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# About WF Economics

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The WF Economics Group provides commentary and analysis on international, national, and regional economic trends to help serve our clients’ business and financial needs. Our experienced economists have been featured in many national publications, academic and economic journals, and on popular television and radio programs. As one of the most-respected economic analysis organizations in the industry, LSEG StarMine awards has recognized our team as one of the most accurate forecasters in both 2024 and 2025 YTD.

## Meet our economists

### Tim Quinlan, Managing Director, Senior Economist

Tim Quinlan is a managing director and senior economist for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, he provides analysis on U.S. economy and major foreign economies.

Tim’s work has been published in academic economic journals and his comments on the economy regularly appear in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today. He is also a frequent guest on Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and National Public Radio.

Tim first joined the company in 2002 and previously held positions as a trust account portfolio manager and investment strategist before joining the economics group in 2007. Prior to joining the company he worked for Putnam Investments in Boston.

Tim is a member of the National Association for Business Economics. Tim has a B.A. from Siena College in Albany, New York.

### Sarah House, Managing Director, Senior Economist

Sarah House is a managing director and senior economist for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, she covers the U.S. macro economy, including the labor market, inflation trends, and monetary policy. Sarah frequently speaks about the economy to the national media, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, CNBC, and National Public Radio. Prior to joining WF in 2010, Sarah worked as a research associate for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Sarah earned a B.A. in economics from Tulane University in New Orleans and M.Sc. in local economic development from the London School of Economics. She has co-authored two books, Economic and Business Forecasting (2014) and Economic Modeling in the Post Great Recession Era (2017), both published by Wiley.

Sarah currently serves on the board for the Charlotte Economics Club, the local chapter of the National Association of Business Economics (NABE), and was president of the organization from 2020-2021. She is a member of NABE and has previously served as chair for the association’s healthcare industry committee.

### Charles Dougherty, Director, Senior Economist

Charlie Dougherty is an executive director and senior economist for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in New York City, he covers the U.S. economy with a focus on commercial real estate, housing, construction, and regional sectors of the economy. He regularly writes indicator reports, produces special commentary, and contributes to the company's Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary. His commentary on the U.S. economy has been featured in various regional and national media publications, including Bloomberg News, Yahoo Finance, and The Washington Post.

Before joining WF in 2017, Charlie worked as a regional economist and consultant for IHS Markit and more recently for CertainTeed, one of the largest building product manufacturers in North America.

Charlie holds a B.A. and B.S. in economics and finance from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. in economics from Temple University in Philadelphia.

He is a member of the National Association of Business Economics, Philadelphia Council of Business Economics, and Charlotte Economics Club.

### Michael Pugliese, Director, Senior Economist

Michael Pugliese is an executive director and senior economist for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in New York City, Michael covers the U.S. economy with a primary focus on the labor market, inflation, monetary policy, and fiscal policy. Michael plays a lead role in producing the economics team’s U.S. and international interest rate forecasts. His work has been published in academic journals and cited by major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal , Politico , and Bloomberg News . Michael’s contributions have been recognized in two books: The New York Times best seller The Kennedy Half-Century and Economic Modeling in the Post Great Recession Era .

Previously, Michael worked as a research analyst under Dr. Larry Sabato at the University of Virginia Center for Politics and was a presidential fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

Michael graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in economics and a second major in American government. He earned a M.A. in economics from New York University.

### Brendan McKenna, Director and International Economist

Brendan McKenna is an executive director and international economist for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in New York City, he provides commentary on global macroeconomic developments and foreign exchange markets through several WF publications, with a primary focus on emerging markets. Before joining WF, he worked as a macro strategist for Citigroup in New York, where he was responsible for identifying thematic macroeconomic trends as well as analyzing individual economies with a particular focus on emerging markets.

Brendan graduated from Fairfield University with a B.S. in finance and received his M.B.A. with a dual concentration in capital markets and investments as well as corporate finance from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

### Jackie Benson, Vice President, Economist

Jackie Benson is a vice president and economist for WF Corporate and Investment Banking Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, she covers the U.S. macroeconomy, including residential housing, commercial real estate, construction and regional economies. She regularly writes economic indicator reports and contributes to the group’s Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary.

Prior to joining WF in 2022, Jackie served as a senior economist at the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee. Before that, she was a policy director at the American Action Forum, a policy research organization in Washington, D.C.

Jackie holds an M.S. in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University. Previously, she earned a B.S. in economics and a B.A. in political science from the University of Florida.

### Shannon Seery Grein, Vice President, Economist

Shannon Grein is a vice president and economist for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, she provides analysis on the U.S. macro economy, with a primary focus on consumer spending, business investment and international trade.

Shannon regularly contributes to the group’s economic commentary and her perspectives have been shared in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, and on National Public Radio. Her work has also been published in major academic journals.

Shannon earned a B.S. in economics from St. John’s University in New York and a M.A. in economics from New York University.

### Nicole Cervi, Associate, Economist

Nicole Cervi is an economist for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, she covers the U.S. macro economy with an emphasis on labor and inflation. Nicole regularly contributes to the group’s economic commentary and her perspectives have been shared on Bloomberg News, Reuters and National Public Radio. Her work has been published in Business Economics.

Nicole earned a B.S. in business administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a M.A. in economics from American University.

### Delaney Conner, Economic Analyst

Delaney Conner is an economic analyst for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Delaney covers the U.S. macro economy and assists with quantitative analysis. She also contributes to the group’s Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary and various special reports.

Delaney joined the group in 2023 after graduating with a B.S. in Economics and a B.S. in Statistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

### Ali Hajibeigi, Economic Analyst

Ali Hajibeigi is an economic analyst with WF’s Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in New York City, Ali covers the U.S. macro economy, with emphasis on housing, commercial real estate, and regional economies. He also contributes to the group’s Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary and various special reports.

Ali joined the group in 2024 after graduating with a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin.

### Azhin Abdulkarim, Economic Analyst

Azhin Abdulkarim is an economic analyst for WF’s Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in New York City, Azhin covers international economies and foreign exchange markets. She contributes to the group’s Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary and various special reports.

Prior to joining WF in 2025, Azhin worked as a research analyst at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. Azhin earned a B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Economics from the American University of Iraq – Sulaimani and a M.A. in International Relations & International Economics from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

## Anagha Sridharan, Economic Analyst

Anagha Sridharan is an economic analyst for WF's Corporate and Investment Bank. Based in Charlotte, N.C., Anagha covers the U.S. macro economy and assists with the quantitative analysis. She also contributes to the group's Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary and various special reports.

Anagha joined the group in 2025 after graduating with a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University.

## Drew Thompson, Economic Analyst

Andrew Thompson is an economic analyst for WF Corporate and Investment Banking. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Drew covers the U.S. macro economy, with emphasis on consumer spending, business investment and international trade. He also contributes to the group's Weekly Economic & Financial Commentary and various special reports.

Drew joined the group in 2025 after graduating from Washington & Lee University with a B.A. in Economics and History, along with a minor in Mathematics.

2024, 2025 LSEG StarMine Award for Most Accurate Forecasting in Reuters Polls

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