Todd Buchholz, economist and former White House senior economic adviser for former President George H.W. Bush, is the keynote speaker for the 18th Annual Economic Growth Summit, set for 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Crown Reef Conference Center in Myrtle Beach. Economist Frank Rainwater and Professor Robert Salvino will also speak at the event, which is sponsored by the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at Coastal Carolina University and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Buchholz, who is a frequent commentator on the state of various markets, is also a past managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, a former teacher of economics at Harvard, a frequent guest on ABC News, PBS, CBS and the host of his own CNBC special, "Open Exchange with Todd Buchholz." A best-selling author, he has also written articles for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Reader's Digest, and has been a keynote speaker for groups such as Microsoft, IBM, Goldman Sachs and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Buchholz is also co-producer of the Broadway smash and Tony Award-winning musical "Jersey Boys." He has an M.A. in economics from Cambridge and a law degree from Harvard, and he received the Allyn Young Teaching Prize from the Harvard University Department of Economics.

Rainwater, executive director of the S.C. Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, is the guest speaker at the summit. He brings a diverse background of nearly 30 years of economic and legal experience to his position. Prior to his appointment to executive director, Rainwater served as chief economist and assistant general counsel to the S.C. Budget & Control Board, where he provided economic and revenue forecasts, fiscal analysis of tax law changes and legal advice to board programs. He also has served as deputy state treasurer and general counsel, where he focused primarily on investments, debt, banking and cash management issues for the state and its agencies. A native of Columbia, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Clemson University, a master's degree in economics from the University of South Carolina and a juris doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Salvino, CCU's research economist, will also provide an economic outlook for the Grand Strand area. Salvino, associate professor of economics, joined the CCU faculty in 2007. He earned a bachelor's degree in geology from Marshall University in 1997, as well as a master's degree and a Ph.D. in economics from Georgia State University in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Previously, he was a research associate at the Fiscal Research Center in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. He has served as a financial research consultant for the CThree Group in Atlanta. Salvino also taught economics at Georgia Military College.

The cost of the summit is $20 in advance, $25 at the door and $500 for a corporate table of eight; on the day of the event, only cash or check will be accepted at the door. Registration and breakfast begin at 8 a.m. CCU faculty, staff and students are admitted free, but registration is required. To register, visit coastal.edu/growthsummit. The deadline for advance registration is Tuesday, Oct. 13, at noon.

All proceeds from the Growth Summit will benefit the Wall College's Center for Economic and Community Development, a research and information center for economic data for the region that serves as a bridge between the University and community.

For more information, contact Wendi Lee at wlee@coastal.edu or 843-349-2284.