Meet the Author: Ron Huefner

Ron Huefner is the author of Revenue Management: A Path to Increased Profits.


Ronald J. Huefner served for 42 years as professor of accounting at the State University of New York at Buffalo.  He was appointed SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in 1993.   He holds an MBA and a PhD from Cornell University, and is a CPA (New York) and CMA.  Over his career he has taught a wide variety of accounting courses from freshman to graduate levels.  He is author or coauthor of several texts and numerous articles in the academic and professional literatures.


Can you briefly tell us what your book is all about and why we should read it?
This book provides an overview of the emerging field of Revenue Management from an accounting and finance perspective.  While there is an extensive literature on Revenue Management, little of it appears in accounting or finance publications.  However, accounting and finance professionals need to be aware of this field and include it among their skill set.

What are the top trends in your area(s)?
Revenue Management began in the airline industry and then spread to hospitality and service industries.  Now these practices are found in all types or organizations, including not-for-profits.  All organizations need to be sensitive to the need to build revenues.

What do you like best about using e-books?  Do you own an e-book reader?
I’m not yet into the e-book environment, and have yet to use them or to own an e-book reader.  But they seem to offer opportunities for lower-priced book purchases and ease of carrying several books with you.

What made you decide to publish with Business Expert Press?The approach of Business Expert Press seemed to fit my plans for this book exactly.  I wanted to write a short book discussing Revenue Management for executives, accounting and finance professionals, continuing education courses, and graduate students.  This was exactly the orientation of Business Expert Press.
In addition, I found the people and organization to be extremely supportive and easy to work with.

Have you read any other Business Expert Press books, and if so, which one was your favorite?I used one as a style model for my book, The Small Business Controller, by Richard Hanson. I have several others on my list to order.
What prompted you to write this book?
I got interested in the literature of Revenue Management and its importance for accounting and finance professionals, and for top executives, but I could find little mention of the subject in the accounting/finance fields.  I began to incorporate it in my classes, then I decided to write the book.

What were your favorite business courses when you were in school?
I enjoyed all my courses, but accounting and finance were my favorites.

What do you like to do when you're not working?
I enjoy working on genealogy, and my wife and I like to travel.
 
What was the best non-business book you read recently?
Most of my reading lately has focused on topics related to this book.

How long did the process of writing the book take you?I had been collecting material and thinking about this topic for several years.  I first contacted the series editor, Ken Merchant, in January 2009 and mentioned the idea.  Ken was very supportive.  I met with David Parker in August 2009.  I submitted the proposal in September 2009, and completed writing about a year later.