Dr. Robert Kleinhenz is Economist and Executive Director of Research at Beacon Economics, LLC and one of California’s leading economists. Dr. Kleinhenz has nearly 30 years of experience analyzing the U.S. and California economies and the economies of California’s many diverse regions.
He is also Director of Research at the UC Riverside School of Business Administration Center for Economic Forecasting and Development.
Prior to joining Beacon Economics, Dr. Kleinhenz served as Chief Economist of the Kyser Center for Economic Research at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) where he conducted research on and produced economic forecasts for the U.S., California, and Southern California region. While at LAEDC, he was a much sought after specialist for his deep knowledge about the economy and industries of both the state and the counties of Southern California. Earlier in his career, he was Deputy Chief Economist at the California Association of Realtors where he focused on housing market and consumer research. He also taught economics for over 15 years, most recently at California State University, Fullerton.
A leading voice in Los Angles and beyond, Dr. Kleinhenz is an in-demand speaker who regularly presents to business, government, and nonprofit organizations. A well-known media commentator, he has been interviewed on CNBC and NPR and is regularly quoted in major national dailies including the Wall Street Journal. He is a member of the National Association for Business Economics, the National Association for Business Economics, Los Angeles Chapter (Past President, Past Treasurer), and the Real Estate Research Council of Southern California (Current Executive Board Member and Treasurer).
Dr. Kleinhenz holds a Ph.D in economics from the University of Southern California with a specialty in urban and regional economics. He also holds an M.A. degree in economics from the University of Southern California and a B.A. degree in economics from the University of Michigan.