Engage your employees in the electoral process

October 14, 2016 | 2016 Election: Make Your Vote Count Lori Schaefer-Weaton, ABI Chair, Agri-Industrial Plastics, lori.schaefer@aipcompany.com

At the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and at Agri-Industrial Plastics, our company in Fairfield, we know the importance of elections. Like most ABI member companies, we encourage our employees to be involved in the electoral process and to learn about the candidates and their positions.

We invite candidates and elected officials in to our plant all the time. We want them to meet our employees, learn about our business and see firsthand the high-quality work we do. We hope that helps them understand the impact of their decisions on Iowa employers and on our ability to grow jobs.

That is what this edition of Business Record Iowa is all about, making your vote count. ABI has many terrific resources to help you and your employees do just that. These resources will make it easy for you to participate in this fall’s election, and you can read all about them inside.

Earlier this month, the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) at Iowa State, and Des Moines Area Community Col- lege served as lead sponsors for ABI’s Advanced Manufacturing Conference. That event, and the second annual Legends in Man- ufacturing Dinner that was held the preced- ing evening, were a true celebration of Iowa manufacturing. If you missed these events, you missed terrific programming. I hope you will make plans to attend next year

Speaking of next year, it is not too early to finalize your plans now to attend two oth- er important events. On Jan. 11, 2017, ABI will hold its annual Legislative Briefing and Re- ception. This event draws hundreds of Iowa business leaders and more state officials of both parties than any other similar event. And June 6-8 is the date for the 2017 Taking care of Business Conference, ABI’s 114th an- nual gathering. This is simply Iowa’s very best business event of the year. Go to www.iowaabi.org often for more information.

In the meantime and as always, thank you for your support of ABI!