BBER hires new director of health care industry research.

The Bureau welcomes Gregg Davis, the recently hired director of health care industry research who will examine the state's health care markets, trends, costs and other high visibility topics.

An economics faculty member at Flathead Valley Community College for the past 14 years, Davis directed the Center for Business Information and Research and chaired the Division of Social Sciences.

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Davis earned an undergraduate anthropology degree (1975) and economics master's degree (1977) from The University of Montana and his mineral resource doctorate (1986) from West Virginia University. He will replace Patrick Barkey, who is now the Bureau's director.

Following his graduate studies, Davis worked for five years as a health economist for the Health Systems Agency in Helena. Throughout his career, he has specialized in conducting economic impact studies, including regional and wage studies for both the public and private sector.

From 1995 to 2009, Davis chaired the FVCC Division of Social Sciences at Flathead Valley Community College. There he founded the Center for Business Information and Research, which conducts analysis and research of the state and Flathead economy.

Earlier in his career, Davis served as assistant professor at the University of Louisiana-Monroe and then taught in an MBA program in Hong Kong. From there, he served as an associate professor of economics at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. While there, he established and directed the Center for Business and Economic Research.

"Health care reform, while certainly not new, is at the forefront of national policy debate today," Davis said. "How Montanans fare to new policy direction will depend on the quality of the information available to policymakers and citizens of Montana. This position really aligns itself to assist in the efforts to better understand the industry, both at the local and national level."

"We are excited to have someone with Gregg's experience and Montana-specific knowledge to fill this important role," Bureau Director Patrick Barkey said. "Health care policy is more of a challenge--and an opportunity--today than ever before."