ABI Salutes Iowa Manufacturing - Monday Memo 9/30/19

September 30, 2019

Manufacturing Legends Dinner Tomorrow Night; Manufacturing Conference Wednesday

As you have read about in the last few editions of this memorandum, two of ABI’s most popular annual events will be held this week.  Tomorrow evening, the annual Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner will be held at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona.  Then, on Wednesday and at the same location, the 2019 Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Conference will take place.   

A record crowd of well over 300 has already registered for these important events, but you can still register at http://www.cvent.com/events/legends-in-manufacturing-awards-dinner-and-or-advanced-manufacturing-conference/event-summary-a71b0b32353f4c90b7f43f517d599eb4.aspx.   If you wish to make a hotel reservation, go to: http://www.prairiemeadows.com/.  As I noted last week, these events have become a must-attend for ABI members in recent years and the awards dinner is always a fun celebration of Iowa manufacturing.  See you there. 

Biennial ABI DC Fly-In Two Weeks Away

The 2019 edition of the Biennial ABI DC Fly-In will take off for Washington, DC on October 16.  The trip will include meetings with the Iowa Congressional Delegation (Congresswoman Finkenauer is the only member yet to confirm).  In addition, briefings at The White House and with USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey, the National Association of Manufacturers, and BIPAC are also on tap.  Thank you to those ABI leaders participating in the 2019 edition of the Fly-In! 

ABI Directory Updates Due Next Week

As you know, this is the time of year that ABI's member database is being updated.  Information from the database will be checked, formatted, and put in to hard copy form for inclusion in the 2020 ABI Resource Guide.  The guide, in addition to including member data, includes information on the association's people, programs, and events. 

If there are no changes in your personnel or company information, you need do nothing.  If you have updates, simply send an email to Dorothy Knowles at dknowles@iowaabi.org.  The deadline to receive updates is the end of next week (Friday, October 11).  Thank you in advance for helping us make sure your information is accurate. 

Leadership Iowa Class Convenes in Perry Wednesday

The members of the 2019-2020 Leadership Iowa Class, the 38th LI class, will convene at the Hotel Patee in Perry Wednesday.  As is the case every year, 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 issues facing Iowa.  Look for a full report at next month's ABI board meeting. 

Manufacturing Best Practices Tour Hits the Road in November

Last year at about this time, a couple of dozen ABI leaders and members hit the road.  They were taken by private coach to manufacturing facilities in the Quad Cities and suburban Chicago, Illinois to tour and see the latest in digital/automated manufacturing.  

That trip was such a success, ABI is making another journey this year.  On November 12 and 13, ABI will take a manufacturing technology trip to north Iowa and to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  You, your operations team, and senior engineering staff will find value in this trip.  Go here for more information: http://www.cvent.com/events/manufacturing-technology-road-show-minneapolis/event-summary-8dd1b76b9fb94c7c949f7b4b7664fa5f.aspx

January Meeting at Convention Center

On January 15, 2020, the board will convene at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.  This is the same location as the annual ABI Legislative Reception (our organization’s second-largest event of the year).  By meeting at the convention center, you will not need to change locations or move your car between events. 

Also as was noted last week, the board will meet at ABI in November of this year and in March and May of 2020.  The 2020 ABI Taking Care of Business Conference will be held in Cedar Rapids and hosted by ABI Chair Cindy Dietz (Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids) in June. 

NAM Report Documents Strength in Housing and Manufacturing

Last week’s National Association of Manufacturers’ Monday Economic Report led with information about positive moves in two key American industries: housing and manufacturing

Should you wish to read it for yourself, reply to this message and I’ll get it to you at once. 

Agri-Industrial Plastics Honored by Iowa Environmental Council

At last week’s annual convention of the Iowa Environmental Council, a great ABI member was honored for a project that benefits the environment… and its business.  Agri-Industrial Plastics was honored with the Business Innovation Award for its solar project involving another ABI member, Ideal Energy.  

The project is the first of its kind in Iowa.  It combines solar energy with Tesla Power pack energy storage technology for peak shaving.  The system goes live very soon.  Congratulations everyone at Agri, including former ABI Chair and company President Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield)!  Read more about the award here: https://www.iaenvironment.org/newsroom/energy-news/business-and-environmental-benefits-of-clean-energy-celebrated.  By the way, Lori invites all ABI members to the project ribbon-cutting on October 24; reply for details. 

In addition to Agri, also honored at the conference were two other ABI members, Steffensmeier Welding & Manufacturing and Ideal Energy. Congratulations all round!  A final thank you to ABI Board Member Rand Fisher (Iowa Area Development Group, Des Moines), who tipped me off to the awards. 

Birthday Wishes to Kim Augspurger and John Krogman

ABI Board Member Kim Augspurger (Saxton, Des Moines) recently celebrated her birthday and ABI Board Member John Krogman (Elkhart Plastics, Atlantic) will celebrate his birthday on October 6.  Happy birthday to Kim and John! 

Al Jennings to Retire as CEO; Remains Board Chair

A longtime ABI member announced a leadership transition last week.  Former ABI Chair Al Jennings (EFCO, Des Moines), after serving as CEO for nearly 40 years, has appointed new leadership.  Mr. Jennings will continue as EFCO’s Chairman.  For more information about the change and others involved in new leadership, reply to this message and I’ll send it to you.  For now, congratulations and very best wishes to Mr. Jennings and to EFCO!

Alliant, CIRAS, IEDA Cut Ribbon for New Manufacturing Lab

Two great ABI members and the State of Iowa have partnered on a terrific new resource for Iowa manufacturers.  Last Thursday, business, university, and state officials cut the ribbon on Iowa State University’s new Digital Manufacturing Lab.  

Located in the ISU Research Park, the facility allows manufacturers to utilize a variety of high tech machines and applications to aid in production modeling and other functions.  Leaders of the project include Alliant Energy, the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State (CIRAS), and the Iowa Economic Development Authority.  Congratulations all around, including to ABI Board Member Julie Vande Hoef (Alliant Energy, Des Moines)