Christopher Thornberg is Director of the UC Riverside Center for Economic Forecasting at the School of Business Administration (SoBA) and an Adjunct Professor at SoBA. He is also the Founding Partner of Beacon Economics LLC. Dr. Thornberg is widely considered to be one of the nation’s leading economists. An expert in economic forecasting, regional economics, labor markets, economic policy, and real estate analysis, he was one of the earliest and most adamant predictors of the subprime mortgage market crash that began in 2007, and of the global economic recession that followed. Since 2006, he has served on the advisory board of Wall Street hedge fund, Paulson & Co. Inc. In 2015, he was named to California State Treasurer John Chiang's Council of Economic Advisors, the body that advises the Treasurer on emerging strengths and vulnerabilities within the state’s economy. From 2008 to 2012, he served as economic advisor to the California State Controller's Office, and as Chair of then State Controller John Chiang's Council of Economic Advisors.
A highly sought after speaker, Dr. Thornberg regularly presents to leading business, government, and nonprofit organizations across the globe including Chevron, The New Yorker, City National Bank, REOMAC, the California State Association of Counties, Colliers International, State Farm Insurance, the City of Los Angeles, and the California and Nevada Credit Union League, among many others. He has testified before the U.S. Congress House Committee on Financial Services on municipal debt issues, and before the California State Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation regarding rule changes related to Proposition 13.
Dr. Thornberg has been involved in conducting research and developing analytic products for international clients that explore the trade and economic connections between the United States and the world. This has included analysis and speaking presentations regarding the impact that U.S. trading partners have on U.S. global competitiveness for the Centre for Investor Education in Melbourne Australia, the state of U.S. and U.K. housing markets for the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and U.S. and international economic outlooks and their effect on global trade activity for the African Cashew Alliance in Cotonou, Benin. He has also conducted a number of special studies measuring the effect of important events on the economy including the NAFTA treaty, the California electricity crisis, port security, California's water transfer programs, and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Adam J. Fowler is Director of Research at the UC Riverside School of Business Center for Economic Forecasting and Development. Mr. Fowler is responsible for overseeing the Center’s research staff and leading projects on environmental economics and domestic energy, public opinion and attitudes, public policy analysis, and regional economics. His research interests include the intersection of behavioral economics and public policy. In addition to his role at the Center, he is also Director of Research at Beacon Economics LLC.

He formerly served as Research Manager and prior to joining the Center, was a member of the Fox Uncertainty Lab and the Consortium of Behavioral Scientists. He served as a teaching assistant in American Government, Public Opinion, and Introductory Game Theory at UCLA. Mr. Fowler also worked as a producer on a documentary film that was acquired by HBO. He has been interviewed by the New York Times and has appeared in statewide publications including the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times. He is a member of the American Political Science Association, the American Association for Public Opinion Research, and the International Documentary Association.

Mr. Fowler holds an M.A. degree in Political Science from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and pursued a Ph.D. in Political Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Mr. McBride is a lifelong San Bernardino County resident who has spent his 24-year professional career progressively working his way through the County Government organization, most recently as Chief Financial Officer. He was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve as Chief Executive Officer for the County of San Bernardino effective November 25, 2017.

Mr. McBride holds two degrees from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) – a bachelor’s degree in economics, and a master’s degree in public administration.

Mr. McBride serves on the Board of Directors and Investment Committee of the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation, the Advisory Board of the CSUSB Department of Public Administration, and the CSUSB Economics Department Scholarship Committee. He also serves as treasurer of the Los Angeles region of California Creativity, an affiliate of Destination Imagination, which is a nonprofit organization that conducts an annual international challenge based creative problem solving competition within six categories: technical, scientific, engineering, fine arts, service learning, and improvisational performance. Participants come to compete from 45 U.S. states and over 30 countries, including large contingents from China and South Korea.

With more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, Mark Thorpe is responsible for the development and sustainability of Ontario International Airport (ONT). He brings with him a plethora of experience and enthusiasm for aviation, and new vision for Ontario International
Airport to become a world class airport experience for the nearly
5-million passengers that come through the terminals. Mark has positioned ONT as the first airport to dynamically price and yield-manage parking, has reach agreements with Uber and Lyft, added eight new restaurants, and partnered to develop TSA pilot programs that have increased throughput through innovative use of technology and procedures.
Prior to being named CEO for ONT, Mark served and excelled as the Chief Development Officer by increasing passenger and cargo air service, along with all development opportunities for the OIAA.
Before joining the OIAA team, Mark oversaw the newly formed Cargo Business Development group at Dallas International Airport (DFW), leading the airport’s business development efforts with freight forwarders, supply chain managers, shippers, and airport cargo handlers. He has experience in more than 40 countries in the Asia/Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Mark and his wife reside in Irvine California, his wife’s home town,
with their two daughters and one son.