on the near horizon. Chamber Executive Director Kirt Schuman summed up the overall tone of the presentations with the term “guarded optimism,” and congratulated the many business owners in the audience on having successfully weathered the storm.
“The news of a recovery couldn’t come at a better time,” noted Schuman, “and although we’re not completely out of the woods yet, I think everyone found it refreshing to receive some information that was more positive than the economic doom and gloom we’ve been inundated with for so long.”
Though markedly optimistic, the trio of presenters was careful to sprinkle doses of caution into their words. Simos pointed to 2011 as being the more likely period of economic growth, with 2010 serving as more of a stabilization period. Gottlob cautioned Dover residents and elected officials against “shooting themselves in the foot” by slowing progress as a result of looking to recapture the past, and O’Neill noted that increased government regulation of banks could also be damaging to the economic recovery process.
Nevertheless, the audience left with a much more upbeat feeling about the prospects of recovery – a welcome and long-awaited breath of fresh air.
The 2010 Economic Forecast is the first installment in a four-part Forum Series presented by Federal Savings Bank, in partnership with the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce. Each morning session covers a different topic, and includes a full breakfast. In May, the annual “State of the City” Forum will be held at the Cochecho Country Club, followed by a segment on local Advertising and Public Relations in September, and an analysis of the Creative Economy in November.
Residents may register for any of the Federal Savings Bank Forum Series events by visiting the Dover Chamber’s online Calendar at www.dovernh.org.
Photo caption: Jay O’Neill of Federal Savings Bank, Brian Gottlob of PolEcon Research and Maria Simos of e-forecasting.com comprised the panel at the Dover Chamber’s recent Economic Forum, which was held before a crowd of over 50 residents, business owners and political leaders at the Hampton Inn in Dover. (Courtesy photo)
