Chad Moutray is senior vice president for research & knowledge and chief economist at the National Restaurant Association, where he leads economic analysis, data-driven insights, and thought leadership for business leaders in the restaurant and foodservice industry. A recognized expert on economic trends, he frequently shares his perspectives through professional presentations, media interviews, and industry reports. 

Before joining the National Restaurant Association, he served as chief economist at the National Association of Manufacturers and as director of the Center for Manufacturing Research at the Manufacturing Institute. His earlier roles include chief economist and director of economic research for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration and dean of the School of Business Administration at Robert Morris College in Chicago (now part of Roosevelt University). His career spans academia, government and trade associations, each role building upon the last. 

Chad is an adjunct professor at George Washington University, where he teaches applied econometrics in the masters in applied economics program. He has held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including serving as chair of the Conference of Business Economists and as a board member of the National Association for Business Economics. He is also a past president and chairman of the National Economists Club, the Washington, D.C. chapter of NABE. 

He holds a PhD. in economics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Eastern Illinois University.