Mark Zandi Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Mark M. Zandi is chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi is a co founder of the company Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005.

Dr. Zandi’s broad research interests encompass macroeconomics, financial market sand public policy. His recent research has focused on mortgage finance reform and the determinants of mortgage foreclosure and personal bankruptcy. He has analyzed the economic impact of various tax and government spending policies and assessed the appropriate monetary policy response to bubbles in asset markets.

A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress on topics including the economic outlook, the nation’s daunting fiscal challenges, the merits of fiscal stimulus, financial regulatory reform, and foreclosure mitigation.

Dr. Zandi conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations and policymakers at all levels. He is on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and The Reinvestment Fund, a large CDFI that makes investments in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He is often quoted in national and global publications and interviewed by major news media outlets, and is a frequent guest on CNBC, NPR, Meet the Press, CNN, and various other national networks and news programs.

Dr. Zandi is the author of Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century, which provides an assessment of the monetary and fiscal policy response to the Great Recession. His other book, Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, is described by the New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis.

Dr. Zandi earned his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Marisa DiNatale Senior Director - Economic Research Moody's Analytics

Marisa DiNatale is a Senior Director and Head of Global Forecasting at Moody’s. Marisa oversees all forecasting and publication operations in the Economics group within Predictive Analytics at Moody’s. Her areas of specialization and research are U.S. labor markets, household balance sheets and credit, and international economics. She is a cohost of the Moody’s weekly podcast “Inside Economics”. Marisa started her career as a labor economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, DC. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Boston University.

Adam Kamins Senior Regional Economist Moody's Analytics

Adam Kamins is a director at Moody’s Analytics. He manages the firm’s U.S. subnational forecasting process and covers a wide variety of topics related to regional economics while frequently writing and presenting about both the New York and broader Northeast economies. Adam is also responsible for state and metro area scenarios, analyzing and forecasting commercial real estate prices and activity, and quantifying the impact of external events such as natural disasters. Prior to joining Moody’s Analytics, Adam was a research manager at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, where he analyzed urban economies. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor's degree in quantitative economics from Tufts University.

Cris deRitis Deputy Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Cristian deRitis is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics, where he conducts economic analysis and develops econometric models for a wide variety of clients. His regular analysis and commentary on consumer credit, policy and the broader economy appear on the firm’s Economy.com web site and in other publications. He is regularly quoted in publications such as the Wall Street Journal for his views on the economy and consumer credit markets. Currently he is spearheading efforts to develop alternative sources of data to measure economic activity more accurately than traditional sources of data. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, Cristian worked for Fannie Mae and taught at Johns Hopkins University. He received his PhD in economics from Johns Hopkins University and is named on two U.S. patents for credit modeling techniques.

Dante DeAntonio Senior Director-Economic Research Moody's

Dante DeAntonio is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics. He manages and regularly contributes to Economic View. Dante specializes in U.S. macroeconomics, with a focus on the labor market and regional economics. Dante regularly presents to clients and conferences, and has been featured in a number of media outlets. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, he worked as an economist in the Current Employment Statistics program at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dante is also an adjunct professor in the Economics and Finance Department at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Previously, he was an adjunct in the Economics Department at Lehigh University. He holds a master’s degree and PhD in economics from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University.

Cris deRitis Deputy Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Cristian deRitis is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics, where he conducts economic analysis and develops econometric models for a wide variety of clients. His regular analysis and commentary on consumer credit, policy and the broader economy appear on the firm’s Economy.com web site and in other publications. He is regularly quoted in publications such as the Wall Street Journal for his views on the economy and consumer credit markets. Currently he is spearheading efforts to develop alternative sources of data to measure economic activity more accurately than traditional sources of data. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, Cristian worked for Fannie Mae and taught at Johns Hopkins University. He received his PhD in economics from Johns Hopkins University and is named on two U.S. patents for credit modeling techniques.

Ernesto Lopez SVP - Chief Appraiser East West Bank

Ernie serves as the Chief Appraiser at East West Bank, one of the nation's leading financial institutions with assets exceeding $70 billion. East West Bank is headquartered in Pasadena, California and has over 120 locations in the U.S. and Asia. The Bank’s markets in the United States include California, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas, and Washington.

With a career spanning over twenty-five years, Ernie is devoted to mitigating risk and deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity by staying continuously abreast of appraisal regulations, commercial and residential industry trends and technology to ensure that the appraisal processes are not only compliant but also at the forefront of best practices.

Ernie also serves as a board member to the Southern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute which has equipped him with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the appraisal field including building strong relationships. He’s always willing to help and provide guidance to fellow peers.

