Board Will Meet - Monday Memo 10/21/24
October 21, 2024
Final ABI Board Meeting of 2024 in Four 1/2 Weeks
The final board meeting of the calendar year will be held four weeks from Wednesday. The November meeting is an important one for ABI and it is typically one of the best-attended meetings of the year.
The ABI Board of Directors, led by Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City), will convene at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20. The board will meet at the ABI Office in Des Moines’ East Village and you can register for the board meeting by simply replying to this memo.
As noted above, the November board meeting is an important one. Members will work through a very full agenda of reports and action items. Look for the usual packet of reports and materials to help you prepare for the meeting to arrive in your email in-basket the week prior to the meeting.
Every once in a while, a board member will remark to me that it is nice that the board meetings are enjoying strong participation. As I always reply when I hear such comments, strong board participation is much more than nice. In fact, your participation in board meetings is all-important. Our association needs your leadership and it is board leadership that has made the difference in ABI's growth and return to prominence. Thank you in advance for your attendance and participation in the upcoming meeting.
Anna Mable to Join ABI
Starting November 4th, Anna Mable will join ABI to fill the role previously held by Kendall Antle. Anna is currently the Events Director with the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce and previously taught middle school math and science. In her current role, she relaunched the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce’s leadership institute, which is similar to ABI’s Leadership Iowa program. Anna’s skillset and interest will be quite useful in helping help recruit students for our high school and college programs. She will also support the logistic components of all ABI Foundation programs. We look forward to having Anna with us and welcoming her to ABI!
Leadership Iowa to Hold Second 2024-2025 Session in SW Iowa; Board Retreat Tomorrow
The ABI Foundation's 2024-2025 Leadership Iowa class is comprised of a terrific group of Iowans. The class will meet for its second session in November in Clarinda and Shenandoah in SW Iowa. This session will focus on agriculture and renewable resources.
Speaking of the programs of the ABI Foundation, the Foundation Board will hold a retreat tomorrow at the ABI office. The board, which is chaired by former ABI Board Member Dick Davidson (Thombert, Newton - ret.)will focus on a strategic review of the Foundation and its programs. Thank you to these leaders for their time and stewardship!
2026 Conference Site Visit on Tap for Thursday
The annual ABI Taking Care of Business Conference is a big deal. Each year, Iowa communities vie to be the host city for the conference. That is certainly the case for the upcoming 2025 edition of the conference, which will be held in Council Bluffs. That city has lobbied HARD for many years to bring ABI to town. I promise you that you will be excited by what is coming your way next June. ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) and the conference planning committee have developed a fabulous conference.
But, we really never stop planning for future conferences. In that regard, ABI Vice Chair Kellan Longenecker (General Mills, Carlisle) will lead a delegation to Iowa City Thursday for the first site visit for the 2026 annual conferee. Look for more news as it develops.
ABI Leaders Address Iowa Employee Ownership Conference
ABI was pleased to be one of the partners for the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership’s Second Annual Iowa Employee Ownership Conference last week. The conference was a great success, with a good crowd and terrific information.
It was fun to see ABI leaders as a part of the program. Both former ABI Chair Dave Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) and ABI Board Member Mike Espeset (Story Construction, Ames) served as panelists for popular breakout sessions at the conference. They shared high-value information about their organizations and their path to employee ownership. Thank you, Dave and Mike!
Weekly ABI Newsletter PACKED with Useful Information
For decades, through good times and bad, ABI has published The Voice of Iowa Business newsletter. This weekly publication always leads with the latest in public policy news, not just what is happening with regard to the Iowa General Assembly, but just about anything government-related that can impact your business is covered. It also includes information about high-value events, about ABI programs that help your bottom line, news from the ABI Foundation, and a ton of other information and resources that provide value for you, your company, and your employees.
Why do I share this? Simply to remind you to be on the lookout for the newsletter each week and to remember to take advantage of the information you’ll find in it. If you don’t already receive it, respond to this message and I will make sure you are signed-up. And, if ever you want to re-read back editions, you’ll find them on the ABI website. Click here to access the newsletters: Voice of Iowa Business | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org).
