Jack Burke Serves On 2010 Economic Forecast Panel
December 29, 2009

CHARLOTTE, NC - Jack Burke, CEO of Burke Communications, was an invited speaker on the 2010 Economic Forecast panel hosted by the Mecklenburg Times. The event, held November 5 at the Ritz Carlton Charlotte, featured 20 local business leaders presenting the trends and issues that will play a critical role in the Charlotte regional economy in the coming year.

Burke presented as part of the Business Outlook panel, which examined the economic issues and trends that will impact Charlotte and its future. He sees the environment and online marketing as important growth areas in the coming year.

"Businesses are still looking carefully at how they spend their marketing dollars as we work our way out of the recession. They want to both get the most for their money and make sure that their brand is represented favorably across all marketing vehicles. The 'Green' movement is definitely tied into that - people want to know they are supporting companies that take care of the environment, so we're doing less print work and more websites and other online marketing and advertising," said Burke.

"As a result, we're also seeing that companies will continue to refine their online presence to ensure that their mission, message and vision are represented effectively on their websites. Since most referrals and leads now come through the Internet, we're doing more and more search engine optimization (SEO) and online advertising campaigns to make sure that potential buyers can easily find our clients," he said.

The 2010 Economic Forecast event was hosted by Mecklenburg Times and North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and sponsored by Robert Half. In addition to the Business Outlook panel, other experts presented in the areas of Banking and Finance, Staffing and Employment, Real Estate and Construction, and

State and Local Government.

"Because of industry experts like Jack Burke participating as panelists in the 2010 Economic Forecast, we were able to provide a much-needed glimpse into the coming year for the local business community," said Tonya Mathis, Publisher of The Mecklenburg Times. "There has been nothing like this event in the greater Charlotte area that spoke specifically to the general business population and was of value to business of all sizes, not just the large corporations. We considered the event a success and look forward the 2011 Economic Forecast."