As the Chief Appraiser at East West Bank, he plays a central role in safeguarding the institution's investments in commercial real estate loans. His responsibilities include overseeing a team of skilled appraisers and evaluation team, conducting in-depth property evaluations, appraisal review and acting as commercial real estate consultant and providing up-to-date market data to the bank's executive leadership and team leaders.

 Outside of Ernie’s professional life, his passions include a profound love for music, particularly the guitar, and enjoys attending concerts with his daughters (he’s secretly a Swiftie😊), enjoys running (sometimes runs with his daughter, although she leaves him behind), and trying out new food hot spots.

John Hope Assistant Vice President of Lending Provident Credit Union

John Hope, Assistant Vice President of Lending at Provident Credit Union in San Francisco Bay area, is responsible for managing all residential and commercial real estate lending. John oversees the production, operations, and secondary markets using his more than thirty years of experience. Portfolio and agency servicing, hedging strategies, and credit policy are other key aspects of his career. Prior to joining Provident Credit Union, John built a wealth of knowledge and experience in various aspects of the residential mortgage space. He has been active in the originations, operations, and bulk acquisitions of many lending institutions including national banks, mortgage banks, and investment funds. He holds an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California and a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from San Jose State University.

Steve Cochrane Chief APAC Economist Moody's Analytics

Steven G. Cochrane, PhD, is Chief APAC Economist with Moody’s Analytics. He leads the Asia economic analysis and forecasting activities of the Moody’s Analytics research team, as well as the continual expansion of the company’s international, national and subnational forecast models. In addition, Steve directs consulting projects for clients to help them understand the effect of regional economic developments on their business under baseline forecasts and alternative scenarios. Steve’s expertise lies in providing clear insights into an area’s or region’s strengths, weaknesses and comparative advantages, relative to macro or global economic trends. 

A highly-regarded speaker, Dr. Cochrane has provided economic insights at hundreds of engagements over the past 20 years and has been featured on CNBC, CNA, Bloomberg TV, Wall Street Radio, and the PBS News Hour. Through his research and presentations, Steve dissects how various components of the macro and regional economies shape patterns of growth. His extensive expertise on U.S. and global economic issues makes also him a popular speaker at client conferences and executive briefings.

Steve holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Penn Institute for Urban Research Scholar. He also holds a master's degree from the University of Colorado at Denver and a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Davis.

Eric Gaus Senior Economist Moody's Analytics

Eric Gaus is an assistant director and economist with Moody’s Analytics in West Chester, with responsibilities for development and improvement of country forecast and risk models. Eric is also responsible for the Netherlands’ economic forecast. Previously, he taught macroeconomics at Ursinus College and Haverford College. He has published several academic articles on macroeconomic expectations. Eric received his PhD in economics from the University of Oregon, and a BA and MA from Boston University.

Brendan La Cerda Director - Economic Research Moody's Analytics

Brendan LaCerda is an associate director and senior economist with Moody’s Analytics. Brendan serves as the lead analyst for the Canadian economic forecast. His primary responsibilities also include the development and improvement of country forecast models. His research is primarily focused on international macroeconomics, healthcare and fiscal policy. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, Brendan worked as a senior economist with IHS Global Insight’s U.S. Macroeconomic Service. Brendan received his PhD in economics from the University of Virginia. He pursued his undergraduate education at the London School of Economics and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a BA in economics and mathematics.

Justin Begley Economist Moody's Analytics

Justin Begley is a U.S.-based economist at Moody’s Analytics. He covers the economies of Minnesota, Alabama, Wyoming, and several U.S. metro areas. His research focuses on U.S. fiscal policy, geopolitical risk, and the U.S. labor market. He also works on developing models to forecast high-frequency data of the U.S. economy and is a regular contributor to Economic View. Prior to joining Moody’s Analytics, Justin held fellowships at Florida State University and in political economy at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Justin holds a master’s of science in economics from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Canisius College.

Jared Franz Economist Capital Group

Jared Franz is an economist at Capital Group, responsible for covering the

United States. He also co-chairs the NightWatch process. He has 18 years of

investment industry experience and has been with Capital Group for nine years.

Prior to joining Capital, Jared was head of international macroeconomic research

at Hartford Investment Management Company. Before that, he was an

international and U.S. economist at T. Rowe Price. He holds a PhD in economics

from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics

from Northwestern University and attended the U.S. Naval Academy. He is also a

member of the Forecasters Club of New York, an elected member of the

Conference of Business Economists and a member of the Pacific Council. Jared

is based in Los Angeles

Mark Zandi Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Mark M. Zandi is chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi is a co founder of the company Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005.

