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.

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.