N.C. Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco will be the featured speaker for the Moore County Chamber of Commerce's annual State of Economy luncheon March 24 at the Pinehurst Member's Club.

Gov. Bev Perdue appointed Crisco as secretary of commerce in January. He brings 38 years of experience in business and commerce to the position.

The cost of the program, presented in partnership with Dixon Hughes, is $25 for members and $50 for nonmembers. Advanced registration and payment are required. Late registrations or same-day registrations will be $35 for members and $75 for nonmembers.

"The Chamber is thrilled to have secured Secretary Keith Crisco for this event," stated Patrick Coughlin, president and CEO of the Chamber. "This State of the Economy Luncheon will not only update you on our current economic situation but will highlight how businesses and communities need to adapt to a changing economic environment. Now is the time to seize the opportunities that are in front of us."

For more than 20 years, Crisco served as president and chairman of Asheboro Elastics Corp, a company he formed with partners in 1986. This highly successful company has offices in seven countries, manufacturing facilities in Central America and the United States, and sales around the world. Prior to that, he worked for eight years as the president of Stedman Elastics in Asheboro.

Crisco earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from Pfeiffer University and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University.

After graduate school, the Stanly County native worked as assistant to the executive vice president for Burlington Industries. He worked for the company for 10 years, including stints in Chicago and New York City. From 1970-1971, Crisco served as a White House fellow in Washington, D.C., as assistant to the U.S. Secretary for Commerce during the Nixon administration.

Born and raised on a farm near Aquadale, Crisco has served on the Asheboro City Council, as chairman of the Pfeiffer University Board of Trustees, as chairman of the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research and as chairman of the National Elastic Manufacturer's Association.

Anyone interested in registering for the program can contact Lakota Copeland at 692-3926 or by e-mail at lcopeland@moorecountychamber.com. Cancellations or registrations after March 19 will be invoiced in full.