Bill LaFayette

Columbus Chamber
Vice President, Economic Analysis

Dr. Bill LaFayette is vice president of economic analysis for the Columbus Chamber. As the Chamber’s chief economist, he analyzes and interprets economic and demographic trends for Chamber staff, civic leaders, and the Columbus region, and helps determine the implications of those trends for policy formation within the Chamber and in the broader community.

Prior to joining the Chamber in 1999, Dr. LaFayette worked for Rickenbacker Port Authority and served on the finance and real estate faculties of Ashland University and the University of North Texas. More recently, he has been an adjunct faculty member of the Capital University School of Management and The Ohio State University’s Departments of Finance and Workforce Development.

He serves on the boards of the Short North Arts District and Community Research Partners, the Program Committee of the Columbus Metropolitan Club, and various volunteer groups benefiting the state, the region, and the historic South Side neighborhood in which he lives.

Dr. LaFayette earned a Ph.D. in real estate economics from The Ohio State University in 1994. He also holds an M.B.A. in investment management and a B.S., Summa cum Laude, in finance and accounting, both from Wright State University. He is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Columbus.

In his off hours, Bill adheres faithfully to a weight training program; takes long walks; and collects popular, jazz, and country recordings from the dawn of the talking machine more or less to the present.