An Interview with Eric Stellwagen about the Forecast Pro User Conference 2009 September 21-23, 2009 Boston, MA

Trends: We’re talking to Eric Stellwagen, co-founder and CEO of Business Forecast Systems. Eric, you’ve scheduled a Forecast Pro User Conference for this September 21-23 in Boston, MA - can you tell us what this conference is all about?

Eric: Certainly. The User Conference is a unique opportunity to meet with and learn from fellow forecasters and forecasting experts representing a wide range of industries and disciplines. It is a content-rich event where attendees can learn a tremendous amount about forecasting and have a lot of fun doing it. From learning how to get the most out of Forecast Pro, to hearing the experts talk about the latest forecasting trends, to comparing your forecasting practices with those of others, this conference truly has something for everyone.

Trends: We’ve heard that the Conference format allows attendees to make the most of their time at this event. Can you tell us about that?

Eric: Yes. The conference has 3 tracks – a seminar track, a hands-on software track, and an applications track. The seminar track is a series of presentations on different forecasting approaches, detailing both how they work and how they are applied. The software track provides hands-on training with Forecast Pro—we have laptops set up for each attendee and expert instructors to teach you how to get the most out of your software. In the applications track, we’ll have some Forecast Pro users present how they are using the software to address their forecasting needs and we’ll also have some invited forecasting experts presenting on topics of interest to forecasters. All of the presentations are modular and you are always free to move between tracks and attend any session you wish. This ability to “mix and match” sessions allows you to customize your conference to suit your needs.

Trends: It sounds like there is a lot of content here. Would someone who is not using Forecast Pro benefit from attending this event?

Eric: Absolutely. I think that anyone who wants to learn more about forecasting and how to build a successful forecasting process within their organization would benefit from attending. It’s kind of funny, but when we ran our first user conference, we assumed that everyone who attended would be a Forecast Pro user. To our surprise, it turned out that almost half of them were not! Many were thinking about using Forecast Pro and wanted to learn more about it, however, a lot of people were not interested in Forecast Pro—they were there to learn more about forecasting.

Trends: You say that this conference brings in an interesting mix of forecasters. Could you elaborate on that?

Eric: The conference definitely brings in a wide variety of people—lots of different industries are represented, the attendees have lots of different job titles, and the level of forecasting experience ranges widely. We always have a fair number of attendees who are new to forecasting and use the conference as an excellent opportunity to hit the ground running. In two days, they can learn about different forecasting approaches, get some hands-on training with the software, and interact with fellow forecasters. We also have a strong contingent of more experienced forecasters who are there to soak up the advanced topics, stay abreast of the industry and make contacts within the field. In addition to the attendees, we have members of our staff and invited speakers who are truly knowledgeable forecasting experts.

Trends: How do you address the fact that there are attendees with various levels of forecasting experience?

Eric: Good question. It’s really the flexibility of the 3-track format that makes it work. We plan the sessions carefully to make sure there are always sessions of relevance for everyone. For example, in the seminar track, some of the presentations are focused on introductory topics and others are centered on more advanced ones. In the software track, a new user can go to a session that provides an introduction to the software and an experienced user can go to a session designed for power users. All of the session tracks are modular, so it’s easy to move between the different tracks and create your own personal conference schedule.

Trends: Is there a main theme or focus for this year’s conference?

Eric: While there isn’t a main theme per se, there is a lot of interest in our new product, Forecast Pro TRAC and it will be prominently featured. Forecast Pro TRAC expands the functionality footprint of the Forecast Pro product line significantly and some of the new capabilities such as accuracy tracking and exception reporting will be featured both in the hands-on sessions and in the educational sessions.

Trends: You’ve mentioned that there will be a lot of knowledgeable people at the conference. Will there be the ample opportunity for attendees to network?

Eric: Of course. Forecasting is a fairly specialized field and we consider networking to be an important part of the conference. We’ve structured the conference accordingly with daily breakfasts, sit-down lunches, and the generous breaks in between sessions to enable attendees to interact with each other and to speak with the presenters. On the first night of the conference we are holding a cocktail party overlooking Boston harbor where people can interact in an informal atmosphere and get to know each other.

Trends: I’ve noticed that there are also one-day, post-conference training classes. Can you tell us about that?

Eric: Yes. We’ve scheduled three product training classes on Wednesday, September 23rd, the day after the conference. There will be a class on Forecast Pro XE, a class on Forecast Pro Unlimited and a class on Forecast Pro TRAC. The Forecast Pro TRAC class is actually designed for individuals who are upgrading from Forecast Pro Unlimited to Forecast Pro TRAC. In each class the attendees will be provided with a computer loaded with Forecast Pro, and an expert instructor will guide them through numerous forecasting exercises using real business data. At the end of the day, they will have explored the entire product and leave armed with the skills and knowledge to get the most from Forecast Pro.

Trends: Eric, thanks for taking the time to speak with us.

Eric: You’re very welcome. I look forward to seeing everyone at the conference!

About Eric Stellwagen
Eric Stellwagen is co-founder and CEO of Business Forecast Systems, Inc. (BFS) and co-author of the Forecast Pro software product line. He consults widely in the area of practical business forecasting—spending 20-30 days a year presenting workshops on the subject—and frequently addresses professional groups such as the University of Tennessee’s Sales Forecasting Management Forum, APICS and the Institute for Business Forecasting. Recognized as a leading expert in the field, he has worked with numerous firms including Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Merck, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Nabisco, Owens-Corning and Verizon. He is also currently serving on the board of directors of the International Institute of Forecasters.