Economic Roundtable of the Ohio Valley Announces Spring 2026 Speaker Series

Nationally recognized leaders in economics, public policy, and environmental regulation to headline luncheons and Q&A sessions.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 11:31pm

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The Economic Roundtable (ERT) of the Ohio Valley has announced its Spring 2026 Speaker Series, featuring a lineup of prominent experts who will address topics ranging from financial markets and economic history to the future of energy in the Midwest. The series will kick off on February 9th with a business Q&A and luncheon led by Jim Bianco, president and macro strategist at Bianco Research, L.L.C. Other speakers include David Henderson, emeritus professor of economics at the Naval Postgraduate School, and Anne M. Vogel, Region 5 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Why it matters

The Economic Roundtable of the Ohio Valley is a respected organization that brings together business professionals and lifelong learners to foster a collaborative community and provide insight into pressing economic and policy issues. The Spring 2026 Speaker Series offers a unique opportunity for the local community to engage with nationally recognized experts and gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping the economy.

The details

The spring series will open on Monday, February 9th, with a business Q&A led by Jim Bianco, who will discuss 'Which Macro Indicators Matter and Which Ones Do Not.' Bianco will then headline an ERT luncheon the following day at the Parkersburg Country Club. On March 23rd, David Henderson will deliver the Milton Friedman Lecture, followed by an ERT luncheon on March 24th where he will speak on 'Two Centuries of Sustained Economic Growth.' The series will conclude on April 27th and 28th with a business Q&A and luncheon featuring Anne M. Vogel, Region 5 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who will focus on 'Powering the Great American Comeback in the Midwest.'

  • The spring series opens on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • Jim Bianco will lead a Business Q&A on February 9, 2026, from 7-8 p.m.
  • Jim Bianco will headline an ERT luncheon on February 10, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
  • David Henderson will deliver the Milton Friedman Lecture on March 23, 2026, from 7-8 p.m.
  • David Henderson will headline an ERT luncheon on March 24, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

The players

Jim Bianco

President and macro strategist at Bianco Research, L.L.C., with more than three decades of experience in the global economy and financial markets.

David Henderson

Emeritus professor of economics at the Naval Postgraduate School and research fellow with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

Anne M. Vogel

Region 5 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, overseeing EPA operations across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, as well as 37 Tribal nations.

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What they’re saying

“Our Spring 2026 series brings together three speakers who see the economy from different perspectives but share a commitment to serious analysis and public engagement.”

— Dr. Greg Delemeester, McCoy Professor and Milton Friedman Chair of Business & Economics at Marietta College and ERT vice president of programs

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Economic Roundtable of the Ohio Valley's Spring 2026 Speaker Series offers the local community a unique opportunity to engage with nationally recognized experts and gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping the economy, from financial markets and economic history to the future of energy in the Midwest.