Conference Board

The Conference Board is a U.S.-headquartered membership organisation for business. It describes its role as providing "knowledge about management and the marketplace to help businesses strengthen their performance and better serve society."
According to its own website: 
:The Conference Board was born out of a crisis in industry in 1916. Declining public confidence in business and rising labor unrest had become severe threats to economic growth and stability.
:A group of concerned business leaders, representing a variety of major industries, concluded that the time had arrived for an entirely new type of organization. Not another trade association. Not a propaganda machine. But a respected, not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that would bring leaders together to find solutions to common problems and objectively examine major issues having an impact on business and society.
:The Conference Board's stature and credibility have grown far beyond what any of its founders imagined. But it has remained faithful to its original ideals and mission. 
According to William Domhoff:
:The Conference Board, founded in 1916 as the National Industrial Conference Board, is the oldest of the existing policy-discussion groups. It was originally a more narrowly focused organization with a primary interest within the business community itself. During the 1930's and 1940's it drifted to an extreme right-wing stance under the influence of its executive director, who often denounced other policy groups for their alleged desertion of the free-enterprise system.Eakins, op.cit., chapter 5 Only with the retirement of this director in 1948 did the board move back into the mainstream and begin to assume its current role as a major voice of big business. Further change in the 1960's was symbolized by the shortening of its name to Conference Board and the election of a CED trustee as its president. By 1977, when its president was selected by President Carter to chair the Federal Reserve Board, it was one of the most central and important of the policy groups.
:The Conference Board has been innovative in developing international linkages. In 1961, in conjunction with the Stanford Research Institute, the board sponsored a week-long International Industrial Conference in San Francisco. This international gathering brought together 500 leaders in industry and finance from 60 countries to hear research reports and discuss common problems. The International Industrial Conference has met every four years since that time. Along with the "sister" committees which the CED has encouraged in numerous nations, the International Industrial Conference is one of the major institutions in the international policy discussion network that has been growing slowly since the 1950's.G. William Domhoff, (1979) The Powers That Be, New York: Vintage. pp. 67-9.
==Alliances==
As part of its effort to help business in the global marketplace, The Conference Board works with a wide variety of organizations around the world. Following is a partial list of these "alliances":
===Asia-Pacific===
*The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand
*Asian Institute of Management, Philippines
*Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute, Malaysia
*Confederation of Indian Industries
*Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
*Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management
*National Council of Applied Economic Research, India
*Singapore Institute of Management
*SPRING Singapore (Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board)
*Singapore Trade Development Board
===Europe===
*La Confederacin Espanola de Directivos y Ejecutivos (CEDE)
*Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies
*Swedish Institute of Management - IFL
*Irish Management Institute - IMI
*Nederlandse Vereniging voor Management - NIVE
*Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association - TSIAD
===Latin America===
*la Asociacion Mexicana en Direccin de Recursos Humanos, A.C.
*Centro de Estudios Economicos del Sector Privado, A.C., Mexico
*Fundacion Mexicana para la Calidad Total, A.C.
*Instituto Chileno de Administracion Racional de Empresas, ICARE
*Instituto Para el Desarrollo Empressarial de la Argentina
*Mexican Business Council for International Affairs
*US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce/ Northeast Chapter
===North America===
*The Center For Creative Leadership
*The Conference Board of Canada
*Families and Work Institute
*Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government
*International Association of Business Communicators
*Leader to Leader Institute
*National Institute of Standards and Technology
==Councils==
The Conference Board Councils
:Councils are membership groups joining executives with common responsibilities and interests to share solutions to business challenges. They are designed to keep executives abreast of the latest developments in their fields and fully informed about new management strategies and tactics. Conference Board councils provide unequaled opportunities for senior executives around the world to meet regularly and share information, ideas, and insights on crucial business issues. Members are able to engage in candid, off-the-record discussions with their peers in other companies, industries, and countries.
:Each council charts its own course: selecting members, setting meeting agendas, and serving the interests and needs of the group. Using a by-invitation-only process, council members are nominated and elected by peers, with the election decision based on their company affiliation and their individual achievement.
