W. Somerset Maugham, the great British novelist and playwright of the early to mid-1900s, once said, "Sometimes a man hits upon a place to which he mysteriously feels that he belongs."
After six years and 501 memberships, the Industrial Asset Management Council has become that place for the highest level of corporate real estate executives and the professionals who provide the needed sites and services for them.
I am often asked to explain the appeal and attractiveness of IAMC as an association, and to a certain degree the numbers tell the story well:
On June 18, IAMC officially signed up its 500th member when the Siouxland Chamber and Initiative of Sioux City, Iowa, successfully completed its application to join the association.
The IAMC Recruiters Club now includes 60 members, which means that 60 members of IAMC have helped bring in at least one new member. Five of our members have recruited at least six new members.
So far in 2008, IAMC has a retention rate of 82 percent for Active Members and 86 percent for Associate Members - both of which are extremely high marks in an era in which 50 percent of all association members worldwide say they have dropped their membership in at least one association (according to a recent study by the American Society of Association Executives).
Pete Garra
Eleven new Active Members attended the Spring 2008 Professional Forum of IAMC in Phoenix, including new members from Intel, John Deere, Northrop Grumman, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Caterpillar and Norfolk Southern.
The Spring Forum attracted 334 registered attendees, the second-highest turnout in IAMC history.
The average evaluation score of all programs at the Spring Forum was 8.64 (on a 10-point scale), making it one of IAMC's highest-rated programs ever.
As impressive as those numbers may be, they don't tell the full story. Instead, you have to listen to the founding members of IAMC.
Charles McSwain of CSX in Jacksonville, Fla., the very first member of IAMC, had this to say when asked by the IAMC Dispatch to reflect on the first six years of the association and its impact: "In the beginning, there was immediate recognition by other corporate real estate officers that we needed to stay in touch on rapidly changing trends. We knew the value a network of professionals would bring to quick, effective problem-solving of asset management issues. We all have different passions and different experiences that can be shared with colleagues. We need that today in time-compressed, broadly scoped corporate positions."
McSwain, a founding Board Member and Past Chair of IAMC, went on to describe how the seeds of success were sown early on: "As IAMC's first member, I was very encouraged to see the enthusiasm at our first organization meeting. We also knew that the experienced staff would get the Council off to a quick and easy start. Mac Conway's support was critical as well, and we should always remember that this organization was born out of his vision. As the first treasurer, I was never worried about sustainability. Conservative financial management, letting the members drive the value through collaboration, and leadership listening carefully to the members' direction were all key to rapid acceptance and the high-quality reputation that grew the membership."
Another founding member, current IAMC Chair Pete Garra of The Linde Group, summarizes his experience as follows: "Not only does IAMC provide me with effective and timely education to keep up with trends and new best practices, but it has given me a sense of belonging to a select group of professionals who share a combined passion to excel at what they do and how they do it. Perhaps on a much more personal level, it provides me the opportunity to give back to the industry in the sharing of knowledge by active participation in IAMC Forums and its various learning programs."
Ron Starner,
executive director
of IAMC
Speaking of that passion to excel, Garra added, "Perhaps my best memories of IAMC are how energized I feel after each Forum. I guess this is more of a living memory because it re-lives itself for me every six months. I have never before been associated with such a group of passionate, engaging and openly friendly professionals. IAMC is a contagious and energizing environment for all those involved."
As IAMC enters year No. 7, it is worth remembering - and paying tribute to - the visionary leaders who made the success of today possible.
IAMC Notes