Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce host Dr. Arun Raha, Washington state’s chief economist and executive director of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, as the guest speaker at its membership luncheon next week.

The topic, “Economic Out-look: What will the recovery look like?”

Raha is responsible for the preparation and presentation of quarterly forecasts of Washington’s economy and general fund revenues.

He also advises state legislative committees and other government agencies regarding economic and revenue activity in the state. 
Raha was formerly vice president of economic research at Swiss Re in New York, a leading global reinsurer, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

He has won two national forecasting awards, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s top overall forecast prize for 2007, and the Wall Street Journal’s forecasting award in January 2005.

Raha has served on the Ohio Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, and is a former member of the Board of the Automotive Market Research Council.

He has a Ph.D. in economics from Washington State University, and a masters from the Delhi School of Economics.


The luncheon will be held on May 13 at 11:30 a.m. in the McCormick Woods banquet room. 

Meeting reservations are required and can be made at the chamber Web site, www.portorchard.com, or by calling (360) 876-3505.

The chamber requests that reservations be made by 11 a.m. on May 11.

General membership luncheon meetings are open to members and non-members.

Chamber members pay $20 if prepaid and $22 at the door, non-chamber members pay $22 and must pay in advance.