The Industrial Asset Management Council debuted its Leadership Development Program on Saturday at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort here in Tucson with a strong emphasis on recruiting a new generation of leaders.
        "This is a great organization that is only going to get better," IAMC Chairman Bob Zane, Group Director of Real Estate Operations for Campbell Soup, told the group of 16 IAMC leaders who showed up early at the Professional Forum for the special pre-event seminar. The seminar kicked off a five-day conference that is attracting 225 attendees from all over North America.
        Sponsored by the Research Valley Partnership of Texas, the Leadership Development Seminar was moderated by IAMC Program Delivery Chairman Ed Kelley of USAA Real Estate in San Antonio. The seminar leader was Mark Levin, president of B.A.I. Inc. and executive vice president of the Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute.
        "Leadership is the ability to get others to follow you, sometimes based only on a promise," said Levin. "People must become engaged before they become involved, and time is the new currency. It is now more valuable to most people than money. We are all now on a 24-hour workday."
        As Levin encouraged the attendees to consider new models of growing and attracting leaders, the seminar participants engaged in some lively discussions throughout the four-hour session. Levin also challenged his audience to build both continuity and flexibility into their plans for leadership development.
        "You must be willing to throw away old models and have an innovative plan for succession," Levin said. "You must develop the future key leaders of your industry."
        Reaction to IAMC's first-ever Leadership Development Seminar was overwhelmingly positive.
        IAMC Vice Chairman Charles McSwain of CSX said that his own experience in association leadership had improved his professional standing and elevated his career.
        For more information on IAMC's Leadership Development Program, please go to www.iamc.org or send an email to staff liaison for leadership development Hazel Pankey at hazel.pankey@conway.com.