Please join us in AREA’s 2026 Greater Albuquerque Economic Momentum is an annual convening that highlights the region’s economic progress and sets the stage for the next phase of strategic planning following the conclusion of AREA’s 1.0 strategy.
The event brings together business, government, education, and community leaders to review data-driven outcomes, discuss regional competitiveness, and align on future priorities. With more than 400 influential decision-makers participating each year, sponsors gain high-visibility exposure and meaningful engagement opportunities while supporting AREA’s mission to strengthen Greater Albuquerque’s economy and build momentum for long-term growth.
Our Keynote Speaker will be:
Background
Matthew Nestler, PhD, is a senior economist who joined KPMG LLP in 2024 and is part of the KPMG Economics team. He is responsible for monitoring and writing analyses about several labor market economic indicators, including the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), consumer credit outstanding and household debt and credit. In addition, he co-authors a quarterly report about macroeconomic topics in Latin America.
Matthew also leads research on the care economy (childcare, eldercare and paid leave), and what the care crisis means for workers and their families, employers and the overall US economy. He constructed a new indicator, the Parental Work Disruption Index, which quantifies how many workers are impacted by inadequate childcare options each month. His research has been featured in prominent media outlets, including the Financial Times, Barron’s, Forbes and CNBC.
Professional and industry experience
Prior to joining KPMG, Matthew was Director of Research Insights, Corporate Impact, at the nonprofit JUST Capital. He led a research team and was responsible for designing, managing and implementing cross-functional research projects on workforce and other ESG topics. He also has private sector experience in consumer and market research and risk consulting.
He received a BA in Spanish Language & Literature from Wesleyan University, an MA in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) from the University of Chicago, and a MA in Political Science and a PhD in Economic History from Stanford University. His doctoral research examined inflation and inequality through the case study of Brazil, focusing on social movements, worker-employer relations, food supply chains and economic policymaking. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese.
More details and ticket info TBD!