ATLANTA – There's a strong, new force on the corporate real estate scene: the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC at www.iamc.org). IAMC has staked out unique organizational turf, setting itself apart from the industry's existing associations. IAMC's focus, for example, is squarely on industrial and manufacturing firms. And those corporate members will make up the clear majority of total membership. Corporate members will outnumber - by at least a 2-to-1 ratio - members from service-provider firms and economic development agencies.
        Meetings will also be far smaller and more intimate than the large, often unwieldy conferences that now typify many industry associations.
        "I agree that the IDRC meetings are getting too big and difficult for effective networking," a director of real estate and facilities wrote in response to IAMC's initial organizing efforts, which began in May.

Jack Brophy Robert Zane Charles McSwain Jack Logue

        Similar comments came from an asset management director: "I have been overwhelmed by the amount of solicitation at meetings . . . and have begun to feel uncomfortable," he wrote.
        IAMC began to take shape in May, with the formation of an organizing group of asset management and real estate executives. After a strong show of grassroots support - including hundreds of responses from interested executives - the association has rapidly moved forward.
        IAMC, in fact, will hold its initial Professional Forum on Oct. 27-30, 2002, in Savannah, Ga. Entitled "A Fresh Look at the Interests of Industrial Asset Management Professionals," the Savannah meeting will be the first of IAMC's ongoing biannual conferences. (For more details on the Savannah Professional Forum, see accompanying article, "What's in Store at IAMC's First Professional Forum.")

IAMC Officers, Board Include a
Host of High-Profile Industry Figures

Incorporated in July in Georgia as a 501(c) (6) nonprofit association, IAMC has already elected a slate of officers and directors. The association's leadership roster is dotted with many figures who are widely respected in corporate real estate and asset management circles. IAMC's first chairman, for example, is Jack Brophy. A former vice president of real estate for USG Corp. in Chicago, Brophy served in several high-profile volunteer leadership positions in the International Development Research Council (IDRC), which recently merged with NACORE to form CORENET Global. Brophy held IDRC's presidency during 1995-96. In addition, he was founding chairman of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate (AECE).
        "IAMC," Brophy commented, "strives to become the world's leading professional association for industrial asset management executives, their service providers and economic developers." IAMC leaders also include Robert Zane of Campbell Soup, who will serve as vice chairman; Charles McSwain of CSX, who will serve as treasurer; and Jack Logue of Argonne National Laboratory, who will serve as secretary. IAMC's board similarly includes some very prominent names in industrial asset management expertise. Board members include: Roger Beck of Dow Corning (ret.); Larry Edge of Conway Data (which will manage IAMC); David Hirsch of Masco; Rich L'Ecuyer of Unisys; Greg Long of Hallmark Cards; Jim Martin of Donaldson Co.; Patrick McKee of McGough Construction; Bill Pearson of BASF; and Sherry Vance of the Mississippi Development Authority.