Gov. Heineman Announces Nebraska

to Host National Industrial Forum

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Heineman today announced the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) has selected Omaha to host its bi-annual national meeting from Oct. 7–10, 2012.

“Hosting national events like the Industrial Asset Management Council brings decision makers to Nebraska,” Gov. Dave Heineman said. “We are committed to developing relationships with conference attendees and creating opportunities to explore new ventures together. This is an opportunity to showcase Nebraska as an ideal location for events of this scale, while promoting the high-quality and well educated workforce and positive economic environment Nebraska has to offer a wide variety of industries and businesses.”

The professional forum will bring more than 350 senior executive leaders from across the United States to Omaha. IAMC is considered the leading national association of industrial asset management executives, corporate real estate executives and economic developers.

“The city of Omaha is pleased to welcome IAMC’s 2012 Fall Forum,” said Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle. “We look forward to showing off our vibrant city. The Old Market district, Missouri Riverfront, Joslyn Art Museum, world-class arts and attractions and the longest pedestrian bridge in the country are sure to entice attendees to get out and see why we’ve had over $2 billion worth of development in our downtown and riverfront area in the last ten years alone.”

David G. Brown, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber, said, “Bringing a convention of this caliber to Omaha gives us the perfect venue to showcase our city to the nation’s largest organization of industrial corporate real estate executives.”

The IAMC 2012 Fall Forum Host Committee is co-chaired by Richard Baier, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, and Rod Moseman, vice president of economic development at the Greater Omaha Chamber. They worked with 15 individuals from across the state to bring the Fall 2012 Forum convention to Nebraska.

 Members of the host committee include:

·         Richard Baier and Cheryl Brandenburgh, Nebraska Department of Economic Development

·         Roger Christianson and Devin Meisinger, Omaha Public Power District

·         Jim Doyle, ConAgra Foods

·         Jason Smith, Kate Ellingson, and Jamie Frerichs, Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development

·         Rod Moseman and Karla Ewert, Greater Omaha Chamber

·         Dennis Hall, Nebraska Public Power District

·         Greg Halverson, Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce

·         Tony Love, Union Pacific

·         Kathy Rosene, Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau

·         Mary Simmons, Black Hills Energy

Dana Markel, executive director of the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, “We are proud to be part of the Nebraska team working with IAMC leadership. Omaha’s hospitality community is committed to making this event a great experience for all attendees.”

IAMC Executive Director Ron Starner said, “While in Nebraska, IAMC will celebrate our 10th anniversary. Plans are already underway to make the 2012 Fall Forum quite a celebration.” 

The members of IAMC are a veritable “who’s who” of corporate real estate. Their ranks include the senior real estate directors of 3M, Alcoa Inc., Air Products and Chemicals Inc., BASF Corporation, ConAgra Foods, Frito Lay, General Mills, Hewlett Packard, Honda of America Manufacturing, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Group, The Linde Group, Inc., Pfizer, The ServiceMaster Company, Union Pacific, Werner Enterprises, Weyerhaeuser Company, and Wyeth and many other large industrial firms.

Founded in June 2002, the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) is the leading association of industrial asset management and corporate real estate executives, their suppliers, service providers and economic developers. IAMC is a member-focused association providing strategic insights, highest quality educational resources and exclusive networking opportunities for the leaders of the manufacturing and industrial asset management industry. As of April 23, 2009, the membership of IAMC totaled 509 across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. For more information about IAMC, visit www.iamc.org.