Christine Chmura, PhD

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President, Chief Economist, and Principal

Areas of Specialty:

Relevant Industry Expertise:

Ms. Chmura has a broad range of experience including Commercial, Non-profit, Academic, and Government clients, including the Virginia Commonwealth University Foundation Board of Trustees. Her former clients include the University of Virginia, Northern Virginia Community College, and Longwood University. Under her leadership, Chmura developed the Virginia Education Wizard for Virginia Community College Chancellor. Her current academic experience includes service as an Adjunct Professor of Labor Economics at the University of Richmond. In addition she currently serves on the Virginia Governor’s Joint Advisory Board of Economists.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Prior to founding Chmura Economics & Analytics, Chris was the Chief Economist at Crestar Financial Corporation and an Associate Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. She received her Ph.D. in Business with a major in Finance and a minor in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

President and Chief Economist, Chmura Economics & Analytics March 1999-present
Founder of a consulting firm that provides economic consulting ranging from firm-specific forecasting to workforce development. A 100-plus equation structural macroeconomic model serves as the central point of their forecasting of interest rates, national indicators, regional indicators, and firm-specific variables. They also provide commentary on economic and financial trends as well as regional and industry analysis. On the economic development side, they work with counties and regions to provide insight into industry, workforce, and education trends; and have created several software products including JobsEQ®, which can be accessed www.jobseq.com with a password.

Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Quantitative Research and Economics
Crestar Financial Corporation March 1993-March 1999
Expanded quantitative economic research capabilities beyond macroeconomic and interest rate forecasting to include forecasting consumer delinquencies and loan growth as well as estimating deposit elasticity. Strategic intent and risk management services were major focus areas for senior management consulting and included market area research for potential expansion. Additional contributions included writing the Weekly Economic Monitor which analyzes national economic and financial market trends as well constructing the monthly Virginia Leading which predicts changes in economic activity.

Economist and Vice President
Crestar Financial CorporationMay 1990-March 1993
Economic research and analysis of Virginia and the GWR, D.C., metropolitan area resulting in the identification of strategic opportunities for product-specific growth. Created a business cycle/loan portfolio assessment tool which enabled the corporation to assess the contribution of specific industry risk to the bank’s overall loan portfolio. Research emphasis included real estate and defense which was used to direct industry and region-specific loan portfolio growth.

Newspaper Columnist (1999-present)
Authors a monthly columns about the Virginia and national economy for the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Newspaper Columnist(1992-1994)
Authored columns about the Virginia and national economy in the Capitol Forum newspaper and a column about the Richmond metropolitan area economy for the Richmond Business magazine.

Associate Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of RichmondFebruary 1984-May 1990
Research and analysis of regional economic occurrences in the Fifth Federal Reserve District. Communication of findings through frequent publications (quarterly contributor to the Bank's publication "Cross Sections"), public speaking engagements, and frequent press releases with media information. Created, maintained, and directed a monthly survey of manufacturing, retail, and service firms in the District. Created Industrial Production Indexes for each of the states in the Fifth District.

EDUCATION

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, Ph.D., Finance Economics 1993
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, M.A. Economics, 1983
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, B.S., Business Administration 1981

ADJUNCT FACULTY

University of Richmond(Summer 2008-current)
Labor economics.

Virginia Commonwealth University(Fall 1991)
Investments course.

ADVISORY COUNCILS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

• Commonwealth of Virginia's Commission of Economic Development & Job Creation (2010)
• Governor Robert McDonnell, Transition Team (2009-2010)
• Commonwealth of Virginia’s Commission on Climate Change (2008)
• Governor McDonnell, Transition Team (2009)
• Governor Mark Warner, Finance Transition Team (2001)
• Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFoundation Board of Trustees (2000-2004)
• National Association of Business Economics Board of Directors(1999-2003)
• Harvard Discussion Group of Industrial Economists(1997-1999)
• American Bankers' Association Economic Advisory Board(1996-1999)
• Governor's Advisory Board of Economists(GABE) (1992-present)
• Blue Chip Financial Forecasts Contributor(1994-present)
• National Association of Business Economists Financial Advisory Board,(Chair 1996-1998; Officer 1994-1995)
• Governor's Commission on Defense Conversion and Economic Adjustment(GABE Liaison) (1992)
• Virginia Association of Economists, President (1992); Officer (1985-1991
• Virginia Employment Commission Trust Fund Advisory Board(1991-present)
• Washington, D.C., Production Index Advisory Council, Board Member (1989-1990)
• Washington MSA Coincident/Leading Indexes Advisory Council, Greater Washington Research Center (1990-1994)
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; "The Impact of Defense Cuts on the Hampton Roads Economy," April 16, 1993.

PUBLICATIONS

• "A Loan Pricing Case Study," The Journal of Commercial Lending (December 1995).
• "The International Competitiveness of U.S. Banking," Proceedings of the 1991 Annual Symposium of the Institute for International Competitiveness, Co-authors Dan M. Bechter and R. Craig Carlock (March 1991).
• "An Assessment of Construction Activity in the Greater Washington Region," (Richmond: Crestar Financial Corporation, 1991).
• "The Exporter and the Nonexporter: A Profile of Exporting and Nonexporting Firms in the Southeast," Proceedings of the 1990 Annual Symposium of the Institute for International Competitiveness, Co-authors Dan M. Bechter and R. Craig Carlock (March 1990).
• "The Competitiveness of Rural County Manufacturing During a Period of Dollar Appreciation," Regional Science Perspectives, Co-author Dan M. Bechter (Winter 1989).
• "Changes in Manufacturing Employment in North Carolina Counties, 1980-1985," Economic Review, Co-author Jane Ihrig (September/October 1989).
• "Local Government Revenue and Expenditure Projections," in The Future of the Capital Area 2000/2010, Volume II (Richmond: William Byrd Press, 1988).
• "Fifth District Indexes of Manufacturing Output," Economic Review, Co-authors Dan M. Bechter and Richard K. Ko (May/June 1988).
• "Import Penetration and International Competitiveness," Proceedings of the 1988 Annual Symposium of the Institute for International Competitiveness, Co-author Dan M. Bechter (April 1988).
• "The Effect of Exchange Rate Variation on U.S. Textile and Apparel Imports," Economic Review (May/June 1987).
• "The Changing Industry Mix of Employment in the Fifth District," Economic Review (July/August 1986).
• "Bibliography for Colleges and Universities of Materials on Economics, Monetary Policy, Money and Banking, and Financial Markets," Co-author James F. Tucker (Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, 1986).
• "The Effects of Airline Regulation," The Freeman (August 1984).