2025 ABI Legislative Reception to be Held January 15
ABI’s second most popular event each year is the annual Legislative Briefing and Reception. Well over 500 people attend this event, many more than attend any other similar event. Related to that, folks are already finalizing plans to attend the 2025 event to be held at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines on January 15. Watch for registration to be available soon. In the meantime, make plans now to attend.
NAM Report Highlights Sluggish Business Activity; Some Optimism
Last week’s edition of the National Association of Manufacturers’Monday Economic Report highlighted a number of data points illustrating the current sluggish economy. The same report also shared some reasons for optimism. As always, simply reply to this message if you wish to see the report for yourself.
Attorney General Visits HNI
You have heard me say often that the very best thing you can do to help advance ABI’s public policy agenda is to host elected officials in your plant or office. I am grateful that so many of you do that as a regular course of business.
One longtime ABI member that practices that approach is HNI Corporation. ABI Board Member Kelly McGriff (HNI Corporation, Muscatine) shared that Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird visited HNI last week. General Bird met with HNI CEO Jeff Lorenger(HNI Corporation, Muscatine) and General Counsel (and former ABI Chair) Steven Bradford(HNI Corporation, Muscatine) and other leadership team members. She also toured HNI’s manufacturing operations. Kelly further noted that the Attorney General is a friend of ABI and that is true. One of the key reasons for that is because of the hospitality of members like HNI Corporation. Thank you for the report, Kelly, and thanks for hosting General Bird!
Rick Tollakson to Celebrate
An ABI and IIPAC leader is celebrating his birthday this week. Longtime ABI Board Member Rick Tollakson (Hubbell Realty Company, West Des Moines) will mark his birthday on Sunday (October 27th). ABI sends best birthday wishes to you, Rick!
Kirk Tyler Award Noted
In the Monday Memo of September 23rd, I shared with you that former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines) had been named the 2024 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award from the Iowa Grocery Industry Association (a great ABI member). That’s terrific recognition for a terrific leader, made even more special because Kirk’s father (and former ABI Chair) JimTyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlantic) is a previous recipient of the award. It was fun to read more about Kirk in the most recent edition of IGIA’s magazine, the Iowa Grocer. You can read the article yourself here: iowa grocer magazine - IOWA GROCERY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION. Congratulations again, Kirk, and thank you for your leadership for IGIA and ABI!
Kirk McCollough Honored
It was fun for Nicole Crain and me to be in Webster City at longtime ABI member Seneca Foundry last Wednesday. Company patriarch and longtime ABI Board Member Kirk McCollough was honored with a surprise event honoring his 50 years in the business. Company President Lori Mason (Seneca Foundry, Webster City) and all the company’s employees, Kirk’s family, and many, many, community persons attended the event. It was fun to see former ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) and longtime ABI Board Member Bruce Tamisiea (Tecton Industries, Spencer) there as well for a very fun event. Congratulations, Kirk, and very best wishes on your incredible career!
The Business of ABI: Moving Forward
You know that from time to time in these memos I like to provide information about ABI's internal operations, what I call the business of ABI. As you know, I believe ABI needs to operate as a business and provide value to its customers (ABI has customers, we just happen to call them members).
One thing that is clear from all of you is that one part of what you all do in leading your companies is always move forward. You are always innovating, always meeting new demands, always providing value. ABI sure needs to do that as well.
Over the years, you have allowed us to try new things. Some have worked very well and grown (Elevate Advanced Manufacturing and BizWize and Leadership Iowa University and the Iowans for Jobs Initiative and many others). Some have grown and we have spun them off to flourish on their own (VentureNet Iowa and others). Some have not worked as well, or others are doing them better, so we stopped doing them (ABI Jobs Fair). The point is that by following your example and with your leadership, ABI continues to enjoy growth and increase. THANK YOU.