Growth Matters: Strengthening Connections and Building Communities
At IAMC, we believe that growth extends beyond just numbers — it’s about fostering meaningful relationships and actively engaging with both our organization and the broader professional and personal communities. Our focus on building connections drives everything we do, helping members thrive in their careers and make lasting contributions to the communities we serve.
This year, our commitment to growth and connection has shone brightly through the outstanding attendance numbers and participation at our Spring and Fall 2024 Forums in Greenville, South Carolina, and Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, respectively. In fact, the Spring Forum saw record-breaking numbers across the board: 527 attendees (117% of our target) including 122 corporates (163% of goal).
One of the things that sets IAMC apart is our dedication to the communities we visit. Since the Spring 2011 Forum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the IAMC Volunteer Service Project (VSP) has been a cornerstone of our commitment to giving back. This year, our members came together to support Harvest Hope Food Bank in Greenville and Mission 1000 Tonnes in Quebec, with nearly 80 members participating. These efforts not only strengthen the communities we touch but also exemplify what IAMC stands for — making a positive impact through collective action.
Professional growth is at the heart of IAMC’s mission. Our IAMC Info Exchange sessions are prime examples of how we bring members together to share insights and discuss the pressing issues and trends affecting our industry. From navigating evolving supply chains to addressing sustainability challenges, these group discussions create immediate and long-lasting impacts that benefit all our members.
In short, at IAMC, we are deeply committed to maintaining strong relationships with the communities where we live, work and play. Whether it’s through our professional efforts or our community service initiatives, we aim to contribute to, sustain and protect these vital networks.
As we continue to grow as an organization and strengthen our professional community, there’s never been a better time to get involved. Whether it’s through attending our next Forum or local event, participating on a committee, or serving as an ambassador, your involvement is what makes IAMC successful. Let’s continue building relationships, sharing knowledge, and giving back to the communities we serve. Join us on this journey — your involvement matters.
To learn more, visit iamc.org or call IAMC staff at 770.325.3430.
IAMC Member Spotlight: Marcus Rose, Director of Real Estate, NFI Industries
Tell us a little bit about you.
Marcus Rose: I am Director of Real Estate at NFI. I grew up in Madison Heights, Virginia, and attended Furman University for my undergrad education.
Tell us about your path to corporate real estate.
Rose: My path to real estate was somewhat unique. I started my career in Property Management with CBRE in 2011. Having very little knowledge of career paths within real estate, my goal at the time was to obtain enough foundational knowledge to then become an office/retail broker ($$$). After three years of property management, I took a transaction management position within CBRE that serviced one of their top national clients. As I encountered both the advantages and disadvantages of working on the client-service side within CBRE Corporate Services, my interest in corporate real estate grew significantly. I was particularly drawn to aspects such as strategic planning, organizational structure and the art of creative deal-making.
I was very fortunate to join NFI in 2019, which has positioned me in a true corporate real estate role. NFI is a fully integrated third-party supply chain solutions provider. Privately held by the Brown family since 1932, the company generates more than $3.9 billion in annual revenue and employs over 17,000 associates. NFI owns and operates more than 70 million square feet of warehouse space alongside a dedicated fleet of 5,000 tractors and 14,300 trailers.
What is the scope of your responsibilities at your organization?
Rose: Our exceptional real estate team at NFI encompasses a range of expertise including Construction, Development, Property Management, Leasing, and Accounting. I’m part of a smaller team of five professionals whose responsibility is to oversee all leasing and customer-driven development activities across both NFI’s owned and leased properties. Specifically, my role involves overseeing leasing initiatives and pursuing new opportunities for NFI’s operating company, which encompasses a vast portfolio of 35 million square feet spread across 180 properties. Over the past four years, a significant portion of my focus has been dedicated to lease administration and leveraging technological resources to enhance our operations.
NFI strategically operates in key distribution hubs across the United States and Canada, including a substantial presence in secondary and tertiary markets. Our assets span a wide spectrum, ranging from 5-acre trailer yards to expansive 1-million-square-foot warehouses.
What is your favorite part of your role or the industry as a whole?
Rose: I find it rewarding to uncover creative solutions for our operations when conventional methods aren’t applicable. Additionally, I’ve taken pleasure in assisting with the development of a more structured transaction management process within our current framework at NFI.
What is one skill specific to your job could you share with the rest of the membership?
Rose: In my role, I find persistence to be essential. Managing multiple stakeholders throughout transactions and navigating deals that may encounter multiple setbacks can be a significant challenge.
Tell us about a corporate real estate or facility management project you were particularly proud of in which you played a role.
Rose: One project that stands out to me involved a facility operated by NFI on behalf of a customer through a lease agreement. Unfortunately, the customer experienced a downturn in their business, necessitating the termination of all labor associated with that operation. However, seizing an opportunity presented by a new customer pursuit, we were able to repurpose the facility by taking on a sublease for the space previously occupied by our former customer. This strategic move allowed us to rehire a majority of the employees who had previously worked at the facility. This was a great outcome that allowed our local team to maintain a majority of their employees.
What led you to join IAMC?
Rose: I joined IAMC on the recommendation of my manager Troy Adams, who has been a long-standing member of IAMC. IAMC has been very helpful in my career, particularly through my first couple of years with NFI, which happened to be in the middle of the pandemic. Having a network of colleagues who were willing to help me solve issues I was dealing with became very valuable.
Name one thing you have on your bucket list.
Rose: Skydiving over Palm Islands in Dubai.
FDI, FTZs and Other Not-So-Foreign Concepts
Photo by DFMotion courtesy of Destination Québec cité
In this issue with its focus on foreign direct investment and foreign-trade zones, we turn our attention to some of the international organizations prominent among IAMC membership. First, coming on the heels of the IAMC Forum in Quebec City (pictured), it’s worth recognizing the hosts and other Canadian economic development organizations: Quebec International (Quebec City); Invest Quebec; Port of Saguenay; Toronto Global and Invest in Canada.
Participants in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff STEM Summer Institute visited NASA’s Stennis Space Center in June.
Photo by Danny Nowlin courtesy of NASA
In August, Rolls-Royce announced testing on the F130 engine had begun in Indianapolis, another step toward delivering for the United States Air Force B-52J Stratofortress. Meanwhile, testing at NASA Stennis (pictured) in Hancock County, Mississippi, marked the first time F130 engines were tested in the dual-pod engine configuration of the B-52 aircraft. Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission are IAMC member organizations.
The opening of three New York metro stores in Garden City, Queens and Brooklyn in 2022 kicked off Primark’s U.S. growth plan to reach 60 stores by 2026.
Headquartered in London, Associated British Foods is a diversified group whose business sectors include grocery, sugar, ingredients and agriculture. The group’s brands also include international fashion retailer Primark, which now has more than 18.2 million sq ft of selling space across more than 432 stores in 16 countries. The Irish store brand, founded in Dublin 55 years ago is currently making inroads in the United States with plans to open 60 stores by 2026.
Photo courtesy of thyssenkrupp
Thyssenkrupp Materials Services in May celebrated the opening of its new $32 million steel service center (pictured) on the premises of Steel Dynamic in Sinton, Texas. “Due to its geographic location, the Sinton site is an important strategic addition to the three existing steel service centers in Richburg, South Carolina; Woodstock, Alabama; and Detroit, Michigan,” the company said. Sinton is located in San Patricio County, part of the Corpus Christi metro area. The San Patricio County EDC and the Corpus Christi Regional EDC are IAMC member organizations.