Economist Rich Wobbekind named among Colorado's most influential business leaders.
Rich Wobbekind walks an executive-level class through a presentation. His insights on the economyāand the lengths he goes to inĢżsharingĢżthem with Coloradansāare why he's so well regarded, both in the classroom and in the media.
In ranking Rich Wobbekind among its 30 most influential business leaders, said he āprobably ranks as the most-sought-after voice on the Colorado economy.ā
That characterization is likely to draw criticism from those whoāve benefited from Wobbekindās insights over more than three decades with the ĄÖ²„“«Ć½ Boulder: What do they mean, āprobably?ā
āRich is so deserving of this honor because has a unique ability to interpret a complex set of economic data for a broad variety of audiences,ā said Brian Lewandowski, executive director of the Business Research Division at the Leeds School of Business. āAnd while most people think about industry in Colorado in terms of tourism, or tech, or urban areas, Rich is as capable talking about agriculture and mining as he is finance.ā
Road warrior
Wobbekind and the BRD develop an annual economic forecast for Colorado that he presents at a statewide conference. But he also takes those insights on the road, where he shares tailored presentation at smaller events in more rural areas of the state, as well as in the classroom.Ģż
āIāve been really fortunate in that, through my work, Iām able to help people interpret what theyāre seeing in a larger context,ā Wobbekind said. āTheyāre trying to make sense of all these issues theyāre facingāCOVID, supply-chain issues, inflationāand weāre trying to give them a sense of what to expect, and convey information that helps them make better decisions in business and live better lives.āĢż
The BizWest list is a whoās who of influential Coloradans in entrepreneurship, banking, law, nonprofit, government, healthcare, media and manufacturing; Wobbekind, associate dean for business and government relations at Leeds and the BRD's faculty director, is the only economist.Ģż
āThere are a lot of significant people on that list, people I have a lot of respect for. I am honored to be included among them,ā he said.Ģż
Wobbekind has been a fixture at CU Boulder since earning his masterās and doctoral degrees in economics 35 years ago. In that time, much about the field of economics has changedāincluding, like in many fields, the ability to use data to understand trends and make decisionsābut what he said hasnāt changed is the disciplineās ability to add context to situations and form actionable strategy, a perspective he readily brings to the classroom.Ģż
āAt the end of the day, I hope I am contributing to people having better lives.ā
Richard Wobbekind, faculty director, Leeds Business Research Division
āIn our economics classes, weāre teaching students the tools to help them be better managers and make better decisions, whether thatās in hiring, or anticipating product demand, or looking at interest rates or inflation,ā he said. āThereās a lot of value in having the skills to interpret the broader environment youāre working in.āĢż
Thatās especially evident in the extensive outreach he does to the Colorado business community. His traveling road show takes him from the Front Range to the Western Slope and the eastern plains, and from advisory meetings with the government to small, industry-specific sessions to people in agriculture, technology or banking.
Something that might surprise anyone whoās sat in one of his classes or attended the annual Business Economic Outlook Forum is that, for all his poise on stage, Wobbekind isnāt immune to a case of nerves before he starts talking.Ģż
āThatās even true on the first day of classes, I try to figure out something to say to calm myself down,ā he said. āBut ultimately, when youāre providing this kind of information and interpretation, and you see the reaction of people in the audience and you hear their questions and know theyāre learning something that will help them make decisionsāthatās the best cure for being nervous.Ģż
āAt the end of the day, I hope I am contributing to people having better livesāI believe thatās what weāre here for.ā
Midyear Outlook Shows State Economy Remains Strong
Coloradoās economy continues to show resilience halfway through 2024, especially in terms of employment and income growth, according to the midyear report of the Colorado Business Review conducted by the LeedsĢżBusiness Research Division.Ģż
Sydney Strecker (Finā24) Looks Ahead to a Bright Future
Despite a challenging job market for recent graduates, Sydney StreckerĢż(Finā24) is grateful to be starting a new career this fall, offering hope and insights to those still seeking opportunities.
Ģż
