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 IAMC People and Projects
Commuter rail map for central Florida
The plan was for CSX to sell its track in Orlando to the State of Florida for conversion to commuter rail and the state to pay for new CSX track routed around the city. But the whole scheme is now threatened by major escalations in the state’s cost of constructing the bypass track. On this, the Orlando Sentinel says, "the Florida Department of Transportation reported that building five overpasses along the freight line in Alachua, Sumter and Marion counties will cost $203 million. That's significantly more than the first estimate of $59 million." The plan survived a scare April 9, when Florida’s Senate heard opposing arguments, but then defeated attempts to scuttle the project. Charles McSwain is the IAMC Active member with CSX.
3M to Shift Division HQ from U.S. to Hong Kong Like many U.S.- based companies, 3M has begun moving the leadership of some of its most important business lines to locations close to large and fast-growing overseas markets. An article in TwinCities.com says, "While the initial move involves only the leadership of the company's optical systems division, the move shows 3M's plan to shift its business closer to key, fast-growing global markets is broadening beyond manufacturing plants and regional sales offices." The trend may gain momentum because sales growth of U.S. companies for an increasing number of products and services is higher abroad than domestically. Doyle Shea is the IAMC Active member with 3M. 
3M is growing faster outside of the U.S.
Source: http://www.coca-colaindia.com/ "Would You Like Coke with your Chicken Tikka Masala?" Coca Cola has followed a similar market development pattern for decades: seed a region with small initial investments and then add to these as local beverage demand grows. The story is no different for India, potentially the second largest world market after China. On this, Hindu.com quotes Coke Chairman and CEO E. Neville Isdell as saying, "We are bullish on India. It is a matter of stimulation. As the growth comes, you have to put in incremental investments. We are investing 250 million dollars (Rs 1,000 crore). This will not be the last. More investments will come." Matt Fanoe is the IAMC Active member with Coca Cola Enterprises.
Caterpillar Adds Capacity in Preparation for Business Upturn Top consultants often tell how companies cut capacity so deeply going into a business slowdown that they are incapable of exploiting opportunities early in the follow-on upturn. Construction equipment maker Caterpillar bucks this trend. "Whether it's a mild recession or just a significant slowdown is not so important to me. But the re-acceleration of growth later in the year going into '09, '10, I think, is a likely occurrence now," Caterpillar chairman and CEO, Jim Owens, is quoted as telling Reuters. The article says, "the Peoria, Illinois-based manufacturer of iconic yellow tractors may hire hundreds of engineers and designers to work in a planned 100-acre research and development facility and manufacturing plant in Raleigh, North Carolina. The new facility would develop prototype products for the Caterpillar line of machines and engines." 
A big Caterpillar bulldozer
Source: www.septicisle.info Marty Collier is IAMC’s Active member with Caterpillar.
BD Expands in NC 
"BD’s presence is another example of why North Carolina has been consistently ranked among the top three states in biotechnology and life sciences," said North Carolina Governor Mike Easley in remarks about BD’s (formerly Becton, Dickinson and Co.) plans to significantly expand existing pharmaceutical operations in Durham and Wilson Counties. The company indicated that it will invest $134.7 million, creating 174 new jobs. Karen De Marinis is the IAMC Active member with BD. And Jennifer J. Lantz represents member organization Wilson Economic Development Council.
Pfizer’s warehouse facility in Amboise, France
Source: www.xella-group.com Pfizer Considers U.S. Locations, The drug company Pfizer had mixed marketing success with its innovative inhaled diabetes medicine Exubera, finally deciding to stop making the drug and close the part of its Terre Haute operation where it was manufactured. When Pfizer announced plans for an inhaled medicines development center, Terre Haute was in the early running as a location, but it was not to be. In a local news story, a Pfizer spokesperson is quoted as saying, "In determining where to put the technology center, Pfizer seriously considered Terre Haute along with other locations in the U.S. and Europe. But in the end we determined that the center fit best with the Amboise [France] operation. … Pfizer announced last week it plans to create the $189 million inhaled medicines technology center in France." Sean Nugent and Mark Eichkorn are the IAMC Active members with Pfizer.
A Pepsi can label for the Russian market
Source: www.robertamsterdam.com PepsiCo Buys Russian Beverage Company Looking for ways to expand its product line of healthy drinks, PepsiCo has purchased a 75 percent stake in the large Russian juice bottler Lebedyansky. A Reuters news article says, "With the Russian juice market forecast to grow to become one of the top five in the world sometime in the next decade, we believe the growth potential of this sector is significant." "PepsiCo currently controls about two percent of the Russian juice market through the Tropicana brand, but does not have its own juice-producing facilities in Russia. Its rival Coca Cola Co. … controls over a fifth of the Russian juice sector after a $530 million purchase of producer Multon in 2005," the article explains. Russell Burton and Randal Levingston are the IAMC Active members with PepsiCo.
Melissa Bauer
Quad / Graphics Invests Big in Existing Facilities Ranking among Fortune magazine’s 100 best companies to work for, the printer Quad / Graphics has decided to invest heavily in upgrades and expansions of existing facilities in its home state of Wisconsin. An article on the projects says, "Quad/Graphics, Inc., will expand its Wisconsin operations with two major construction projects: a 192,000-square-foot expansion of its West Allis plant for the company's growing direct mail operations; and, as previously announced, a new 388,800-square-foot distribution center in Menomonee Falls for cross-docking freight produced in its five Wisconsin plants." "The West Allis expansion, which will cost $12 million to $14 million, will enhance Quad/Graphics' direct mail production capabilities, adding production space on the northwest side of the plant. Construction is scheduled to begin in April, with completion anticipated by the end of March 2009," explains the piece. Melissa Bauer is IAMC’s Active member with Quad / Graphics.
Ellen Z. Darling
Source: Zimmer Companies Zimmer Companies Elects New President and CEO IAMC Associate member Zimmer Companies, Inc., has selected Ellen Zimmer Darling as its president and CEO, succeeding Hugh J. Zimmer. The company’s press release says, "Zimmer Companies, Inc., includes Zimmer Real Estate Services, L.C.; one of Kansas City’s leading commercial real estate brokerage, property management, development management and corporate services companies, as well as Zimmer Development Company, Zimmer Management Company and numerous real estate investment partnerships and corporations." Zimmer is responsible for such high-profile projects as Kansas City’s new Federal Reserve building, Village West, Beacon Hill, among others. Mark Long is IAMC Associate member Zimmer Companies’ representative to IAMC. |
