President’s Foreword - Culture Drives Results: Why IAMC Puts Relationships First

By J. Tate Godfrey, CEcD, President & CEO

Before starting my tenure with IAMC, I worked in community and economic development, from which time several adages stayed with me. One in particular came from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “Invest a dollar today to make two tomorrow.” It was a call for businesspeople to engage with their local chambers – an encouragement to invest time, dues, registration fees and energy with the confidence that opportunities would follow.

At IAMC, we’ve built our culture around a similar principle: “Where the relationships come first, the business follows.”  It’s a philosophy that has stood the test of time. The most successful IAMC leaders are those who embrace this idea, nurturing authentic relationships and, in turn, seeing incredible returns on their investment in our community.

To strengthen this culture – so vital to the success of IAMC and satisfaction of our members – the Board of Directors recently adopted a new non-solicitation policy. This step reinforces our long-standing commitment to IAMC’s low sales environment. Too often, we’ve heard of blast emails asking for private meetings at our forums … messages that, when unsolicited, disrupt the unique experience IAMC is known for. The new policy is designed to prevent this practice. 

Our corporate members, in particular, have been clear: they attend IAMC events to connect, share and learn. To build meaningful relationships, not to field unsolicited proposals. By protecting this environment, we ensure that IAMC remains a professional sanctuary where corporate executives can fully participate and engage rather than be overwhelmed by sales pitches. 

That doesn’t mean business doesn’t happen. In fact, IAMC’s relationship-first culture consistently fosters and strengthens business connections. When the time is right, our corporate members are loyal to IAMC colleagues, and opportunities naturally flow to those who have built rock-solid professional relationships. In short, at IAMC, culture drives results.

Tate.