ALBANY, N.Y. – On April 13 & 14, 2005, over 200 members from over 100 credit unions in seven different states traveled to downtown Albany, NY, to participate in Empire Corporate's Economic Forum & 28th Annual Meeting. The Forum kicked off with a trio of economists: Dr. Nick Perna, Dr. Kevin Hassett and Todd Buchholz. They shared their respective, and often diverse, economic viewpoints with Forum attendees. Empire also held a spur of the moment Q&A session as all three economists agreed to participate in. The first day's sessions concluded with Empire's keynote speaker, Jane Bryant Quinn, a leading financial commentator and Emmy Award winning journalist. On Thursday, the final day of the Forum, attendees enjoyed two final speakers. Dr. William Conerly jump-started the morning as he shared his ideas on the relationship between economic freedom, political freedom, and economic performance from a global perspective. Anchoring the event was, Randy Snow, whose life was transformed when an accident as a teen cut his rising tennis career short. He shared with attendees how he managed personal challenge and went on to become a medal-winning wheelchair Olympic athlete. Two government officials also attended .Gerald D. Jennings, Mayor, City of Albany, joined attendees for a cocktail reception, and New York State Senator Neil D. Breslin (D-46th District) joined Empire for its 28th Annual Meeting and dinner.