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After almost 20 years in banking and lending, Bill Watkins returned to graduate school in 1992. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California Santa Barbara in 1998. After graduation, Bill worked as an economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington D.C.

Bill was invited back to the University of California Santa Barbara to run the Economic Forecast Project. During his tenure, from January 2000 through May 2009, Bill expanded the project’s publications, geographic scope, and reputation.

Bill joined the California Lutheran University in June 2009 to open the Center for Economic Research and Forecasting and create an economics Masters of Science program centered on forecasting and applied research.

Bill has been published in academic journals, traditional media, and new media. He has been interviewed and quoted by various media worldwide. When not working, Bill enjoys his family, the outdoors, music, and photography.

Thundermutt is the alter ego of an Indianapolis citizen involved in community and civic affairs as a volunteer and paid professional.

Megha Mukim is currently reading for a PhD at the London School of Economics. Prior to this she was a visiting fellow at the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University.

Alex Lotz is a recent graduate of the Film Production program at Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. He intends to pursue graduate work somewhere among his interests in cities, German language and culture, media, globalization and development.

Edward Sisson, born in Washington in 1955, graduated from Washington's St. Albans School in 1973. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from MIT in 1977, he spent the next ten years as a theater producer in the San Francisco avant garde world, producing new works by directors George Coates and Chris Hardman (Antenna Theater), touring to Europe and across the US, and producing an international theater festival. In 1988 he returned to Washington to earn his law degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center (1991). He clerked for a federal judge, then joined Washington's Arnold & Porter, where he was an associate and then partner, specializing in litigation regarding failed banks. His extensive pro bono practice included aiding Washington civic, neighborhood, and arts organizations. In 2006 he returned to his creative interests, remaining in Washington to research and write various fiction and non-fiction works. He is currently refining and publicizing his Washington, DC, proposal for a premiere Arts & Innovation Building and related residential/commercial "Sonya's Neighborhood," utilizing his unique background in Washington, in architecture, in the arts and the sciences, and in law to move the project forward.

Connie Loden, President/CEO for Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance, coordinates community economic development projects in Central Wisconsin, and has become an internationally recognized leader in rural development, currently serving as President of the international Community Development Society. Connie has previously served as President of Wisconsin Rural Partners, the state’s rural development council, on which she continues to serve as board member and representative for Wisconsin in the WK Kellogg Foundation’s Rural People Rural Policy Network initiative. Connie was recently presented with the prestigious Ron Shaffer Award for Collaborative Leadership by the National Rural Development Partnership and Partners for Rural America, recognizing her outstanding contributions and commitment to making a difference for rural communities.

An International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), she also consults as a community economic development specialist, having assisted communities in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Cuba, China, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The Community Progress Initiative program, developed in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater South Wood County to revitalize their economically struggling community, has received award recognitions on state, national and international levels, including the 2008 Award for Excellence in Economic Development for Multiple Year Projects presented by IEDC, and the Mid-America Economic Development Council’s 2008 Business Retention and Expansion Economic Development Program Award.

I run a boutique design and marketing firm, Sparkdog Better Findability. We help businesses grow using a web site as their main tool.

Overall, I'd like the world to be a better place tomorrow than it was yesterday.

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