by Ron Starner

By any standard of measurement, 2005 was a banner year for the Industrial Asset Management Council. As we gear up for the new year, it is worth taking some time to look back on the milestones achieved by this association over the past 12 months.

IAMC opened the year with 317 total members and will close out the year with at least 370. That’s 53 new dues-paying members, for a one-year growth rate of 16.7 percent.

Among Active members (corporate end-users), the growth was even more significant. Active membership went from 85 to 105 in the same year — representing a growth rate of 23.5 percent.

Meanwhile, attendance at IAMC’s Professional Forums continued to grow, as total attendance increased from 550 in 2004 to 581 in 2005 — marking a growth rate of 5.6 percent.

Among Actives, participation grew even faster. In 2004, 95 Actives attended the forums; in 2005, attendance increased to 107 — a growth rate of 12.6 percent.

What do these numbers mean? For one thing, they represent healthy financial success for IAMC, making it possible for the association to provide even better member service and launch new programs.

More importantly, these steady growth numbers reflect a surging acceptance of IAMC in the marketplace of ideas among all three membership targets: corporate end-users, economic developers and service providers.

Because IAMC’s growth rate among Actives exceeds its growth rate among all members, IAMC is positioning itself to remain focused upon its core mission: serving the needs of real estate directors at large industrial companies.

The IAMC leadership is strongly committed to this core mission   a fact that will be amplified by several new programs that will soon be launched. While you will hear more details about each of these programs in the weeks and months to follow, here is a brief overview of what to expect:

• IAMC will offer, at the Spring 2006 Professional Forum in San Diego, its first ever women’s networking event.
• IAMC is rolling out, this month, its first ever Surplus Property Clearinghouse, designed to assist Active members in the disposal of excess real estate inventory.
• IAMC will roll out, in 2006, its first ever professional real estate designation program, the details of which will be announced at the Spring 2006 Professional Forum.
• IAMC will recognize, in San Diego, its first ever graduating class of Leadership Development Fellows   professionals who have attended all five Leadership Development Seminars offered by IAMC.

More changes, including more new programs, are coming on line in 2006, but all of these share this same goal: helping industrial end-users accomplish more.

At IAMC Headquarters, we believe that’s why this association is growing.

Ron Starner is executive director of IAMC and director of publications for Conway Data.