Executive Board Gregory Daco, President Gregory Daco is a senior principal economist in the U.S. Macroeconomics Group of IHS Global Insight. His primary responsibility is tracking and forecasting the international trade and government sectors using IHS Global Insight's U.S. Macroeconomic Model. Daco is also responsible for developing monthly alternative scenarios for short- and medium-term forecasts. His expertise includes U.S. government policy, international trade, and monetary policy. Prior to joining IHS, Daco worked in the economic affairs department of the Belgian Embassy in Australia and Switzerland. He holds a master's degree in economics from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration from Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. Daco has been a member of the National Association for Business Economics since 2008 and is a founding member of NABE Boston. Hanna Luchnikava, Vice President Hanna Luchnikava is a South Asia economist with the Global Economics Group of IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts. Her research focuses on macroeconomic, financial, and business developments in South Asian markets, as well as Mongolia, Myanmar, and Laos. Prior to joining IHS in 2009, Luchnikava worked at the World Bank's Development Economics Research Group and at McKinsey and Co. She has a master's degree in international economics and finance from the International Business School at Brandeis University and a bachelor's in international relations from the Belarusian State University. She speaks fluent English, Russian and Spanish. Luchnikava has been a member of the National Association for Business Economics since 2010, and she is a founding member of NABE Boston. Jonathan H. Francis, Secretary Jonathan H. Francis has been a member of the National Association for Business Economics since 1989 and served on the board of directors in 2001-2002. Francis has been a member of the Conference of Business Economists since 1987 and served as its chairman in 2000. Upon completing his Ph.D. in international economics and stabilization policy at the University of Michigan, Francis went to work for the Bank of Canada in Ottawa. He returned to the United States to join Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates in Philadelphia. He has also worked for the First Boston Corporation, RHO Management Company – both in New York – and finished his career at Putnam Investments in Boston. In 2011, Francis earned a Certificate in Art and Appraisal Studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. He has established Bien Fait Decorative Arts Valuation Services LLC to develop his interest in decorative arts as a valuation specialist and an appraiser. He is secretary of the Boston Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers. Leslie Levesque, Treasurer Leslie Levesque is a senior economist in the U.S. and Global Consumer Markets group at IHS Global Insight. She is responsible for analyzing and forecasting U.S. retail sales segments, as well as detailed consumer expenditures and prices, consumer finance, income distribution and demographics. She also specializes in U.S. small business. Levesque previously worked for Bain Capital and Putnam Investments. She has a master's degree in international economics from Suffolk University in Boston and a bachelor's in business administration from Plymouth State University. Levesque has been a member of the National Association for Business Economics since 2010. Kimberly Blanton, Public Relations Officer Kimberly Blanton is a veteran financial and economics reporter who developed and writes a blog, Squared Away, for the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.  The blog provides news and research findings about financial behavior, psychology, and the U.S. money and debt culture that shapes our decisions. Blanton worked for 17 years at The Boston Globe and has also written for The Economist, The Dallas Times Herald, Boston Magazine, CFO magazine and many other publications.  She has appeared regularly on national and New England television and radio. She holds a master's degree in economics from Indiana University and lives in Somerville. She is a founding member of NABE Boston and can be reached at kimberly.blanton@rcn.com