January 15, 2026 · UNC University Center, Grand Ballroom
Northern Colorado Economic Forecast
Where the national and Northern Colorado economy has been, and where it is going, from economist Dr. Richard L. Wobbekind and a stage of regional leaders.
Title Sponsors
Presented by BizWest
Navigating the National and Regional Economy
Renowned economist Dr. Rich Wobbekind provides insights into where the economy has been and where it is going at this highly popular luncheon, attended by over 500 people. One of BizWest’s best-attended and acclaimed events, the Economic Forecast is where Northern Colorado’s business community gathers in January to make decisions based on real data and economic predictions.
Who attends
This Program Is for You If
You want to prepare yourself and your company for economic changes in 2026. You want to understand the key drivers behind the Northern Colorado economy, and you seek insights into inflation, labor-force and supply-chain trends. You are committed to gaining all the information you can in order to make good business decisions in the new year, and you are ready to put real data into action as you budget for the new year and set goals for yourself, your employees and your company.
Keynote presentation
Dr. Richard L. Wobbekind, Leeds School of Business
Richard L. Wobbekind is Associate Dean for Business & Government Relations, Senior Economist, and Faculty Director of the Business Research Division at the University of Colorado Boulder. He joined the faculty at the Leeds School of Business in 1985 and has served as an Associate Dean since 2000. He develops an annual consensus forecast of the Colorado economy and produces the quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, and he is the president of the National Association for Business Economics.
What you take away
Learn Key Metrics for the Northern Colorado Economy
Get a boost of new strategies and perspectives to propel you forward. Joining him in 2026 were leaders from Bank of Colorado, UCHealth, NAI Affinity, Plante Moran and UNC’s Monfort College of Business. One attendee called it “overall, an excellent organization. Panel discussion at the end was excellently moderated,” and another found it “interesting to hear/learn more about the changing industry and community population trends occurring in northern Colorado.”
Sponsors
Put Your Brand in Front of 500+ Attendees
The Economic Forecast luncheon is attended by over 500 people, and the 2026 edition was backed by three title sponsors, three presenting sponsors and an associate sponsor. For sponsorship information, contact Jeff Nuttall at jnuttall@bizwest.com.
2026 program
Speakers
Scenes from the 2026 Economic Forecast
2026 Economic Forecast photos by Dick Knapp Photography
Presenting Sponsors
Associate Sponsor
2027 event details coming soon. For sponsorship information, contact Jeff Nuttall at jnuttall@bizwest.com.