Building Momentum: Uniting Business Leaders at the 2023 ABI Annual Convention

Next week, ABI will hold its 120th annual convention, the 2023 Taking Care of Business Conference.  We are excited to host over 500 ABI members in Cedar Rapids next Tuesday-Thursday.

For three days, ABI members from all over Iowa and beyond will come together for business, social, and networking activities. Golf and other activities, followed by a welcome reception at EASTBANK Venue, will mark the start of the convention. Two fabulous keynote speakers, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, and breakout sessions will mark the second day. That evening, the Chair’s Dinner and Reception will be held at The HarMac. Be sure to check out the signature cocktail as you event, and visit the rooftop patio and bar. It will be unlike anything ABI members have seen before. The annual ABI Foundation Auction, in a silent format only this year and with some spectacular items up for bid, will end that evening.

The convention will be capped by a fantastic final day of great programming. A third terrific keynote speaker, honoring the Leadership for Iowa award winner, and the graduation of the Leadership Iowa class will be highlights of Thursday’s program.

All of that is absolutely fantastic. And it is important in that it helps achieve the primary objective of the conference: to add value for you and your business. 

In recent years, we have changed the official name of the ABI convention and it is now known as Iowa's Taking Care of Business Conference. That's because if we aren't helping you take care of your business and your employees, we aren't doing our job. 

As I note in a message to the ABI Board of Directors each year, the annual convention is important to ABI for many reasons. While the revenue raised by the convention is one of those, even more important is the event's value as a source of programming and information for members.  And even more important than that, the annual conference helps continue ABI's momentum and provides members and sponsors with the very best business networking in Iowa. 

Thanks to you, all of that is assured to be the outcome of next week’s conference.  On behalf of ABI Chair Kim Augspurger and Conference Committee Chair Tami Anderson, we can’t wait to see you in Cedar Rapids!