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.

For more than 22 years, IAMC has stood apart in the world of professional trade associations for its powerful combination of value-based networking, peer-level knowledge sharing and a uniquely low-pressure environment. These hallmarks have driven our growth and cemented our role as the trusted home for corporate real estate professionals.

That said, as the industry evolves and expectations shift, so too must our approach to member value. In today’s fast-paced, talent-driven world, ongoing professional development is more than a benefit – it’s a business imperative.

The philosophy of continuous improvement, introduced by W. Edwards Deming in the 1950s, is more than just a guiding principle – it’s the foundation of IAMC’s success. Thanks to the dedication of our leadership, committees and members, we achieved remarkable milestones in 2024, reinforcing IAMC’s role as a premier organization in industrial real estate.

It’s been an exceptional year for IAMC, one marked by several milestones that position our organization for continued growth and success.

First, in September, IAMC welcomed its 80th new corporate member for 2024 — a significant achievement. Just a few years ago, 80 new members in one year was just a dream, but today, it’s our reality.

We all know the real estate cliché “location, location, location.” What is the professional association equivalent? “Value, value, value.”

As a professional trade association, IAMC must continuously and rigorously deliver value to our members, sponsors and event attendees. In short, our strong value proposition is vital in attracting and retaining members across all categories who could choose at any moment to spend their time and resources elsewhere.