Robert Dye, PhD
Comerica
Senior Vice President and Chief Economist
SFPA Annual Meeting Day 1 - Session 1

Robert A. Dye, Ph.D., is Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Comerica Bank. He leads the Comerica Economics Department and provides commentary and research on the U.S. economy and the economies of Michigan, Texas, California, Arizona and Florida to Comerica, its clients and to national and regional media outlets.

Dye is the winner of the prestigious Lawrence R. Klein Award for 2015 for having the most accurate macroeconomic forecasts among the nation’s top forecasters.

Prior to joining Comerica, Dye was Senior Vice President and Senior Economist for PNC Financial Services Group. Previously, he served as Vice President and Economist at Realpoint and Senior Economist for Moody’s Economy.com and Wharton Econometrics. He is on the board of directors of the National Association of Business Economics and past president of the Economic Club of Pittsburgh. A graduate of Marietta College, Dye earned a BS in Petroleum Engineering. He holds a master’s degree in Natural Resources from Ball State University and a doctorate in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Paul Lainis
IRI
EVP Marketing & Shopper Intelligence
SFPA Annual Meeting - Day 2

Paul presently serves as Executive Vice President Market and Shopper Intelligence at IRI. He is focused every day on working with IRI’s clients to better understand the connection between shopper attitudes, need states, path to purchase, and media consumption habits, that led to a consumer’s purchase decision. Focus is on getting to the why! …linking attitudes and behavior, to drive IRI’s customer’s brand & sales planning with their retailer partners to realize Growth Delivered.

Paul holds an MBA & MA International Commerce from SUNY - Buffalo

William Hallman, Ph.D.
Rutgers University
Professor/Chair, Department of Human Ecology
SFPA Annual Meeting Day 1 - Session 2

William K. Hallman is a professor and Chair of the Department of Human Ecology and is a member of the graduate faculty of the Department of Nutritional Sciences, and of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He is a 1983 graduate of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and earned his PhD. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina in 1989. Dr. Hallman's research examines public perceptions of controversial issues concerning food, health, and the environment. Recent research projects have looked at consumer perceptions and behaviors concerning genetically modified foods, animal cloning, avian influenza, accidental and intentional food contamination incidents, and food recalls. His current research projects include studies of public perceptions and responses to food safety risks, the safety of fresh meat, poultry, game, and seafood products purchased on the Internet, the use of nanotechnology in food, and public understanding of health claims made for food products. Dr. Hallman serves on the Executive Committee of Rutgers Against Hunger (RAH), and helped to found the New Brunswick Community Farmers Market, which offers food insecure residents access to fresh, locally grown, affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate produce and other food products. Dr. Hallman formerly served as the Director of the Food Policy Institute (FPI) at Rutgers, and currently serves as the Chair of the Risk Communication Advisory Committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Chandler Keys
Keys Group
Principal
SFPA Annual Meeting - Day 2

Chandler Keys, current Principal at Keys Group, grew up on a family farm in Maryland. In addition to helping his family raise purebred Angus cattle and grow various grain crops, he was active in 4-H and other agriculture clubs. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, Chandler held an entry level position with National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA).

Over the next two decades, Chandler stayed with NCBA and moved up within the organization. He became the Vice President for Government and Industry Relations where he led the 20+ staff in the Washington DC office. His leadership on farm policy, food safety, trade, animal health, taxes, farm credit, and several other issues helped ensure a strong voice for America’s farmers and ranchers in Washington. Chandler then took his leadership to Swift & Company, later JBS, until he began Keys Group in 2012. Chandler and his family live in Maryland.