Business Horizons Happening Now - Monday Memo 7/18/16

July 18, 2016

Business Horizons 2016 Now Underway

The annual session of the ABI Foundation's Business Horizons program kicked-off yesterday at Central College in Pella.  BH 2016 will conclude this Thursday.    

This year’s Business Horizons class numbers about 100 students in size.  Your staff members, who make the program go by serving as serving as industry advisors or by helping in other ways, are essential to the terrific experience had by BH students. Watch for more information soon about the 2016 BH session and in the meantime, thank you for your support! 

ABI's Elevate Program to Host 2nd Annual Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner; Nominations Due August 1

As many of you know, ABI's Elevate Advanced Manufacturing is currently accepting nominations for the second-annual "Legends in Manufacturing Awards,"  which are due August 1. Last year's Legends Dinner was a huge success and a terrific celebration of Iowa manufacturing.

Your help is needed to ensure that Iowa manufacturers are honored for their hard work and dedication. Please click on this link for more information and to make a nomination (there is no charge to do so): http://www.elevateiowa.com/about/elevate-legends-nominations. Should you have questions, please contact Elevate Coordinator Alex Monaghan. She can be reached at amonaghan@measuredintentions.com.

Dozens of Members Already Registered for Next Month's Policy Development Meetings

Over the years, ABI members have always played close attention to the association's annual policy development process.  Some members travel from out of state to participate and the end result has been successful and award-winning public policy outcomes. 

Again this year, the policy development process has been advanced to increase the opportunity for success.  It appears that members like that decision, because dozens of you have already signed-up for next month's meeting.  If you aren't one of those, there is still plenty of time for you and your employees to register for these free meetings.  Go to https://www.iowaabi.org/events/ to register for the committee meetings of interest to you and your employees.  The ABI Board of Directors will act on the recommendations of these committees at the September board meeting. 

U.S. Department of Justice Invites ABI Members to Free Workforce Events

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Kevin Techau has invited ABI members to attend, at no charge, one of a series of workshops coming up later this month. The workshops, called "Iowa's Untapped Workforce," will provide information about hiring ex-offenders.  

The workshops will be held in Cedar Rapids, Fort Dodge, and Sioux City during the last week of July. If you would like more information, please click on this link and scroll down the page: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia

Jamshed Merchant Soon to Conclude Counsel General Rotation

The Office of the Counsel General of Canada is a valued ABI member/partner.  The office has been helpful in addressing issues involving ABI members who do business in Canada and the office has been a great sponsor of ABI meetings and events.  The Counsel General serves on a four-year rotation as the leading representative of the Canadian government in the Midwest. 

Counsel General Jamshed Merchant (Office of the Counsel General, Minneapolis) has been in office for nearly four years and his rotation is coming to an end.  It has been a pleasure to work with him and his team.  ABI salutes Counsel General Merchant and wishes him all the best. 

Mark Your Calendars Now for Annual ABI Executive Open Best Ball

In recent editions of this memorandum, I have been sharing information about the Eighth Annual ABI Executive Open.  This best ball golf tournament has quickly grown into one of ABI's most popular annual events.  

This year's event will be held on August 29th at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines.  Perhaps  Iowa's most beautiful private club, Des Moines Golf is again sure to be a fabulous venue for this always-popular event.  Register now at http://www.cvent.com/events/abi-executive-open-2016/event-summary-78ef26d7ecd4489696463f1d84494bd2.aspx.  See you in West Des Moines for what many ABI members call our association's most fun event. 

New Board Member Orientations Ongoing

Orientations continue with ABI's newly-elected board members.  This week's orientations include Kim Pang (Diamond Jo Worth, Northwood), Drew Larson (RAM Pattern, Le Claire), and Vince Newendorp (Vermeer Corporation, Pella).  You will have the opportunity to meet these leaders at the next meeting of the ABI Board of Directors on September 14th in Des Moines. 

IIPAC Board to Meet; Needs Your Support

The Iowa Industry Political Action Committee is ABI's political arm.  The organization is chaired by former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Waukee).  Now is the time of the year that IIPAC is heavily engaged in raising money to support pro-business candidates for state offices.  The IIPAC Board of Directors will next meet on Friday of this week in Des Moines. 

If you have already contributed to IIPAC this year, thank you.  If you haven't, now is the time.  Go to https://www.iowaabi.org/public-policy/iipac/  to make your donation today.  Again, many of you (and many of us on staff) have already made contributions.  As the rest of you get ready to make yours, thank you in advance for your support. 

ABI Advisory Council to Hold July Meeting

Members of the ABI Advisory Council will hold their regular July meeting Thursday in Des Moines.  As always, thank you to Advisory Council members for their support and leadership. 

