Humor is a Conerly trademark (“Never cut out jokes to make room for more statistics,” he says), helping to make complex subjects understandable.

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Clients
Industry Expertise
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Business in an Uncertain Economy: The Best Strategies for Profitability in an Ever-changing World

Dr. Bill Conerly provides business leaders with the tools that they need to manage in an uncertain economy. He first presents the economic outlook with an emphasis on the risks that lie ahead. He then offers business leaders specific methods for dealing with this uncertainty. This unique presentation builds on Dr. Conerly’s expertise in economics as well as his many years of experience helping businesses navigate uncharted economic waters.

The Economic Outlook: New Opportunities and Risks in the Evolving Business Cycle

Dr. Bill Conerly presents his evaluation of the current state of the economy and his forecast for the next two years. He drills down to the sectors most relevant to the audience members, allowing them to see how their own business environment will change. Using common-sense language and real-world examples, he presents what business leaders need to know to thrive in the coming years. This presentation is tailored to the industry or region of the audience and always includes his well-known sense of humor.

Survive and Thrive in a World of Black Swans: Best Techniques to Capture Unknown Opportunities while Protecting Your Business from Downside Perils

Dr. Bill Conerly offers business leaders several tools for dealing with risk, uncertainty, and “unknown unknowns.” He provides an easy explanation of Nassim Taleb’s concept of black swans and contrasts it with traditional risk management concepts. He then gives specific tools that have been used successfully by companies to thrive in a world that periodically throws business a curveball.

The Next Decade: What Businesses Should Do TODAY to Prepare for Tomorrow

Dr. Bill Conerly is an expert on what business leaders should do right now to create a more profitable business future.  Bill looks at the big changes we can expect in the next decade – demographics, globalization, finance, and technology – avoiding speculation as much as possible.  Instead, he relies on business history, current trends and comprehensive research to make his forecasts.  At every step he connects future scenarios with action plans that leaders should put in place now.  Specifics are adjusted for the particular audience.

Faster Change/Master Change

Dr. Bill Conerly and noted turnaround consultant Ron Black team up for back-to-back presentations. Dr. Conerly predicts Faster Change for reasons economic, technological and social. Then Mr. Black offers specific suggestions for how a business can thrive in a fast-changing environment. More details.

Freedom and Prosperity: The Case for Optimism

In this substantive and inspiring keynote, Bill explains the mechanism for economic growth around the world.  Drawing insights from Nobel economists, historians and modern commentators, Bill connects economic and political freedom with economic performance. He ends with a surprising burst of optimism about the fate of the world over the coming decades. He illustrates it all using a few statistics and many stories.

Keynote or Workshop? Most of these topics can be conducted either as a keynote to a large audience or as a workshop for a smaller group.

Motivational Speaker? People use this label in different ways, so here’s the data:  Bill always has strong content, emphasizing actionable ideas that corporate executives and small business owners can implement immediately.  His short-term economic forecast is sometimes optimistic, sometimes pessimistic, but he always expresses his long-run vision of a world growing in prosperity and freedom.

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Testimonials

“Bill did a great job. We look forward to a continuing relationship.” John Hamburger, Franchise Times

“You are a master at your craft and a favorite of our audience.” Jim Parker, UBS Financial Services

“During the course of his nine-year stint with First Interstate, the engaging executive became known for the quick wit he displayed at numerous speaking engagements.” The Business Journal

“It can be difficult to find economists who provide good substantive information who are also entertaining and engaging.  I received many enthusiastic comments about Dr. Conerly from members and others in the audience.”  Molly Steckel, Idaho Telecom Alliance

“As the highest rated speaker on our program, your remarks about the economy and its relationship to the financial services industry were relevant, timely and insightful. One of your greatest strengths is your ability to talk economics in an easy listening style. Participants appeared to be “taking it all in” without having to decipher what you were saying.” Becky Tongish, Kansas Bankers Association

“Bill Conerly is one of the most interesting and engaging speakers I have ever heard. The fact that he is a very funny man is a bonus.” James A. Kronenberg, Oregon Medical Association

 

