About the Economic Club
Organized in 1986 as a non-profit, non-partisan corporation, the Economic Club was established in recognition of the unique and critical role that Washington plays in the national and world economies and because of the Washington metropolitan area's increasing economic diversity and importance as a center of business activity. One goal of the founders was to create a forum from which eminent global leaders from all different sectors of life could share their insights about major issues. Secondly, the founders wanted to build an organization that would generate and promote a greater sense of community among the area's top executives, regional and national government officials, and members of the diplomatic community.
Since that time, the Economic Club of Washington has evolved into a vibrant mechanism for connecting prominent business leaders in the Washington, D.C., area. It also has become an influential forum for the exploration of national and global public policy issues, ably fulfilling the dual mission for which it was formed.
Today, the Economic Club is the premier forum for leaders. The list of speakers who have addressed the Club includes a President of the United States, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, heads of the Federal Reserve Board, every Secretary of the Treasury since 1986, other Cabinet members and government officials, and leaders of Fortune 100 corporations.
The Economic Club hosts approximatelly 10 signature events a year, generally organized around a breakfast, lunch or dinner event. An average of 350 members and guests attend each meeting with attendance for some events surpassing 600.
Economic Club members are Washington area company CEOs and CFOs, entrepreneurs, investment professionals, government affairs professionals, lawyers, accountants, and local government officials. Currently, the Club has more than 600 members.
In addition to the signature events presenting featured speakers, the Economic Club sponsors other programs that draw the metropolitan region’s business community closer together and provide opportunities for area business leaders to share information and learn from each other about unique industry trends. The Club also is committed to giving back to the greater community in which our members live and work. Members actively support education initiatives that annually award $30,000 in doctoral candidate fellowships. The David M. Rubenstein/Economic Club of Washington Scholarship Program presents nearly $500,000 each year in college scholarships to seniors graduating from Washington, D.C., public schools.
History
The Economic Club of Washington was formed in the mid-1980s to fill a significant gap. At the time, the Washington business community was in the midst of a major transformation. A formerly compact community centered in the District of Columbia was diversifying and decentralizing. A growing recognition of the advantages for businesses to be located near or maintain offices or operations near the nation’s capital fueled an explosion of growth in the region. Evolving business and social dynamics fed the fire. The burgeoning technological revolution, acquisitions and mergers, deregulation, suburban sprawl, the emergence of a global economy, and diversification of the workforce contributed to a disbursement of a formerly close-knit business district.
Area leaders were quick to recognize the value an organization such as the Economic Club could have in drawing closer together a dispersed, diversified, and expanding business community. One of the first promoters was Robert Linowes, a prominent D.C.-area lawyer and civic leader who became the Economic Club’s first President. Other business leaders who were enthusiastic supporters and became the first officers of the Club were Donald E. Smiley, Vice President of Exxon Corporation, who served as Vice President; Nancy Clark Reynolds, a Partner with the public affairs firm of Wexler, Reynolds, Harrison and Schule, Inc., who was Vice President for Programs; Edwin K. Hoffman, Chairman of the Board, Woodward and Lothrop, Inc., who was Vice President for Membership; Stephen D. Harlan, Managing Partner, Peat, Marwick, Mitchell, who was Treasurer, and Kenneth R. Sparks, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal City Council who served as Secretary.
The stated purpose of the Club’s founders for establishing the Economic Club was to form a group that would serve to recognize “the unique and critical role that Washington plays in the world economy and of the area’s increasing economic diversity and importance as a center of business activity.”
Since its founding, the Economic Club has grown steadily and expanded its influence internationally. Starting with just over 100 members in its first year, the Economic Club now has more than 600 members. It is a highly valued forum for peer networking and interaction as well as thought-provoking insight into the complex issues confronting the United States and world today.
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT
David M. Rubenstein, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, The Carlyle Group
VICE PRESIDENT
Deborah I. Dingell, Chair, Manufacturing Initiative, Automotive Policy Council; President, D2 Strategies
VICE PRESIDENT - Programs
Deborah Kissire, Vice Chair, East Central Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRS
Christopher G. Caine, President and CEO, Mercator XXI, LLC
David Geanacopoulos, Executive Vice President for Public Affairs and General Counsel, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
VICE PRESIDENT - Education
Jeffrey A. Eisenach, Managing Director and Principal, Navigant Economics
VICE PRESIDENT - Finance
John C. Lee, IV, President, Schneider Electric
NOMINATING CO-CHAIRS
Carol Melton, Executive Vice President, Global Public Policy, Time Warner, Inc.
David Pollin, President, The Buccini/Pollin Group
VICE PRESIDENT - Audit
Maritza Montiel, Vice Chairman, Deloitte LLP
SECRETARY
Stuart L. Solomon, Managing Director Metro Washington, Accenture
GENERAL COUNSEL
Wendelin A. White, Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mary Brady, The Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Greg Farmer, Vice President, Government Relations, Qualcomm Inc.
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
Christopher G. Caine, President and CEO, Mercator XXI, LLC
GRANTS TASK FORCE CO-CHAIRS
Katherine Brittain Bradley, President, CityBridge Foundation
Lyles Carr, Senior Vice President, The McCormick Group, Inc.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gina Adams, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, FedEx Corporation
Meredith Baker, Senior Vice President, Governmental Affairs, NBC
Brian Berry, President, Oak Point Investors
Katherine Brittain Bradley, President, CityBridge Foundation
Teresa Carlson, Vice President, Global Public Sector, Amazon Web Services
Tim Coughlin*, Managing Director, Edgemoor Investment Advisors, Inc.
Jack Davies, Owner, Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Margaret Dunning, Principal and Chief Strategy Officer, Widmeyer Communications
Robert Flanagan, Executive Vice President, Clark Enterprises, Inc.
Michele V. Hagans, President and CEO, Fort Lincoln New Town Corporation
Michael Harreld, President, PNC Bank of Greater Washington
Kim Horn, Regional President, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States
Dr. Steven Knapp, President, George Washington University
Debra Lee, Chairman and CEO, BET Networks
Robert G. Liberatore, Director, Chrysler Group LLC
Edward J. Mathias*, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group
Kathleen Matthews, Executive Vice President, Global Communications & Public Affairs, Marriott International, Inc.
Hon. Dave McCurdy, President and CEO, American Gas Association
Susan Molinari, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations for the Americas, Google Inc.
Mark Ordan, CEO, Sunrise Senior Living, Inc.
Thomas B. Patton, (Retired) Vice President, Government Relations, Philips Electronics
Linda D. Rabbitt, Chairman and CEO, Rand Construction Corporation
Todd S. Rich, Partner, The JBG Companies
Joseph Rigby, Chairman, President and CEO, PEPCO Holdings Inc.
Kenneth A Samet, President and CEO, MedStar Health
Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association
Christopher Simmons, Washington Metro Managing Partner and U.S. Board Member, PwC
Eric Spiegel, President and CEO, Siemens
Katharine Weymouth, Publisher and CEO, The Washington Post
Jeff Wood, Market President, Bank of America
*Ex-Officio Board Members |