Business Forecast Luncheon

         Matuschka Lindo Briggs

Moderator:Matuschka Lindo Briggs is senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. In this role, she supports the Bank’s mission of promoting a healthy economy, financial stability and community development by building durable, two-way relationships with business and community leaders across Arkansas to help the St. Louis Fed gain a real-time, on-the-ground understanding of economic conditions on all corners of Main Street. Lindo Briggs has held key leadership roles at the St. Louis Fed in Community Development, Public Affairs, and supporting the Bank’s fiscal agent responsibilities for the U.S. Treasury. She is recognized for advancing economic equity and financial capability through strategic programs and partnerships, leveraging her expertise as a skilled communicator and influencer. Prior to joining the Fed, she worked as a journalist and media host. She serves on multiple nonprofit boards. Lindo Briggs holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. 

       Alberto Musalem

Keynote Speaker: Alberto G. Musalem is the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, one of the 12 regional Reserve banks in the Federal Reserve System. He began serving in the role April 2, 2024. In this capacity, he participates on the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC, which meets at least eight times each year to set the direction of U.S. monetary policy. He also oversees the activities of the Eighth Federal Reserve District at its St. Louis headquarters and branches in Little Rock, Ark., Louisville, Ky., and Memphis, Tenn. These activities include economic research, fiscal agent responsibilities for the U.S. Treasury, supervision of District financial institutions, community development, and regional payments, transparency, technology and support functions. President Musalem is an economist and executive with public and private sector experience in economic policy, finance and markets.

Mervin Jebaraj is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas. During his time at the center, he has been instrumental in creating and executing economic studies for clients such as the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Northwest Arkansas Council, Walton Family Foundation, Arvest Bank, University of Arkansas and many others. His work is regularly noted by the state's business media. Arkansas Business and the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal recognized Mervin in their 40 Under 40 lists and on the Arkansas 250 list. He is an exceptional source of business and economics-related expertise that journalists and businesspeople alike rely on to understand how national and regional issues impact Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas as a whole. He makes presentations that share the center's expertise directly to over 5,000 individuals annually and tens of thousands more hear and see his economic analysis and commentary through television, radio and print media. Jebaraj serves on the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics, and the Board of Directors of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport.