The Mid Rivers Risk Forum names Charles S. Gascon, an economist and assistant vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, as keynote speaker for its 2026 conference. The Mid Rivers Risk Forum names Charles S. Gascon, an economist and assistant vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, as keynote speaker for its 2026 conference. The forum takes place on 5-7 October 2026 at the Sheraton Westport Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri, across two days of education, collaboration and networking. It is held alongside the Missouri Captive Insurance Association, the Missouri Self-Insured Association, Missouri State University, and the St. Louis, Kansas City and Ozark RIMS chapters. Gascon will discuss the current economic outlook and the trends set to influence businesses into 2027, covering economic uncertainty, labour market shifts, inflation and supply chain challenges. Organisers say the session is aimed at risk managers, captive owners, insurance professionals, regulators and business leaders. Gascon joined the St. Louis Fed's research division in June 2006. He analyses economic conditions nationally and across the Eighth Federal Reserve District, briefs the bank president and staff economists ahead of Federal Open Market Committee meetings, and writes the bank's Beige Book report. He holds a master's degree in economics from the State University of New York at Albany and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, and is a member of the American Economic Association and the National Association for Business Economics. The programme covers alternative risk strategies including captives and self-insurance structures, claims and loss control trends, regulatory and legislative developments, and risk technology and innovation. Registration is open.
