2026 Forecast: Professional Development Opportunities on the Horizon
It’s my privilege to serve as your Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) in 2026. As we look ahead at 2026 I expect another dynamic year of progress and growth as an organization. I want to share a few insights into 2026 and what lies ahead for IAMC.
Over the past year, IAMC has witnessed strong growth in reach, influence and impact. The “I Am IAMC” campaign has been successful in generating grassroots exposure of the organization by highlighting our greatest resource, our members. Our members represent an extraordinary spectrum of expertise, backgrounds and perspectives, strengthening our position as a global leader in industrial real estate. If you haven’t already, please consider participating in this campaign.
We are launching an educational program geared toward helping our members develop professionally and cement our reputation as the experts in industrial real estate. The first Capstone course will begin early next year with a cohort of members. The course will be a mix of self-paced study, facilitator-led sessions and a group project culminating at the Spring Forum in Little Rock. Each group from the cohort will present their project. We welcome those of you interested to attend and see the final product.
Building off this initial course we hope to build a catalog of educational offerings that will appeal to our members. Continuing to be recognized as the leaders in industrial real estate will be critical to our long-term success as an organization.
Speaking of Little Rock, IAMC is excited to hold our Spring Forum there in April and return to Columbus, Ohio, for the Fall Forum. For those of you with more of an international flair, 2026 will mark the 10-year anniversary of the IAMC London Forum. These Forums provide you with the opportunity to stay up to date on what’s happening in industrial real estate as well as expand your professional network. I’ve made countless connections attending these events over the course of my career, and they have allowed me to be successful.
Our success as an organization depends not only on the efforts of our leadership but on the active engagement and collaboration of our entire membership. I invite each of you to participate in IAMC’s committees. Your perspective is invaluable, and your contributions shape the future of our association. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the field, your insights help us remain responsive to the evolving needs and expectations of our members. IAMC staff would be happy to help connect you with a committee that needs your support and matches your interests.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank the IAMC staff and the entire membership for your tireless dedication and enthusiasm toward the organization. I also want to acknowledge our partners and sponsors, whose support enables us to pursue our mission and expand our reach. I look forward to the opportunity of connecting with each of you at a future Forum, Local, or virtual event.
— Matt M. Boehlke
Along with other new construction, modernization and smart infrastructure efforts already underway at Northrop Grumman’s 550-acre Propulsion Systems & Controls location in Elkton, Maryland, a new building will increase on-site solid rocket motor (SRM) design and manufacturing capacity by 25% and support over 30% increased staffing.
Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman
Manufacturing Day 2025, Meet IAMC
This year’s National Manufacturing Day on October 3 saw more than 580 official events take place across the country, many of them involving IAMC member organizations. Here are highlights from a few of them.
In a release celebrating Manufacturing Day, the government of Cecil County, Maryland, recognized major operations from Terumo Corporation, W. L. Gore & Associates and IAMC member company Northrop Grumman, which recently broke ground on a new 57,000-sq.-ft. Propulsion Innovation Center, an approximately $40 million investment that, along with other recent expansions, will add 250 new science and engineering jobs to the company’s existing county workforce of 613.
The Propulsion Innovation Center is part of a broader $100 million investment by Northrop Grumman at the company’s Elkton site, increasing the company’s capacity to meet U.S. Department of Defense hypersonic air-breathing and solid rocket motor propulsion needs.
Niagara Bottling was one of nearly 70 manufacturers to host a Manufacturing Day event in Macomb County, Michigan.
IAMC member organization Niagara Bottling held a Manufacturing Day event in Macomb County, Michigan. “Due to a high volume of manufacturers in the area, Manufacturing Day is extended to a whole week here in the county,” said a release from Macomb County. “Last year, the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD) in conjunction with the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development (MCPED) had more than 2,000 students from Macomb County high schools participate.” Nearly 70 companies in the region hosted 73 tours for this year’s edition. “Manufacturing Day in Macomb County continues to highlight the strength and diversity of our local businesses,” said an MCPED release. “It gives students the chance to see the many paths available in this field and to realize that manufacturing isn’t just part of our history. It’s part of our future.”
Students from Richmond High School toured Belden Inc. as part of Manufacturing Day 2025.
Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, Indiana
Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, Indiana (an IAMC member organization), staged an event at Belden Inc., a company known for its wire and cable connection products that’s been around for more than 120 years and is headquartered in St. Louis (Greater St. Louis Inc. is also an IAMC member). The company operates a number of facilities in Richmond, Indiana.
Photo and map courtesy of John Deere
In a LinkedIn post on Manufacturing Day thanking the company’s manufacturing team, John C. May, chairman and CEO of IAMC member organization John Deere, wrote, “Today is U.S. Manufacturing Day — and I couldn’t be prouder to celebrate the people who make John Deere what it is. When you walk through one of our factories, you see more than machines and assembly lines. You see skill, creativity and pride in every detail. Our manufacturing teams don’t just build equipment — they create solutions that help farmers feed the world, builders shape our communities, and innovators power the future.”
John Deere plans to invest nearly $20 billion in America over the next decade. The company maintains 60 facilities in more than 16 states employing some 30,000 people. John Deere already has invested $100 million in U.S. factories in 2025. Among current projects are a 120,000-sq.-ft. addition in Strafford, Missouri; a new excavator factory in Kernersville, North Carolina; a factory expansion in Greeneville, Tennessee; and new lines in Waterloo, Iowa, for the assembly of the company’s new 9RX tractor. John Deere Davenport Works in Iowa was featured in ASSEMBLY magazine’s October issue as the 2025 ASSEMBLY Plant of the Year.
Photo and map courtesy of John Deere
John Deere Chairman and CEO John C. May
Photo and map courtesy of John Deere
“Let’s clear the air,” said a recent release from John Deere. “John Deere is not shutting down U.S. manufacturing. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.” The company plans to invest $20 billion into U.S. manufacturing over the next 10 years, said John Deere Chairman and CEO John C. May.
