Mark your calendars for the 2026 Southwest Regional Economic Forecast, presented by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, taking place on June 18, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Wilson Creek Winery. This year’s program will focus on the future of retail, tourism, and the restaurant industry, exploring the trends and market forces shaping how these sectors are evolving and what they mean for the Temecula Valley’s continued growth and competitiveness.

As economic conditions continue to shift, understanding how these changes translate locally is more critical than ever. “Many business owners are deeply focused on the day-to-day demands of running their organizations, and opportunities like this allow us, alongside our partners, to bring forward the data, analysis, and perspective they need to plan strategically for the future,” said Brooke Nunn, President/CEO, Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce. “The Southwest Regional Economic Forecast is an opportunity for our business community to step out of the day-to-day and gain clarity on what lies ahead for our region.” 

The event is proudly supported by Title Sponsor, Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta and Speaker Sponsor, Riverside County Office of Economic Development. It will offer valuable networking opportunities alongside expert-led economic analysis tailored for businesses of all sizes.

Meet the Speakers: 

Chris Duggan, Director, Local Government Affairs, California Restaurant Association
Chris Duggan has over 23 years of extensive experience in public policy, government and community relations. Chris joined the California Restaurant Association (CRA) team in 2012 and serves as the Director of Government Affairs for the Southern California Region, which includes San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Prior to joining CRA, Chris was the Senior Manager of Public Policy with the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) where he focused on crafting public policy and legislative initiatives supporting economic competitiveness of the greater San Diego region. Chris was Director of Entitlements for Premier Coastal Development where he was responsible for securing land entitlements, managing due diligence teams, and providing governmental relations in California, Washington, Arizona and Nevada. Chris has been involved throughout his career in local politics where he continues to serve on the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Board, the San Diego County Lodging Industry Association Board of Directors (SDCLA) and City of San Diego’s Economic Development Roundtable. Chris is a San Diego State University alum where he majored in Economics.

Matthew Tate, Executive Vice President, Capital Rivers Connect
Matthew Tate is an accomplished economic development leader with over 15 years of experience connecting the public and private sectors to drive retail growth and community prosperity. As Executive Vice President, he leads data-driven initiatives that help retailers expand strategically while empowering cities to strengthen their local economies. Matt's experience includes creating retail recruitment strategy with over 200 municipalities across the country.

John Kelliher, Board Member of Visit Temecula Valley and Co-Owner of Grapeline Wine Tours & Stryder Transportation
John Kelliher is the Co-founder of Grapeline Wine Tours and Stryder Transportation, two Temecula-based companies that have played a significant role in shaping wine country tourism in Southern California. Through Grapeline, launched in 2002, he has helped develop one of the nation’s leading wine tour brands, serving more than 25,000 guests annually across Temecula, Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Santa Barbara, and earning national recognition for its curated visitor experiences. In addition to his work in wine tourism, he cofounded Stryder Transportation, a regional transportation company supporting both leisure and executive travel. Kelliher also brings extensive destination marketing expertise through more than two decades of service on the Visit Temecula Valley Board of Directors and his role as a Commissioner for Visit California, where he contributes to statewide tourism strategy and the continued growth of California’s visitor economy.

Reservations and sponsorship opportunities are now available and can be found here.

Individual reservations range from $70 to $90 per attendee. Reserve a table for 10 guests from $650 to $850. Showcase your business by reserving an Exhibitor Booth for $200. For more information, please visit www.temecula.org or call 951-676-5090.