Washington Welcomes

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. hosted a virtual Signature Event on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. David Rubenstein interviewed Mike Roman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 3M. 3M applies science to life to help solve the world’s biggest challenges. During this current global crisis, 3M has fought the pandemic from all angles, delivering personal protective equipment to health care workers.

Mike Roman oversees the $32 billion company with over 90,000 employees in nearly all countries. 3M is an American innovation powerhouse, producing more than 60,000 products. Mike became Chairman of the Board in May 2019 and Chief Executive Officer in July 2018. Throughout his 30-year career at 3M, he has lived and led businesses around the world, including the United States, Europe and Asia. Mike joined 3M in 1988 as a senior design engineer.

Mike holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota.

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. hosted a virtual Signature Event on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. David Rubenstein interviewed Kenneth C. Frazier, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Merck & Co., Inc.

Ken Frazier joined Merck in 1992 and rose through positions of increasing responsibility, including General Counsel and President, ultimately becoming Chairman and CEO since 2011. As one of the largest multinational pharmaceutical companies in the world, Merck is dedicated to delivering innovative, lifesaving medicines and vaccines that benefit global public health. Under Ken’s leadership, Merck’s investment in research and development has substantially increased, generating breakthroughs to treat unmet medical needs and benefitting patients around the world.

Ken Frazier is also Co-Chair of OneTen, a new initiative that relies on a coalition of leading executives to provide one million careers for Black Americans within the next ten years. OneTen will connect leading local, regional, and national education and skillbuilding organizations with employers who are committed to hiring, upskilling and advancing Black talent. “Through the creation of one million jobs for Black Americans over the next ten years, OneTen has the potential to address persistent intergenerational gaps in opportunity and wealth,” says Ken. To date, 37 companies have joined the initiative.

David Rubenstein interviewed three leading health experts, who are also Economic Club members, to discuss the current surge in COVID-19 cases including an update on our area hospitals and the plan for vaccine allocation and distribution. The featured panelists were: Kimberly K. Horn, Executive Vice President and Group President, Markets Outside California, Kaiser Permanente; J. Stephen Jones, MD, President and CEO, Inova Health System; and Kenneth A. Samet, FACHE, President and CEO, MedStar Health.

David Rubenstein interviewed members of Congress to discuss the recent attacks at the U.S. Capitol, the current political environment, potential reforms to security measures, and the way forward to national unity. The featured panelists were: The Honorable Debbie Dingell, Representative for Michigan's 12th Congressional District and The Honorable Tom Reed, Representative for New York's 23rd Congressional District.

The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. hosted an interview between David Rubenstein and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.