Thank you to 21st Century Rehab, ATW Training Solutions, BCC Advisers, Brick Gentry P.C., BrownWinick, CIRAS, CliftonLarsonAllen, EMC, Focus OneSource, Global Reach, LMC Insurance and Risk Management, Manpower, Measured Intentions, Principal Financial Group, Spindustry Digital, Transition Point Business Advisors, and Wellmark

2017 Annual Conference Planning Site Visit Upcoming

You know that planning never really ends with regard to the ABI Annual Conference.  In fact, plans for a truly amazing 2017 ABI Taking Care of Business Conference are well underway and a team of us will be Dubuque in the near future for more planning. 

Our group will be led by ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield) and Conference Committee Chair Amy Jones (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield) and we will tour venues and sites which will be a part of the upcoming conference.  Several highlights will make the 2017 event one for the record books.  Make your plans now to join ABI in Dubuque next June. 

Time for Annual Iowa M&A Conference; ABI Members Invited at No Charge

Last year's third-annual Iowa Mergers and Acquisitions Conference, hosted by ABI member Faegre Baker Daniels,  was a huge success.  The program for the 2016 conference on August 4 has just been announced.  Go here for more information: www.FaegreBD.com/16IowaMA

Because of your ABI membership, you have been invited to this high value event at no charge.  If you wish to attend the conference and use the ABI code, the Faegre Bakers Daniel folks have made that possible.  Simply contact me and I will get the appropriate information to you. 

Jim Tyler Featured in News Article

Many ABI members are great to include the ABI office on the mailing list for their company newsletter. It is always fun and informative to receive the newsletters and they are appreciated. 

The latest edition of "cokebeat," the newsletter published by longtime ABI member Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, was fun to receive.  The cover story is reprinted from the May 21 edition of the Atlantic News Telegraph, the newspaper published in Atlantic, Iowa.  It focuses on former ABI Chair Jim Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlantic) and his career as a combat fighter pilot in World War II.  It is terrific reading and if you want to see it for yourself, please let me know and I will get it to you at once.  In the meantime, congratulations on the great coverage, Jim! 

Kirk Tyler/Atlantic Bottling Named IGA Business of the Year

As this memorandum goes to press this morning, I have not been able to locate a lot of information, but the Tyler Family was in the news for another reason last week. At last week's annual convention of the Iowa Grocery Association, former ABI Chair and Company Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Bottling Company, Waukee) and Atlantic Bottling were named Business of the Year by IGA.  Congratulations to Kirk, Jim, and everyone at Atlantic Bottling! 

Vogel Paint, Yo-Ho Tools Highlighted by KIB

Keep Iowa Beautiful is a great ABI member organization focused on maintaining our state's appearance and quality of life. Two other great ABI member companies are key KIB partners and sponsors of wonderful programs benefitting Iowans and Iowa communities. 

Both Vogel Paint Company and Yeoman & Company provide their high quality products (Diamond Vogel Paint and Yo-Ho Tools ) to deserving Iowa towns and cities.  The most recent edition of the KIB newsletter featured both companies  and if you wish to see it for yourself, please reply to this message.  In the meantime, congratulations to KIB and to both companies and to their leaders, ABI Board Members Drew Vogel (Vogel Paint Company, Orange City) and Tom Yeoman (Yeoman & Company, Monticello)

LyondellBasell Marks $50 Million Expansion in Clinton

Last Tuesday, officials with longtime ABI member LyondellBasell broke ground on a $50 million expansion of the company's campus in Clinton.  The centerpiece of the project is a new, state of the art administration building.  

After major upgrades in recent years to its manufacturing operations, the latest expansion will include administrative offices, a control room, a laboratory, and maintenance facilities. Congratulations to everyone involved in this exciting news, including ABI Board Member Rich Phelan (LyondellBasell, Clinton)

BCC Advisers Expands, Adds CR Office

Longtime valued ABI member and ABI Advisory Council member BCC Advisers announced the expansion of the firm's operations with the opening of an office in Cedar Rapids.  The CR office will initially focus on merger and acquisition services, but of course with the support of BCC's Des Moines headquarters, can provide business valuation, litigation support, and real estate appraisal services as well.  Congratulations to everyone at BCC, including company President and ABI Board Member Steve Jacobs (BCC Advisers, Des Moines)

Mark Hanawalt, Steve Martin Celebrate Birthdays

Two more longtime ABI Board Members are celebrating birthdays this month.  Former ABI Board Member Steve Martin (Hagie Manufacturing, Clarion) celebrates his birthday tomorrow.  Then, on Wednesday, former ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) celebrates his birthday.  ABI sends best birthday wishes to Mark and Steve! 

Emily Schettler on WHO Radio; Michele Farrell, Alex Monaghan on NewsHour

ABI Communications Coordinator Emily Schettler does great work for ABI. Last weekend, she told the ABI story on WHO-Radio.  Emily was so good, her segment was expanded and you can listen to the podcast here: : https://soundcloud.com/emily-schettler/who-1040-interview-july-9-2016

Also on the radio last week doing great work, Michele Farrell and Alex Monaghan talked about Elevate Advanced Manufacturing on the Insight on Business NewsHour radio show.  Go here for more information: http://insightadvertising.typepad.com/insight_on_business/.  Thanks to all three of them for helping spread the word about ABI, its members, and about Elevate!