Clients

ACEC
Aluminum Extruders Council
Ag First
American Forest Resources Council
Aspen Corneal Society
Arizona Bankers Association
Asphalt Paving Association of Washington
Associated General Contractors
Bank Holding Company Association
Bank of America
Bank of the Cascades
Bank of the Northwest
Bank of the West
Banner Bank
Boeing
Bonar Plastics
Book Manufacturers Institute
Cascade Policy Institute
CBIZ-Nation Smith
Chicago Title
Coastal Community Bank
Columbia Forest Products
Columbia River Bank
Commercial Finance Association
Community National Bank
Compass Bank
Copper and Brass Servicenter Association
Council of State Governments
Credit Suisse
Credit Union Executives Society Annuel Convention
D.A. Davidson & Co.
EC Company
Economic Roundtable
Empire Corporate Credit Union
Evergreen Freedom Foundation
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle
Franchise Times
Goldwater Institute
Goodman Real Estate Company
Home Street Bank
Idaho Bankers Association
Idaho Independent Bank
Idaho Telecom Alliance
International Sealing Distribution Association
Interplast Group
Iowa Bankers Association
Kansas Association of Counties
Kansas Bankers Association
Kennedy Associates Real Estate Counsel
Key Bank
Knife River Corporation
Lane Powell Spears Lubersky
Legend Homes
Liberty Northwest
Marcus & Millichap
Massachusetts Bankers Association
Michigan Association of CPAs
Michigan Credit Union League
Mont Pelerin Society
Montana Independent Bankers
Moss Adams
Mountain West Bank
National Assn Industrial & Office Parks
National Assn of State Credit Union Supervisors
National Education Association
National Fluid Power Association
Nebraska Bankers Association
Nike
North Carolina Telecommunication
Northwest Corporate Credit Union
Northwest Farm Credit
Northwest Food Service Show
Northwest Investment Councilors
Northwest Public Power Association
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs
Oregon Bankers Association
Oregon Medical Association
Oregon Remodelers Association
Oregon Telecom Association
Pacific Northwest Bank
Pacific Northwest Steel Fabricators Association
Papé Group
Plastic Pipe and Fitting Association
Prime Pacific Bank
Red Canoe Credit Union
Riverlake Partners
RMA – Risk Management Associates
Roseburg Forest Products
Sanderling
SERA
South Dakota Banker Association
Southwest Corporate Federal Credit Union
Symetra Financial Corporation
Tennessee Bankers Association
Timber Products Company
Trigild Inc.
Umpqua Bank
Unitus Credit Union
Viking Bank
Washington Bankers Association
Washington Credit Union League
Washington Contract Loggers Association
Washington Federal Savings
Washington Forest Protection Association
Washington Trucking Association
Wells Fargo Bank
Western Association of Fastener Distributors
Western Forestry & Conservation Association
Weyerhaeuser
Women’s Food Service Forum
Wood Products Credit Union
Yost Grube & Hall

Industry Expertise

Agriculture
Bank and Credit Union Executives
Bank Client Meetings
Manufacturing and Industrial Distribution
Small Business
Your Industry

Agriculture
Dr. Conerly provides an outsider’s view of agriculture: the national and global forces that impact farm economics. He’s familiar with recent trends in prices, harvests and planting, and he brings to the podium insights about the changing diet of emerging countries as well as the prospects for “peak farmland” influencing land values.

Recent clients include AgFirst Farm Credit, AgStar Financial Services, Dow AgroSciences, and Washington Mint Growers.

“Thank you for a wonderful presentation. Everyone who heard your presentation was impressed with your analysis, and strong command of facts and theory. More importantly, your ability to weave together substance with humor, in a very dynamic way, meant our attendees learned and retained more information than we would have typically expected. You made economics fun and you left our members with powerful insights on trends and issues to consider as they prepare for the future.”

John Aguirre, Oregon Association of Nurseries

Banking and Credit Unions Executives

Dr. Conerly brings to bankers, his experience on ALCO, Credit Policy and Strategic Planning committees, which enables him to connect the dots between the economic outlook and the challenges that bankers will face in the coming year.

Recent clients include Allied Solutions, Kansas Bankers Association, Bank Holding Company Association, Conference of State Bank Supervisors, Credit Union Executives Society, Kansas Bankers Association and Montana Independent Bankers..

You were the first male to speak at the Women in Banking Conference, and the women loved you!”

Liz Wilson, Washington Bankers Association

Bank Client Meetings

Banks connect with their clients by inviting Dr. Conerly to speak at customer events. He brings his insights and humor to audiences, cementing the bank’s role as value-added partner.

Recent clients include Banner Bank, Mountain Pacific Bank, and Umpqua Bank.

“Every time you spoke, we got business.”

Chris Rasmussen, Bank of the Northwest

Manufacturing and Distribution

Dr. Conerly emphasizes the economic factors at work in the manufacturing and wholesale sectors, providing actionable implications of the current economic outlook.

Recent clients include the Book Manufacturers Institute, Inteplast, National Fluid Power Association, Pacific Northwest Hardware & Implement Association, Roseburg Forest Products and Western Association of Fastener Distributors.

“Bill’s presentation was well received. Our members enjoyed the high energy and strategic thinking.”

Daniel Bach, Book Manufacturers’ Institute, Inc.

Small Business

Dr. Conerly loves small business and knows the challenges that owners face. He connects the economic outlook with the key issues that small business owners are facing, always remembering that they are busy, entrepreneurial people.

Recent clients include the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, Boise Chamber, Eugene Chamber, Oregon State Chamber of Commerce, and the Thurston County EDC.

“Your presentation was one of the highlights of the day, exactly what the planning committee was looking for—informative, interesting and entertaining.”

Carol Nielsen-Hood, Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce

Your Industry

Whatever your industry, Dr. Conerly will come up to speed on the key economic issues driving sales and costs. His presentation will emphasize those elements of his economic forecast that most impact your industry. All of this happens with humor and common-sense explanations.

Recent clients have included construction , energy, engineering, real estate, telecom and trucking.

“Seems no matter where I go, I hear you talking – and always doing a great job with different material well tailored to the audience. Very impressive!”

Alan Shiffer, Concero Group

For Meeting Planners

Bill’s one-sheet in pdf format.

Bill’s photo (formal) (informal) for meeting planners and editors.