National Industrial Conference Board

The National Industrial Conference Board was founded on May 5, 1916, by business leaders who wanted a more organized response to labor unrest and the changing relationship between employers, workers, and the public. Early figures tied to its creation included Magnus W. Alexander, who became its first president, and Frederick P. Fish, who served as its first chairman.

Over time, the organization broadened its role beyond industrial relations. It became known for business and economic research, conferences, and practical information for corporate leaders, eventually taking the name The Conference Board. Today it is widely recognized for publishing major economic indicators and for bringing together companies to discuss management, workforce, and public-policy questions.

For readers, the name carries the history of an institution rather than a single writer: a long-running nonprofit research body whose publications reflect the concerns of American business across the twentieth century and beyond.