In 2019, IAMC set out an ambitious 5-year strategic plan under the guidance, vision and leadership of Mr. Charlie Waltz with BASF who was Chairman of the IAMC Board at that time. Completely supported by the IAMC Board of Directors, this ambitious 5-year plan has resulted in numerous improvements and changes to IAMC, many of which we take for granted today.

To quote former IAMC Chair Kevin Dollhopf, formerly with Hanesbrands and now with Hickey and Associates, “...there is no issue within IAMC that can’t be improved by adding more Corporate Members.”  That is why IAMC exists and, with monitored emphasis on retention and recruitment, that is why IAMC will continue to flourish.

From 2017 to 2023 … that’s how long it took from when the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) submitted their bid to host an IAMC Spring Forum in Biloxi to when it was finally held last month.

It wasn’t always meant to be a 6-year timeframe. Biloxi was originally the planned host for the Spring 2020 Forum at the Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino. This 1,700-room facility was, and remains, the largest hotel in the state of Mississippi. Even then, the Beau had plans to renovate their rooms and common areas – which they ultimately completed in 2022 – and everything was proceeding according to plan … until the global pandemic hit. 

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone in the IAMC family had a wonderful holiday season.  We are looking forward to a very prosperous 2023, and we hope you are as well.

I have asked the staff to adopt a vision that I have for our association.  My goal for IAMC going forward is for it to be the most valuable organization in which all three of our member types are involved.  We hear this sentiment from many of our members already, but I would like this goal to drive all our efforts on the member’s behalf

We see the impacts that leaders have on teams and organizations everywhere across all industries. You can see this from company culture all the way down to the bottom line.

Our economic development members will attest to the importance of quality leadership, which can even supersede more tangible community resources.