The Kruse Way Economic Forum was founded in April 2001 as a venue for informed presentations and open discussion of social, economic, and political issues affecting the Portland metro area and the Pacific Northwest. Our goal is to help local businesses, professionals, and academic leaders stay informed and up-to-date on key issues them and the region. We hope to stimulate actions and understanding to address these issues in a thoughtful and positive manner.
Visit our Facebook page for more details on past events.
Past Kruse Way Economic Forums:
2023
• Affordable Housing and the Impact on Businesses
• Economic Forecast: Soft or Hard Landing? What’s a Business to Do?
2022
• Reimagining the Unicorn: Effective Recruiting Strategies to Find and Keep Top Talent
• Economic Forecast: Inflation, Labor Shortage (and Maybe Recession?) with Dr. Bill Conerly
2021
• Economic Outlook: From Pandemics to Climate Change -- Adapting Your Business in 2021 and Beyond
2020
2019
• How Do Businesses Cope with the Tight Labor Market and Coming Labor Shortage?
• Adapting Your Business to the Transportation and Affordable Housing Problems Facing the Metro Region
2018
• How to be Competitive in an Online World?
• Economic Outlook: Portland and the Risk of Recession
2017
• Disruptive Innovation in a Post-Mobile World: How You Can Transform Your Business, Create New Value and Stay Ahead of Your Competition
• Economic Game Changers: Can Oregon Businesses Remain Profitable?
2016
• In the Eighth Year - Stuck in Second Gear?
• Work Culture and Talent Gap
2015
• The Economic Outlook: New Opportunities and Risk in the Evolving Business Cycle
• Performance Coaching: Learning the tangible tools that will equip you to bring out the best in every associate
2014
• Oregon Tech: How the Technology Industry is Fueling Innovation and Economic Growth
• From Emergency Room to Recovery Room to Leaving the Hospital: The Oregon Economy is Healed
2013
• Finding your successor in the multi-generational workforce
• Economic perspectives: what to expect in business and real estate in 2014
2012
• Starve Ups: how to accelerate your business growth
• Investing in Oregon’s Future
2011
• Ten things you should know before starting a business
• When will it feel good again? Economic Outlook 2012-2013
2010
• Three Oregon businesses succeeding in the current economy...and how they are doing it
• Peering out of the foxhole at the Stimulus, the Deficit, and the Economic Upturn
2009
• Security Credit in Today’s Economy
• Imagining the Future: how emerging Technologies will change your business
2008
• Financial storm or financial climate change? What businesses and families should do now to prepare
• Protecting your company in the digital age
2007
• Love ‘em or lose ‘em: how to attract and retain your ideal workforce
• Economic forecast 2008: how to profit in any economic cycle
2006
• Oregon Businesses going international: Opportunities in the Global Marketplace
• Which way will the pendulum swing? Economic forecast 2007
2005
• Issues facing closely-held businesses
• The future of the Pacific Northwest: a dynamic glimpse into the potential of globalization, Demographics, technology, and social change