ABI Celebrates Iowa Manufacturing - Monday Memo 10/5/15

October 5, 2015

Legends Dinner, Advanced Manufacturing Conference Big Success; Honorees Named

Last Tuesday evening, ABI's Elevate Advanced Manufacturing program hosted the "Legends in Manufacturing" Dinner.  The next day, ABI hosted the annual Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Conference.  According to ABI members, both events were hugely successful.

Thank you to the hundreds of you that participated in one or both of these important events.  Based on your feedback, we are already planning even bigger and better events for next year.  Watch for more information soon.

In the meantime, it is a pleasure to note the companies and individuals who were honored at the Legends Dinner: former ABI Chair Bob Wersen (Interpower Corporation, Oskaloosa), Board Member Drew Vogel (Vogel Paint Company, Orange City), former ABI Chair Charles Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Company, Sheffield) and company founder Eugene Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Company, Sheffield), Jack McMahon (Barker Company, Keosauqua), and all 15 of Iowa's community colleges.  Congratulations to all!

November Board Meeting to be Held at ABI

The ABI Board of Directors will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, November 11.  ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) has announced that the meeting will be held at the ABI office at 400 East Court Avenue in Des Moines' East Village.  Watch for more information soon.

This will be the last meeting of the board to be held at ABI until March.  The January 13 meeting will be held the Embassy Suites on the River Hotel in Des Moines.  The March 15 meeting will be held at ABI.  The board will meet at Emerson/Fisher in Marshalltown on May 4and the annual conference will be held in Sioux City June 14-16.

Leadership Iowa Class Convenes in Perry for First Session

Beginning this Wednesday and ending Friday afternoon, the members of the 2015-2016 Leadership Iowa Class will convene in Perry.  This class is comprised of terrific young leaders from all around Iowa.

Class members will hold the first session, become acquainted with each other and the program, and focus on learning about technology issues facing Iowa.  Look for a full report at next month's ABI board meeting.

CIRAS Board Meets Thursday

A valued ABI partner organization will hold its regularly-scheduled board meeting this week.  On Thursday, the board of directors for Iowa State University's Center for Industrial Research and Service will meet in Ames. 

ABI Board Member Rand Fisher (Iowa Area Development Group, West Des Moines), other ABI member company representatives, and I are among others comprising membership on the CIRAS board.

Kim Augspurger Marks Birthday

ABI Board member Kim Augspurger (Saxton, Des Moines) recently celebrated her birthday.  Kim's birthday was a week ago today.  ABI sends Belated happy birthday wishes to Kim!

John Krogman Celebrates Tomorrow

Speaking of birthdays', former Atlantic Mayor and longtime ABI Board Member John Krogman (Connect-A-Dock, Atlantic) is celebrating his birthday tomorrow.  Happy birthday, John!

ABI Caps Busy Month; Memo a Brief One

This edition of the Monday Memo is a brief one.  That may be fitting, because the association has just completed a very busy month.  September saw terrific meetings of the ABI Executive Committee and Board of Directors.  It also saw fabulous events, such as the second biennial ABI DC Fly-In, the annual General Membership Meeting of EPIC, the first-ever Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner, and the annual Advanced Manufacturing Conference.  Terrific work by the ABI Foundation also marked the month.  Simply put, there was a lot going on.

All of these events and programs are successful only as long as they serve ABI members.  Thanks to your support and participation, that was the case.  On behalf of ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) and out officers, THANK YOU.