Dr. Zandi’s broad research interests encompass macroeconomics, financial market sand public policy. His recent research has focused on mortgage finance reform and the determinants of mortgage foreclosure and personal bankruptcy. He has analyzed the economic impact of various tax and government spending policies and assessed the appropriate monetary policy response to bubbles in asset markets.

A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress on topics including the economic outlook, the nation’s daunting fiscal challenges, the merits of fiscal stimulus, financial regulatory reform, and foreclosure mitigation.

Dr. Zandi conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations and policymakers at all levels. He is on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and The Reinvestment Fund, a large CDFI that makes investments in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He is often quoted in national and global publications and interviewed by major news media outlets, and is a frequent guest on CNBC, NPR, Meet the Press, CNN, and various other national networks and news programs.

Dr. Zandi is the author of Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century, which provides an assessment of the monetary and fiscal policy response to the Great Recession. His other book, Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, is described by the New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis.

Dr. Zandi earned his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Mark Zandi Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Mark M. Zandi is chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi is a co founder of the company Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005.

Dr. Zandi’s broad research interests encompass macroeconomics, financial market sand public policy. His recent research has focused on mortgage finance reform and the determinants of mortgage foreclosure and personal bankruptcy. He has analyzed the economic impact of various tax and government spending policies and assessed the appropriate monetary policy response to bubbles in asset markets.

A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress on topics including the economic outlook, the nation’s daunting fiscal challenges, the merits of fiscal stimulus, financial regulatory reform, and foreclosure mitigation.

Dr. Zandi conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations and policymakers at all levels. He is on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and The Reinvestment Fund, a large CDFI that makes investments in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He is often quoted in national and global publications and interviewed by major news media outlets, and is a frequent guest on CNBC, NPR, Meet the Press, CNN, and various other national networks and news programs.

Dr. Zandi is the author of Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century, which provides an assessment of the monetary and fiscal policy response to the Great Recession. His other book, Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, is described by the New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis.

Dr. Zandi earned his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Cris deRitis Deputy Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Cristian deRitis is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics, where he conducts economic analysis and develops econometric models for a wide variety of clients. His regular analysis and commentary on consumer credit, policy and the broader economy appear on the firm’s Economy.com web site and in other publications. He is regularly quoted in publications such as the Wall Street Journal for his views on the economy and consumer credit markets. Currently he is spearheading efforts to develop alternative sources of data to measure economic activity more accurately than traditional sources of data. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, Cristian worked for Fannie Mae and taught at Johns Hopkins University. He received his PhD in economics from Johns Hopkins University and is named on two U.S. patents for credit modeling techniques.

Brendan La Cerda Director - Economic Research Moody's Analytics

Brendan LaCerda is an associate director and senior economist with Moody’s Analytics. Brendan serves as the lead analyst for the Canadian economic forecast. His primary responsibilities also include the development and improvement of country forecast models. His research is primarily focused on international macroeconomics, healthcare and fiscal policy. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, Brendan worked as a senior economist with IHS Global Insight’s U.S. Macroeconomic Service. Brendan received his PhD in economics from the University of Virginia. He pursued his undergraduate education at the London School of Economics and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a BA in economics and mathematics.

Steve Cochrane Chief APAC Economist Moody's Analytics

Steven G. Cochrane, PhD, is Chief APAC Economist with Moody’s Analytics. He leads the Asia economic analysis and forecasting activities of the Moody’s Analytics research team, as well as the continual expansion of the company’s international, national and subnational forecast models. In addition, Steve directs consulting projects for clients to help them understand the effect of regional economic developments on their business under baseline forecasts and alternative scenarios. Steve’s expertise lies in providing clear insights into an area’s or region’s strengths, weaknesses and comparative advantages, relative to macro or global economic trends. 

A highly-regarded speaker, Dr. Cochrane has provided economic insights at hundreds of engagements over the past 20 years and has been featured on CNBC, CNA, Bloomberg TV, Wall Street Radio, and the PBS News Hour. Through his research and presentations, Steve dissects how various components of the macro and regional economies shape patterns of growth. His extensive expertise on U.S. and global economic issues makes also him a popular speaker at client conferences and executive briefings.

Steve holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Penn Institute for Urban Research Scholar. He also holds a master's degree from the University of Colorado at Denver and a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Davis.

Marisa DiNatale Senior Director - Economic Research Moody's Analytics

Marisa DiNatale is a Senior Director and Head of Global Forecasting at Moody’s. Marisa oversees all forecasting and publication operations in the Economics group within Predictive Analytics at Moody’s. Her areas of specialization and research are U.S. labor markets, household balance sheets and credit, and international economics. She is a cohost of the Moody’s weekly podcast “Inside Economics”. Marisa started her career as a labor economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, DC. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Boston University.