:Council participation is available exclusively to member companies of The Conference Board.Conference board Operations and Business Processes: Councils, accessed 30 July 2010
===Corporate Citizenship===
*Business/Education Council
*Chief EH&S Officers' Council I
*Chief EH&S Officers' Council II
*Community and Public Issues Council
*Contributions Council
*Contributions Council II
*Environment, Health and Safety Legal Council
*European Council on Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
*European Council on Environment and Product Stewardship
*European Council on Health and Safety
*Health and Safety Council
===Corporate Governance===
*Asia Council on Business Conduct
*Asia-Pacific Council of Chief Financial Officers
*Council for Chief Financial Executives of Mid-Market Companies
*Council for Mid-Market Human Resources Executives - Western Division
*Council of Chief Audit Executives
*Council of Senior International Attorneys
*Council on Corporate Compliance
*European Council on Corporate Governance & Board Effectiveness
*European Council on Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
*European Council on Investor Relations
*European Council on Strategic Risk Management
*European Tax Executives Council
*Global Corporate Governance Research Center
*Global Council of Investor Relations Executives
*Global Council on Business Conduct
*Polish Council of Chief Executives
*Back to Top EconomicsEuropean Council of Economists
*European Council on Six Sigma and Business Process Improvement
===HR/Organization Issues===
*Advisory Council on Human Resources Management
*Asia-Pacific Talent Management Council
*Business Performance Improvement Council
*Council for Division Leaders - Human Resources
*Council for Division Leaders - Human Resources II
*Council for Mid-Market Human Resources Executives - Eastern Division
*Council for Mid-Market Human Resources Executives - Western Division
*Council for Six Sigma Executives
*Council for Six Sigma Executives II
*Council of Diversity Executives
*Council of Human Resources Executives
*Council of Talent Management Executives
*Council of Talent Management Executives II
*Council on Compensation
*Council on Compensation II
*Council on Corporate Compliance
*Council on Corporate Travel Management
*Council on Development, Education and Training
*Council on Employee Healthcare
*Council on Executive Coaching
*Council on Executive Compensation
*Council on International Compensation and Benefits
*Council on Learning, Development and Organizational Performance
*Council on Work Force Diversity
*Diversity & Inclusion Council
*Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Council
*Diversity Business Council
*Employee Benefits Council
*European Council on Compensation and Benefits
*European Council on Human Resources
*European Council on Learning, Leadership, and Organisational Development
*European Council on Work-Life & Diversity
*Executive Compensation Management Council
*Executive Council
*Global Human Resources Management Council
*Human Resources Council - Asia-Pacific
*Human Resources Council - China
*Human Resources Council - India
*Human Resources Council - Mexico
*Leadership Development Council
*Learning and Knowledge Management Council
*Polish Council of Human Resources Executives
*Research Council on Employee Benefits
*The Pensions Council
*Work Life Leadership Council
===Marketing/Communications===
*Asia-Pacific Corporate Communication Council
*Asia-Pacific Marketing Strategy Council
*Community and Public Issues Council
*Council of Marketing Executives
*Council of Marketing Executives II
*Council on Corporate Brand Management
*Council on Corporate Communication Strategy II
*Council on Corporate Communications Strategy
*Council on Marketing Research
*European Council on Corporate Communications
*European Council on Investor Relations
*Global Council of Investor Relations Executives
*Polish Council of Marketing Executives
*Western Marketing Research Council
===Strategy/Planning===
*Asia-Pacific Corporate Communication Council
*Asia-Pacific Council of Chief Financial Officers
*Asia-Pacific Shared Services Council
*Asia-Pacific Talent Management Council
*Business Continuity and Crisis Management Council
*Business Performance Improvement Council
*Controllers' Council
*Council for Business Development and Integration Executives
*Council for Chief Financial Executives of Mid-Market Companies
*Council for Division Leaders - Financial Executives
*Council for Six Sigma Executives
*Council for Six Sigma Executives II
*Council of CFOs
*Council of Chief Audit Executives
*Council of Chief Legal Officers
*Council of Chief Privacy Officers
*Council of Chief Risk Officers (The Conference Board of Canada)
*Council of CIO Executives
*Council of Corporate Security Executives
