cores of corporate real estate executives are

by MARK AREND

working today at leading industrial manufacturing companies with insights and intelligence their counterparts elsewhere are doing without. I am referring to those executives who participated in the Industrial Asset Management Council's (IAMC) Fall 2004 Professional Forum in late September. From BASF to Boise Cascade, Philips Electronics to Pfizer, directors of real estate and property asset managers gathered at the landmark Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn., for four days of learning and networking from which they will benefit indefinitely.
     Initial feedback on the conference programming was telling. "One of the best sessions at any conference I've ever attended," wrote a participant in a session on Memphis' emergence as a "biologistics" industry hub. Another evaluator wrote, "Good analysis of site selection criteria for the biotech industry." And another: "Good insights into a niche business and its real estate requirements."
     Similarly, a session on making the corporate real estate organization Sarbanes-Oxley compliant drew this feedback: "Critical issue, knowledgeable presenters" and "Very pertinent."
     In keeping with the Forum's theme, "Corporate Real Estate in a Changing World Economy," speakers presented sessions on such topics as "Global Outsourcing: the State of Foreign Direct Investment" and "Global Portfolio Management and Offshore Outsourcing." These presentations earned such feedback as "Excellent information with informed speakers" and "Good discussion of an important topic."
     This feedback is obviously important to those of us involved in delivering IAMC Professional Forum content. But it should also indicate to the marketplace the premium placed on the relevance and take-home value of the Forum experience. More to that point, IAMC Professional Forums are unique in their inclusion of opportunities for corporate executives to interact with each other in settings conducive to learning and camaraderie. Aside from the regular programming, three such opportunities in Memphis were the leadership development seminar, peer-to-peer sessions and a Research Roundtable event reserved specifically for corporate participants.
     Coverage of conference sessions appears in the "IAMC Insider" section of this issue, in the monthly "IAMC Dispatch" e-newsletter and on IAMC's newly re-designed Web site, www. iamc.org. Future articles in Site Selection will expand on topics and issues discussed at the Forum. But in order to get the most from a Professional Forum -- for yourself and your organization -- plan on participating in the next one, March 19-23, 2005, in Charleston, S.C.

Till next time,