David HuetherHuether's outstanding work enabled him last April to join the Board of Economists for the Associated Press (AP), the world's largest news organization. He also is a member of the Economic Panel for ABC News, and has been chairman of the Manufacturing Roundtable with the National Association of Business Economics. In his role at the NAM, Huether had served as economic forecaster and spokesperson on economic issues, contributing forecasts, insights and opinions about U.S. economic trends and policies through quarterly surveys and interviews. He also commented on financial and industry trends and policies impacting America's industrial base and its ability to contribute to job creation and global competitiveness, issues very similar to what the travel industry faces. Before joining the NAM in 1997, David worked as an economist with the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He received his undergraduate degree from Guilford College in North Carolina in 1990 and his graduate degree in economics from George Washington University in 1997. Huether will have the benefit of insights from U.S. Travel's long-time head of research Suzanne Cook, who retired from the organization in the fall and continues to serve as an advisor.