FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stuart G. Hoffman, chief economist for one of the country's leading financial services organizations, will address the inaugural INVESTFlorida Equity Conference on Dec. 7 in Hollywood, Fla., organizers announced today.
Hoffman is senior vice president and chief economist for The PNC Financial Services Group, which has more than $263 billion in assets and provides consumer and small business banking to customers in 15 states. PNC Financial Services Group offers corporate and institutional banking and residential mortgage banking services across the continental U.S.
As the opening conference speaker, Hoffman will join a presentation lineup that includes some of Florida's leading public companies and INVESTFlorida keynote speaker Mike Jackson, the chief executive from AutoNation who is widely regarded as one of the automotive industry's most influential and effective leaders.
The conference, to be held at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Fla., allows Florida public company executives to interact with professional money managers, institutional investors and analysts through formal presentations and one-on-one meetings. Leaders such as Jackson and Hoffman will address broader economic issues that affect public companies across the state of Florida and beyond.
"Stu Hoffman has earned a solid reputation as one of the leading economists in the country, and we are proud to have him address this conference," said Terry McWilliams, conference chairman and president of Mozaic Investor Relations, Inc. "We are looking forward to the regional and national perspectives he will share."
Hoffman was recognized as the second most accurate economic and interest rate forecaster for 2006 by USA Today and as the most accurate forecaster for 2004 by BusinessWeek. In addition, he was named one of the top forecasters in The Wall Street Journal economic survey covering the 1988 to 2009 period.
He is frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Barron's. In addition, he is a regular guest on CNBC, Bloomberg TV and The Wall Street Journal Radio Report. He is regularly interviewed by the Associated Press and Reuter's news wire services.
Hoffman is currently serving as chairman of the American Bankers Economic Advisory Committee. He also serves on the board of directors of the Economic Club of Pittsburgh - the local chapter of National Association for Business Economics (NABE). He is a past president of the National Association for Business Economics.
Hoffman joined PNC in 1980 after a six-year tenure with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He became vice president and senior economist for PNC in 1987 and was elected senior vice president and chief economist in 1991.
"We're looking forward to hearing the views of such a well-known economist," said Justin Stone, audit partner at public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Horwath LLP. "His keen observations will be a great addition to an already-strong speaker line-up."
"We are pleased to have such a distinguished economist share his insights. Conference attendees will certainly benefit from his knowledge," said Tammy Knight, a partner with the law firm Holland & Knight.
INVESTFlorida is overseen by a steering committee that includes investment community professionals, public company executives and business leaders. Crowe Horwath and Holland & Knight are title sponsors; PNC Financial Services Group is a platinum sponsor and NASDAQ OMX a gold sponsor. Organizing sponsors include CFA Society chapters in South Florida, Orlando and Naples; Financial Executive International chapters in Florida and National Investor Relations Institute chapters in South and Central Florida.
For more information about the conference and participation, contact Chairman Terry McWilliams at 813.964.7454, terrym@mozaicir.com or contact any of the steering committee members listed below. More information is also available at the INVESTFlorida website: www.invest-fl.com. For a publication-ready photo of Mr. Hoffman, please contact Terry McWilliams.
The INVESTFlorida logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13597