U.S. chamber economist to speak at Directions 2005

Martin Regalia, vice president for economic and tax policy and chief economist for the U.S.

Chamber of Commerce, will be among the speakers at the 13th Annual Directions 2005 in Reno.

The event is set for Feb.

4 at the Reno Hilton.

It's sponsored by the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.

Regalia will discuss national economic trends and how they might impact business in northern Nevada.

Other speakers will include:

* Walt Higgins, chairman, president and chief executive officer for Sierra Pacific Power Co., on ways to balance the state's growth and quality of life.

* Dr.

Bill Daggett, president of the International Center for Leadership in Education.He will discuss the steps that schools need to take to close the "skills gap."

* A panel will discuss "Charting Your Road to Business Success." Panel members will include Liza Cartlidge, general manager of Harrah's Reno; William Dorey, president and chief executive officer of Granite Construction, Inc.

and Carl Vogel, president and CEO of, Charter Communications.

* Bob Boisson, market development director of the Reno Gazette-Journal, and Stephanie Digeon-Heath, the newspaper's market research manager, will discuss local demographic and economic trends.

* Lorna Shepard, vice president and director of account planning for the Rose/Glenn Group and David Line, president of InfoSearch International, will discuss a survey of local businesses about their outlook for 2005.

Tickets for Directions 2005 are $75 per person and $85 per person at the door.

Tickets for the Directions 2005 economic forum as well as a lunch and question and answer session with speakers are $100 and must be purchased in advance.

To order tickets, call 337.3044 or for more information visit reno-sparkschamber.org or edawn.org.