AG Miller to Address Board - Monday Memo 10/23/217

October 23, 2017

Two and a Half Weeks Until November ABI Board Meeting; AG to Speak

The November meeting of the ABI Board of Directors will be an important one.  On the agenda will be the usual operations and finance reports, a public policy update, and receipt of the annual audit (if available), among other business.  Also on tap will be remarks by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who will address business initiatives being undertaken by his office. 

ABI Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) and board members will meet Wednesday, November 8 at the ABI office in Des Moines' East Village.  Many of you have already registered for this free meeting of the board, but if not, please go to this link and do so now: http://www.cvent.com/d/stqk7x.  You will receive your board packet by email late next week.  In the meantime, thank you in advance for participating in this final board meeting of 2017.  

Connecting Statewide Leaders Event November 2 in Jefferson

The first 2017-2018 Connecting Statewide Leaders event will be held November 2nd in Jefferson. This forum is the next opportunity to participate in the popular series of events ABI has hosted around Iowa over the course of the past few years.  

A luncheon follows the meeting and you will have a great opportunity to visit with fellow ABI members, meet the new Leadership Iowa class, and develop new customers.  You can register for the event and find more information at http://www.cvent.com/events/connecting-statewide-leaders/event-summary-d43daa1e977548329c808c79caed5f11.aspx.  I look forward to seeing you in Jefferson. 

Parent’s Night Event in Waterloo Thursday; Elevate Ambassador Training Next Month

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is hosting parent’s night in Waterloo this Thursday, October 26.  The event will expose parents to the terrific careers in manufacturing that are available to their children.  You can find more information and register for that event here: http://greatercedarvalleyalliance.chambermaster.com/events/details/manufacturing-parent-s-night-498821.  As always, thank you to ABI Board Member Steve Dust (Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, Waterloo) for supporting manufacturing in the Cedar Valley and in Iowa! 

Speaking of manufacturing careers and programs to promote them, the next training session for ambassadors for ABI’s Elevate Advanced Manufacturing initiative will take place at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids on November 14. The Elevate Ambassadors are a group of business leaders and others who tour the state talking about manufacturing careers.  The group is a key part of ABI’s Elevate Advanced Manufacturing initiative and you and/or your employees can register here for the event at Kirkwood: https://www.elevateiowa.com/news-and-events/.  

Remember #GivingTuesday

Three weeks ago, in the October 2nd edition of the Monday Memo, I told you of the hashtag #GivingTuesday.  It signifies a global day of giving fueled by social media and collaboration.  Last year, over 700,000 people collectively gave more than $116 million in more than 70 countries.  The event is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely-represented shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  

Please remember that the ABI Foundation hopes you will participate in #GivingTuesday this November 28 by supporting their incredible programs.  Please support the ABI Foundation through #GivingTuesday and don't hesitate to contact Foundation Development Director Amanda Nuzum for more information at anuzum@iowaabi.org or at (515) 235-0569. 

Annual CLA Manufacturing and Distribution Outlook Report Now Available

Longtime ABI member CliftonLarsonAllen is a valued member of our association’s Advisory Council. CLA provides great resources to benefit your business. 

One of the annual publications produced by CLA that is popular among ABI members is CLA’s annual Manufacturing and Distribution Outlook. The 6th edition of the CLA Outlook on Durability and Innovation is also available.  Click on this link and you can download each report at no charge: http://www.claconnect.com/industries/manufacturing-and-distribution#Resources.  Thank you to CLA for making these informative reports available to ABI members! 

Jim Tyler to Receive IGIA Lifetime Achievement Award

The Iowa Grocery Industry Association has announced that the winner of the 2017 IGIA Lifetime Achievement Award is former ABI Chair Jim Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlantic).  A feature on Jim’s career was included in the annual IGIA Iowa Grocer publication (please reply to this message if you wish to receive a copy). 

Jim will receive the award at the IGIA Hall of Fame Dinner on November 7. Congratulations and very best wishes to Jim Tyler! 

Mark Hanawalt to be Inducted into Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame

As you read in last week’s Monday Memo, a special honor is being bestowed on an ABI leader this week. Former ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) will be inducted in to the Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Business Hall of Fame.  

The induction will take place at a special ceremony at Gallagher-Bluedorn Auditorium on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa this Thursday evening. ABI salutes and congratulates Mark on this well-deserved honor! 

Tom Toner Promoted at SSAB

Longtime ABI Board Member Tom Toner (SSAB, Muscatine) is one of our association’s quiet leaders.  Tom is a leader inside his company as well and he is again being promoted. 

Tom will soon take over as Vice President, Operations for SSAB Americas and in that role will be moving to SSAB’s Mobile, Alabama facility. We are excited for Tom and we wish him the very best.  Congratulations, Tom Toner! 

Haskens Celebrate

Former ABI Chair Sarah McDonald Hasken and current ABI Board Member Jack Hasken (Jackson Manufacturing, Maquoketa) are great people and great ABI leaders.  It is a pleasure for ABI to join others in saluting Sarah and Jack on the anniversary of their wedding. Congratulations on 37 years, Jack and Sarah! 

Bill Brown, Rick Tollakson Celebrate Birthdays

As they do every year at about this time, two ABI leaders are celebrating birthdays.  ABI Board Member Rick Tollakson (Hubbell Realty Company, West Des Moines) is celebrating his birthday on October 27th.   Former ABI Chair Bill Brown (BrownWinick, Des Moines) will celebrate his on November 2nd.  Happy birthday to Rick and Bill!