Dante DeAntonio Senior Director-Economic Research Moody's

Dante DeAntonio is a senior director at Moody’s Analytics. He manages and regularly contributes to Economic View. Dante specializes in U.S. macroeconomics, with a focus on the labor market and regional economics. Dante regularly presents to clients and conferences, and has been featured in a number of media outlets. Before joining Moody’s Analytics, he worked as an economist in the Current Employment Statistics program at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dante is also an adjunct professor in the Economics and Finance Department at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Previously, he was an adjunct in the Economics Department at Lehigh University. He holds a master’s degree and PhD in economics from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University.

Adam Kamins Senior Regional Economist Moody's Analytics

Adam Kamins is a director at Moody’s Analytics. He manages the firm’s U.S. subnational forecasting process and covers a wide variety of topics related to regional economics while frequently writing and presenting about both the New York and broader Northeast economies. Adam is also responsible for state and metro area scenarios, analyzing and forecasting commercial real estate prices and activity, and quantifying the impact of external events such as natural disasters. Prior to joining Moody’s Analytics, Adam was a research manager at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, where he analyzed urban economies. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor's degree in quantitative economics from Tufts University.

Eric Gaus Senior Economist Moody's Analytics

Eric Gaus is an assistant director and economist with Moody’s Analytics in West Chester, with responsibilities for development and improvement of country forecast and risk models. Eric is also responsible for the Netherlands’ economic forecast. Previously, he taught macroeconomics at Ursinus College and Haverford College. He has published several academic articles on macroeconomic expectations. Eric received his PhD in economics from the University of Oregon, and a BA and MA from Boston University.

Justin Begley Economist Moody's Analytics

Justin Begley is a U.S.-based economist at Moody’s Analytics. He covers the economies of Minnesota, Alabama, Wyoming, and several U.S. metro areas. His research focuses on U.S. fiscal policy, geopolitical risk, and the U.S. labor market. He also works on developing models to forecast high-frequency data of the U.S. economy and is a regular contributor to Economic View. Prior to joining Moody’s Analytics, Justin held fellowships at Florida State University and in political economy at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Justin holds a master’s of science in economics from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Canisius College.

Jared Franz Economist Capital Group

Jared Franz is an economist at Capital Group, responsible for covering the

United States. He also co-chairs the NightWatch process. He has 18 years of

investment industry experience and has been with Capital Group for nine years.

Prior to joining Capital, Jared was head of international macroeconomic research

at Hartford Investment Management Company. Before that, he was an

international and U.S. economist at T. Rowe Price. He holds a PhD in economics

from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics

from Northwestern University and attended the U.S. Naval Academy. He is also a

member of the Forecasters Club of New York, an elected member of the

Conference of Business Economists and a member of the Pacific Council. Jared

is based in Los Angeles

Ernesto Lopez SVP - Chief Appraiser East West Bank

Ernie serves as the Chief Appraiser at East West Bank, one of the nation's leading financial institutions with assets exceeding $70 billion. East West Bank is headquartered in Pasadena, California and has over 120 locations in the U.S. and Asia. The Bank’s markets in the United States include California, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas, and Washington.

With a career spanning over twenty-five years, Ernie is devoted to mitigating risk and deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity by staying continuously abreast of appraisal regulations, commercial and residential industry trends and technology to ensure that the appraisal processes are not only compliant but also at the forefront of best practices.

Ernie also serves as a board member to the Southern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute which has equipped him with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the appraisal field including building strong relationships. He’s always willing to help and provide guidance to fellow peers.

As the Chief Appraiser at East West Bank, he plays a central role in safeguarding the institution's investments in commercial real estate loans. His responsibilities include overseeing a team of skilled appraisers and evaluation team, conducting in-depth property evaluations, appraisal review and acting as commercial real estate consultant and providing up-to-date market data to the bank's executive leadership and team leaders.

 Outside of Ernie’s professional life, his passions include a profound love for music, particularly the guitar, and enjoys attending concerts with his daughters (he’s secretly a Swiftie😊), enjoys running (sometimes runs with his daughter, although she leaves him behind), and trying out new food hot spots.

John Hope Assistant Vice President of Lending Provident Credit Union

John Hope, Assistant Vice President of Lending at Provident Credit Union in San Francisco Bay area, is responsible for managing all residential and commercial real estate lending. John oversees the production, operations, and secondary markets using his more than thirty years of experience. Portfolio and agency servicing, hedging strategies, and credit policy are other key aspects of his career. Prior to joining Provident Credit Union, John built a wealth of knowledge and experience in various aspects of the residential mortgage space. He has been active in the originations, operations, and bulk acquisitions of many lending institutions including national banks, mortgage banks, and investment funds. He holds an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California and a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from San Jose State University.