Dr. Bill Conerly

Bill Conerly, Ph.D., is a business economist, economic futurist, and senior contributor to Forbes, known for connecting economic trends with business strategy. Conerly holds a doctorate in economics from Duke University and has more than 30 years of experience advising companies on adapting to evolving economic conditions. After three years as a professor, he transitioned to the corporate sector, serving as an economist at organizations such as PG&E, Nerco, and First Interstate Bank before moving into consulting. He has also held roles in economics and corporate planning at two Fortune 500 corporations and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

As principal of Conerly Consulting LLC, Conerly advises corporate executives and small business owners on capital expenditures, inventory management, market expansion, pricing, business models, and financial structure. His consulting work spans industries including agribusiness, banking, manufacturing, mining, real estate, and utilities. Conerly has served on Oregon's Council of Economic Advisors for four governors and is chairman of the board at Cascade Policy Institute.

Conerly is the author of "Businomics: From The Headlines To Your Bottom Line—How To Profit In Any Economic Cycle" and "The Flexible Stance: Thriving in a Boom Bust Economy." He is also co-author of "Thinking Economics," a multimedia high school economics curriculum used in schools across the United States. Forbes has published more than 800 of his articles, which address economic forecasting, business planning, and risk management for business leaders.

As a keynote speaker, Conerly is recognized for making complex economic topics accessible to business audiences. He has addressed more than 1,300 business groups in multiple countries and states and holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association. Conerly has been interviewed on PBS, CNN, and CNBC, and quoted in Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and USA Today. As an economic futurist, he focuses on likely economic changes and provides actionable steps for business leaders to prepare for future economic cycles.