FRAMINGHAM – Framingham State University’s MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC) is slated to hold its 30th Annual Conference on Wednesday, June 7th, featuring the theme “Navigating the Rough Waters of the Economy.”
The conference will take place at 8 a.m. in the McCarthy Center Forum at Framingham State University. Admission is free of charge with registration.
MERC was established in 1991 by FSU faculty who collect and analyze data related to economic and demographic conditions in several Massachusetts regions including MetroWest, Greater Franklin, 495/MW Corridor, Greater Marlborough and South Shore. FSU Economics majors serve as student interns.
The keynote speaker during the conference is Dr. Mark Melnik, the Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at the UMass Donahue Institute. Dr. Melnik specializes in demographic, socio-economic, and labor market issues and leads a 15-person team working on variety of economic and public policy research projects informing clients in government, private industry, and the non-profit sectors.
Other featured speakers include:
Anna C. Cross, Executive Director of the MetroWest Non-Profit Network
Meredith Harris, Executive Director of the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation
Michael McAuliffe, Chairman, President and CEO of Middlesex Savings Bank
Sarkis Sarkisian, Director of Planning and Community Development, City of Framingham
First Parish Framingham 
Plymouth Church 
Christa McAuliffe Center