Veteran economist to lead Dodge in tracking, analyzing and forecasting construction activity and further strengthen company’s position as the premier industry leader
Dodge Data & Analytics, the leading provider of North American construction analytics, has announced the appointments of Richard Branch as Chief Economist and Kim Kennedy, as the Director of Forecasting. Richard Branch will succeed Robert Murray, Dodge’s longstanding Chief Economist and Vice President, who retired at the end of August.
An industry veteran with over 20 years of experience as an economist, Richard has served as Senior Economist at Dodge for 10 years. As Chief Economist, Richard’s primary focus will be to ensure Dodge’s continued preeminence in tracking, analyzing and forecasting North American construction activity, and to work closely with clients as well as national, regional, and trade media to share this insight. This includes continued execution of the monthly Dodge Momentum Index, National Construction Starts research, and Dodge Construction Outlook—a seminal reference for the industry. Richard holds a master’s degree in Economics from Boston College, and an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Ottawa in Canada.
“Throughout my years at Dodge, I’ve had the privilege of working directly with Robert Murray and his team of expert economists that have their fingers firmly on the pulse of the construction industry,” said Richard Branch. “As Chief Economist, I’m excited and eager to build upon an already strong foundation, and further solidify Dodge as the premier, go-to resource for construction industry insight and authority on data, trends, and market activity.”
To support these efforts, Kim Kennedy, Manager of Forecasting, will also take on an expanded role as Director of Forecasting and will co-author the annual Outlook report and flagship quarterly Construction Market Forecasting Service publications. A member of Dodge for over 20 years, Kim has more than 30 years of professional experience in construction economics, macroeconomics, consumer, and labor economics. Kim holds a master’s degree in Economics from Northeastern University.
Both executives will be present at the 81st Annual Dodge Construction Outlook Conference to be held in Chicago on October 31, 2019. There, Richard will keynote the event and present the 2020 Outlook report findings – which include a deep dive of current and future construction opportunities across the U.S. and beyond. The data explores trends, issues, and the construction market forecast for the year ahead, and plays a critical role in business strategy development for the industry.
For those interested in attending Outlook, Dodge’s “Early Bird” rate has been extended through mid-September. To learn more or to register for the event, please visit: http://www.dodgeoutlook2020.com/
About Dodge Data & Analytics: Dodge Data & Analytics is North America’s leading provider of analytics and software-based workflow integration solutions for the construction industry. Building product manufacturers, architects, engineers, contractors, and service providers leverage Dodge to identify and pursue unseen growth opportunities and execute on those opportunities for enhanced business performance. Whether it’s on a local, regional or national level, Dodge makes the hidden obvious, empowering its clients to better understand their markets, uncover key relationships, size growth opportunities, and pursue those opportunities with success. The company’s construction project information is the most comprehensive and verified in the industry. Dodge is leveraging its 100-year-old legacy of continuous innovation to help the industry meet the building challenges of the future. To learn more, visit: www.construction.com.
