Staff

Jake Haulk

, Ph.D.
President Emeritus/Senior Advisor

Jake received his Ph.D. and M.A. in economics from Duke University and a B.S. in chemical engineering from N.C. State. Experience includes chemical process engineering, teaching at the university level, senior business economist with the Federal Reserve, head of regional research at Mellon Bank, research consultant, research director and managing director of the Allegheny Institute. Dr. Haulk is the author of many reports on issues affecting Western Pennsylvania’s economy as well as analysis of the role and value of the nation’s inland waterways system. Dr. Haulk currently serves on the boards of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association and the Lincoln Institute for Public Opinion Research.

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Frank Gamrat

, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Frank received his Ph.D. in economics from Clemson University and a B.S. in economics from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Experience includes teaching at the university level and as an operations research analyst for the federal government in Washington DC. His areas of expertise include economic development, transportation, merger analysis, the economics of Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale gas industry, analysis of Pennsylvania’s casino industry, as well as analyzing the area’s labor market. Publications have been included in Government Union Review, the national ERIC database, and the Journal of Sports Economics.

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Eric Montarti

Research Director

Eric received his M.A. in public policy analysis as well as a B.A. in political science from Duquesne University. Eric’s research, media appearances, and testimony have covered such topics as economic development, property taxes, Pittsburgh’s finances and oversight, and municipal pensions. His work on tax increment financing has received national attention. In addition to coverage in Pittsburgh media, his work has been published in Economic Development Quarterly, Municipal Finance Journal, Reason Privatization Watch, and State Tax Notes.

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Colin McNickle

Communications and Marketing Director

Colin received his B.G.S. from Ohio University. The 40-year journalism veteran joined the Institute in October 2016. That followed a 22-year career with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 18 as director of editorial pages for Trib Total Media. Prior that, Colin had a long and varied career in media — from radio, newspapers and magazines, to United Press International and The Associated Press.

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