Bringing together over 300 civic and business leaders, the Economic Forum will highlight Long Beach’s global impact from international trade and the future 2028 Olympic Games.
The Keynote Speaker is former Olympian and record holder Ms. LaTanya Sheffield.
The keynote speaker is Ms. LaTanya Sheffield, a former Olympian and American record holder. Sheffield is in her 13th season at Long Beach State and her third as the head men’s and women’s track coach. Sheffield served as Head Women’s Coach for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In addition to her head coaching responsibilities, she worked with Team USA’s Sprinters and Hurdlers at the Paris Games. Team USA won seven gold medals, five silvers, and four bronze during the meet.
“This year Long Beach has seen an increase in its global brand visibility as the city prepares to host several Olympic Games in 2028,” notes LBEP President / CEO Leah Goold-Haws. “In 2024 Long Beach has hosted many events and activities that included an international audience. From the Inaugural Site Selectors Conference to the 49th Grand Prix Long Beach, followed by the 98th World Trade Week Breakfast held for the first time in Long Beach, leading up to Select L.A, the foreign direct investment conference in partnership with World Trade Center Los Angeles and World Trade Center Long Beach, LBEP is proud to be a proactive partner in the promotion of our city as we work to bring new business and economic opportunities to Long Beach.”
“There has been considerable uncertainty about the direction of the economy in recent months, but there is no recession in sight as we head into 2025,” said Robert Kleinhenz, Director of the CSULB Office of Economic Research. “Spurred in part by the Fed’s rate cuts, the U.S. economy is expected to grow at or above trend next year even as the inflation rate edges down. Growth at the national level will support solid economic fundamentals in Long Beach,” he said. “Most industries will see job gains, led by health care, leisure and hospitality — two of the city’s largest industries — and logistics. Lower interest rates should provide a much-needed lift to housing and other interest-sensitive segments of the economy.”
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About Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP)
LBEP is a non-profit, action-oriented organization that works to grow the economy of Long Beach and expand citywide economic opportunities with a global vision. This is achieved through locally focused partnerships, newsworthy events, and other actions that will deliver on their vision for dependable growth. LBEP works directly with companies to understand their needs and assist them in their success, providing business services ranging from site selection to incentive programs, industry-focused initiatives, and talent pipeline development.
