IBF's Business Forecasting & Planning Recognition Awards

The Institute of Business Forecasting & Planning has established the Business Forecasting & Planning Recognition awards to recognize the best and most innovative thought leaders, solutions and ideas in the field.

2024 Lifetime Achievement Winner

Dr. Sven F. Crone (center)

Assistant Professor in Management Science
LANCASTER UNIVERSITY

"I am deeply honored to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award for Impact in Business Forecasting from the IBF. This recognition not only validates my work in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with the IBF over the past 20 years, which I have thoroughly enjoyed, but it also inspires me to continue striving for excellence in forecasting and to help others advance in our field. I am grateful to the incredible mentors at Lancaster University and my team at IQast, who have supported me throughout my journey, as well as the many practitioners and software vendors I have met at IBF events and from whom I have had the privilege to learn. Thank you for believing in my vision of the importance and impact of AI in forecasting practice and for this remarkable acknowledgment of my humble contribution. Again, thank you so much for this award—I am absolutely thrilled!"

2024 Excellence Winner

John Hellriegel (center)

Assistant Professor of Professional Practice
RUTGERS BUSINESS SCHOOL

"Thank you to the Institute of Business Forecasting for this prestigious awad. The conferences, the videos, the training – the thought leadership over the years has been amazing. I have been going to these conferences since 1999, and I can honestly say that I have learned something EVERY TIME that I have come here. And that’s part of what makes the work we do so special. Demand Planning is a fascinating and complex activity. You need to think about your analytical approach, as the data access and models available are improving all the time. At the same time, the complexity of most businesses is increasing; so is the volatility of that demand. The cross-functional nature of Demand Planning also makes the work we do so interesting- it is another dimension of our role. We are the trusted advisors of the business. If we can do that well, we can help the company be successful. I am so happy, so blessed, so thrilled to get this award. Thank you"