*Council of Corporate Treasurers
*Council of Financial Executives
*Council of Senior International Attorneys
*Council of Shared Business Services Executives
*Council of Shared Business Services Executives II
*Council of Strategic Planning Executives
*Council of Talent Management Executives II
*Council of Tax Executives
*Council of Telecommunications Executives
*Council on Competitive Analysis
*Council on Innovation
*Council on International Compensation and Benefits
*Council on Risk Management (The Conference Board of Canada)
*Council on Supplier Diversity
*Environment, Health and Safety Legal Council
*European Council of Chief Financial Officers
*European Council of Financial Executives and Controllers
*European Council on Corporate Strategy
*European Council on e-Procurement
*European Council on Global Supply Chain
*European Council on Information Technology Governance & Strategy
*European Council on Innovation
*European Council on Legal Affairs
*European Council on Mergers & Acquisitions
*European Council on Purchasing
*European Council on Shared Services
*European Council on Strategic Manufacturing
*European Council on Strategic Risk Management
*European Tax Executives Council
*Global Business Excellence Council
*Global Council on Business Conduct
*Global Human Resources Management Council
*Human Resources Council - China
*Hungarian Council of Finance Executives
*Information Research and Management Council
*Learning and Knowledge Management Council
*Middle East Council
*Online Strategy Council
*Performance Excellence Council
*Performance Improvement Council
*Polish Council of Chief Executives
*Polish Council of Finance Executives
*Purchasing and Supply Leadership Council I
*Purchasing and Supply Leadership Council II
*Strategic Risk Management Council
*The Pensions Council
*U.S. Quality Council
==People==
In 2005 it is reported that Charles Borgognoni 'a veteran public relations and public affairs professional, with over 25 years experience including public affairs and healthcare communications, and public policy' previously served the Conference Board as a member of the Board's Community and Public Issues CouncilPublic Relations Society of America Ben Singer, Charles Borgognoni Join Health Academy Board Accessed 2nd January 2008.
Eli Lilly and Company Board Member Ellen R Marram is reported to be a Trustee of the Conference Board Eli Lilly and Company Ellen R Marram accessed 31st January 2008. Marram is also President of The Barnegat Group LLC, Advisor to North Castle Partners L.L.C. (where she was formerly Managing Director 2000-2005), member of the Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company, The New York Times Company and several other companies who's names are not disclosed. She also serves on the boards of The New York & Presbyterian Hospital, Lincoln Center Theater, Families and Work Institute, and Citymeals-on-Wheels. Marram's previous involvements include serving as a member of the Board of Associates of Harvard Business School, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tropicana and the Tropicana Beverage Group (1993-1998) and President and CEO of the Nabisco Biscuit Company (1987-1993). Between 1970 to 1986, she is reported to have 'held a series of marketing positions at Nabisco/Standard Brands, Johnson & Johnson and Lever Brothers.
C Ron Cheeley previous chairman of the Conference Board Research Council on Employee Benefits and on the Conference Board Executive Compensation Council, serves as a Senior Vice President with Schering-Plough. Cheeley's biographySchering-Plough C Ron Cheeley Accessed 26th February 2008. Cheeley is also a member of the Schering-Plough Foundation Board of Trustees, a member of the American Benefits Council, the National Academy of Chief Human Resources Officers and serves on the board of directors of the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. His previous involvements include serving as group vice president with the Pharmacia Corporation, as a Director for the Coca Cola Company and as chairman of the board of directors and a member of the executive committee of WorldatWork (1999-2000).
Robin Aram
==Addresses==
New York 
The Conference Board Inc.
845 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022-6679
Tel: (212) 759 0900
Fax: (212) 980 7014
	
Brussels
The Conference Board Europe
Chaussee de La Hulpe, 130, Box 11
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: (32) 2 675 5405
Fax: (32) 2 675 0395
E-mail: brussels AT conference-board.org 
Website http://www.conference-board.org/
==Resources==
* H. M. Gitelman 'Management's Crisis of Confidence and the Origin of the National Industrial. Conference Board, 1914-1916.' Business History Review, Summer 1984, 58, p 153-177.
==References==
Category:The Powers That BeCategory:Policy Planning Group