For a glimpse into the region's economic future, business leaders are turning to Wichita State University during the Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference, 7:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Century II Convention Hall.

The cost to attend is $115 per person – $135 after Sept. 26.

The purpose of the conference, hosted by the W. Frank Barton School of Business and the Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR), is to provide insight into current local and national economies, addressing topics of interest to the community, region and state. A combination of nationally known speakers and local experts will be on hand to provide perspectives on issues affecting business, industry, education and government.

"This event has continued to grow in the last few years," said Jeremy Hill, CEDBR director. "Business and community leaders come out because they are more and more concerned about what is going on in the economy. The conference gives them information on how the economy is improving or acting, locally and in the larger economy."

Last year, CEDBR launched a phone app developed specifically for the conference that provided attendees easy access to the agenda, speaker bios and directions. The app was also equipped with quick access to social media channels, which is an aspect of the conference CEDBR has paid special interest to in this year’s planning.

The event includes breakfast as well as speakers from Wichita State, which has taken an increasingly prominent role in the area’s economic leadership and business innovation. President John Bardo, Provost Tony Vizzini and Hill, are all scheduled to participate in the conference.

The air transportation portion of the event will include guests William Swelbar, a research engineer with the MIT International Center for Air Transportation, and Lillian Dukes, vice president of Global Customer Support and Services at Spirit AeroSystems. Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist at the National Retail Federation, will be on hand to present the consumer/retail outlook and for the retail panel, along with Slawson Cos. Vice President Jerry Jones and Sasnak Management Corp. President Jon Rolph.

CEDBR’s Hill will be on the panel discussing the local economic forecast, along with Steve Martens, president of The Martens Cos., and Justin Salmans, vice president of supply chain management at Textron Aviation.

The local community provides significant support for the Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference, which is sponsored by real estate firm NAI Martens, The Wichita Eagle’s Business Today and many others. The event attracts an annual attendance of nearly 600 participants.

For ticket and schedule information, visit agenda.cedbr.org, or contact Jeremy Hill, at 316-978-3225 or jeremy.hill@wichita.edu.