Surviving Tough Market: The economists had their...

Surviving Tough Market: The economists had their say earlier this week.

At a well-attended meeting of the county chapter of the Building Industry Assn., local economic forecaster James Doti and a representative of the UC Berkeley Center for Real Estate both said the residential construction industry should start rebounding by the middle of the year--unless the Persian Gulf War drags on longer than most people anticipate.

Now the builders who put their financial well-being on the line every day are going to have their say--and BIA officials planning the Feb. 4 dinner meeting expect a sellout crowd.

The topic will be “Surviving and Succeeding in a Tough Market.”

Scheduled speakers--all elected officers of the BIA--are Don Moe, senior vice president of the Santa Margarita Co.; Bill York, president of Shea Homes, Southern California Division; Monica Florian, vice president of strategic planning for the Irvine Co.; Bart Hansen, a principal with Shawntana Development in Newport Beach; and David Celestin, vice president for planning at the Mission Viejo Co.

The meeting is open to all who are interested.

Christine Reed, executive director of the county BIA chapter, said interest in the session is high because it will provide people in building-related businesses--mortgage lending, furniture sales, landscaping, plumbing fixtures and the like--an unusual opportunity to hear from the builders on whom they depend for a living.