The IDB Story
In the early 1990s IDB founder, Bill Powell, worked for the state of North Carolina on a project to develop a 2,500-acre, multi-modal industrial park to deliver access to air, rail, highways, and seaports for global transportation – the North Carolina Global TransPark (GTP). GTP was created to foster a pro-business climate aimed at growing the aerospace, logistics, manufacturing, emergency services, defense contracting, and supporting industries in eastern North Carolina.
Project planning required close collaboration with both private industry and the U.S. military on logistics practices, development, and technologies. A common theme emerged in meetings with both stakeholders: each was very interested in what the other was doing to address specific business challenges. Sensing an opportunity to provide real value to both constituencies, Powell, with the help of government and academic partners engaged in establishing the GTP, developed a concept to formally bring together military and private sector leaders in an academic setting to share perspectives and best practices.