Fisher Event Brings Together Business Leaders and Chairman of the Federal Reserve for a “Conversation on the Economy”

A group of local and international business leaders, policy makers, and students gathered Tuesday at Ohio State as part of a “Conversation on the Economy” hosted by the Fisher College of Business.  Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, Ben S. Bernanke, was the central figure during the hour-long economic forum that featured high-profile corporate leaders from companies such as IBM and Ford, as well as local business leaders. 

Observing that the Federal Reserve spends a lot of time looking at data that represent a backward looking effort, Bernanke said that to find out what's really happening, you need to talk to people who are on the front lines. 

The five business leaders on the front line of the economy Bernanke wanted to hear from Tuesday were Alan Mulally, president and CEO of the Ford Motor Company, Samuel Palmisano, chairman of the board and CEO of IBM Corporation, and three Columbus-based business leaders:  Curtis Moody, president and CEO of Moody-Nolan, Jeni Britton Bauer, president of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream and Dwight Smith, CEO of Sophisticated Systems. 

Smith, whose company provides a variety of IT and business consulting services, said companies like his could grow more if credit was eased and if more non-traditional  financing, like angel investors and equity markets, was available.

Read the full story at the ColumbusExaminer.com.