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Ninth Annual SWVA Economic Forum to Feature Chmura Economics & Analytics CEO’s State of the Region; PBS Appalachia General Manager Julie Newman to Emcee

Senta Scarborough
Christine Chmura

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) is pleased to announce that Dr. Christine Chmura, founder of Chmura Economics & Analytics and a former associate economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, will deliver the State of the Region address at the College’s Ninth Annual SWVA Economic Forum in May.

Chmura will share insights on the overall economy and Southwest Virginia region at this year’s one-day forum on Thursday, May 23, at the College’s David J. Prior Convocation Center.

“A Region on the Move” is the 2024 theme for the conference, which will be a hybrid event that participants can attend online or in person. The event begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

“There is significant momentum taking place throughout our communities right now. Our theme celebrates how Southwest Virginia continues to collaborate and utilize resources to move the region forward,” said Shannon Blevins, vice chancellor for administration, government relations & strategic initiatives at UVA Wise.

In 1999, Chmura founded Chmura Economics & Analytics where she serves as chief executive officer and chief economist.

Previously, she served as the chief economist at Crestar Financial Corporation and worked as an associate economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

A member of the Governor’s Economic Advisory Board of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Governor’s Commission on Economic Development & Job Creation, Chmura holds her Ph.D. in business with a major in finance and a minor in economics from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in economics from Clemson University.

“I’m honored to address my colleagues in Southwest Virginia and all of those invested in the region’s success. Southwest Virginia has taken great strides into the future rather than run from it,” Chmura said. “As a result, employment has increased by 1,244 over four quarters, ending with a fourth quarter of 2,023 and wages have increased from $41,644 to $44,128 over the same period.”

Julie Newman, PBS Appalachia vice president and general manager and former Channel 5 WCYB news anchor, will emcee the conference. 

Newman has nearly 25 years in television journalism working at several stations in Virginia and New York including WCYB in Bristol, Va., WVEC-TV in Norfolk, Va., News Center 7 in Ithaca, N.Y., and News 10 Now in Syracuse, N.Y.

More recently, she anchored at WSET-TV in Roanoke/Lynchburg, then joined Blue Ridge PBS as executive producer before her current role at PBS Appalachia. Under her leadership, PBS Appalachia has garnered nine Emmy awards and the coveted Public Media Award for Overall Excellence in Innovation which is judged against every public media station in the country.

As the General Manager of PBS Appalachia, Newman is passionate about creating a television station that reflects the people of Southwest Virginia and believes strongly that the region’s communities deserve programs that reflect its culture, heritage and artistry.

Registration for the Forum is required. In-person tickets are $45, and virtual tickets are $25. Registration is open now through May 21; walk-ins welcome. Please visit the Southwest Virginia Economic Forum website for registration, program updates and sponsor information.