Day on the Hill 2015 Next Week - Monday Memo 3/2/15
March 2, 2015
Branstad, Reynolds, Upmeyer to Keynote Day on the Hill Events on Monday and Tuesday of Next Week
We're a week away from the association’s annual Day on the Hill program. Business Day on the Hill 2015 will be held March 10 (the same day as the next ABI board meeting) at the state Historical Building in Des Moines.
Top state officials have been confirmed to join you and your fellow ABI members (and NFIB members) at next week's event. Governor Terry E. Branstad will welcome you for a proclamation honoring Iowa business people on Tuesday. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds will share remarks at a reception the night before Day on the Hill, at 4:30 p.m. on MONDAY, March 9.
Day on the Hill is followed by a luncheon benefiting IIPAC, the Iowa Industry Political Action Committee. A leading statehouse official has been confirmed as the speaker for that event. Iowa House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer will headline the IIPAC luncheon. To register or find more information, please go to http://www.cvent.com/events/iowa-business-day-on-the-hill-2015/event-summary-e83e059e934d4d97a084cb18252ae941.aspx. See you next week!
2015 Convention Website Live; Register for Convention NOW!
Many of you have already made your reservations for the ABI Annual Convention, the 2015 Taking Care of Business Conference. For those who have not yet registered, you can do so now. Simply click onhttp://www.cvent.com/events/2015-annual-abi-conference/event-summary-03d0fa194e70462bad589a50955c2275.aspxfor all kinds of information about the convention speakers and terrific Quad Cities venues.
Based on our fantastic speakers, Quad Cities location, and terrific program, I can assure you this 112th annual convention, which will be held June10-12, will be a spectacular event. The bottom line is that you simply won’t want to miss it. Click on the link above and make your convention reservation now.
ABI Board to Meet Next Week; May Meeting in Cedar Valley
The next meeting of the ABI Board of Directors will be held a week from tomorrow, on March 10. ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) will call the meeting to order that afternoon at the ABI Office in Des Moines’ East Village.
As you have read previously and in addition to an important meeting, the board will also participate in other events throughout the day. Things begin with the annual Day on the Hill program that morning and the IIPAC luncheon at noon, followed by the Board of Directors meeting. See you in Des Moines on March 10.
Please remember the location for the board's May meeting. The May meeting will be held May 6 in the Cedar Valley (Waterloo and Cedar Falls) Region of Iowa. For those board members coming the night before, ABI will reserve a block of hotel rooms at a hotel in the area and host a dinner. Details are now being finalized, so watch for more information soon.
ABI Connecting Statewide Leaders Forum Thursday in Fairfield
ABI's next Connecting Statewide Leaders Forum will be held this Thursday (March 5) in Fairfield. A high-value panel, networking, and a luncheon will all be a part of the program, which will be held at the beautiful Fairfield Arts and Convention Center in downtown Fairfield.
For more information and to register, click on http://www.cvent.com/events/connecting-statewide-leaders/event-summary-6bc29643d5e94b31a72f8ed2084f0374.aspx. Join fellow ABI members, Leadership Iowa Class members, local business leaders, and others for this event.
ABI Foundation Board to meet Tomorrow
The programs of the ABI Foundation are enjoying strong participation. That is due in part to strong leadership by the foundation's board of directors. The ABIF board will meet tomorrow at ABI. Chair Steve Simon (Central Bank, Des Moines) and board members will work through a full agenda. Watch for more news at the ABI board meeting on March 10.
Leadership Iowa Class Heads to Fairfield; LIU Class Completes Work
Speaking of the ABI Foundation, members of the Foundation's 2014-2015 Leadership Iowa Class are a special group. The class has met several times and will hold its next session this Wednesday through Friday in Fairfield.
The session will focus on Iowa's role in economic development. The class will hear from some terrific speakers about ways they can enrich their companies and their communities. Look for a full report on the LI and other Foundation programs at the March meeting of the ABI Board of Directors.
In news related to the ABIF Leadership Iowa University program, you know from reading last week's Memo that the 2014-2015 class held its final session in Cedar Falls last week. Members of the class completed the program in fine style and were a terrific group. Special thanks to ABI Board Member Steve Dust (Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, Waterloo), who joined the LIU class for part of last week's session.
Iowa STEM Summit March 30 in Des Moines; STEM Externships Again Available
ABI members are invited to the 2015 Iowa Statewide STEM Conference to be held later this month. The summit will be held on March 30 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. State officials, business leaders, educators, and others will be a part of this event. Register now for this excellent event at: http://www.iowastem.gov/2015Summit.
In other STEM news, Iowa STEM officials have announced that the popular STEM teacher-externs program is returning. A great many ABI members all across Iowa have participated in this terrific program. There is an opportunity to get educators in to your plant for real work and an opportunity to cost-share that work. Find more information athttp://iowastem.gov/externships.
ABI Again Supporting Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference May 13-14 in Greater Kansas City
Last year, ABI was among a number of organizations that collaborated in producing the first-ever Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference. It was a huge success and led to plans for future conferences.
The second annual conference will be held on May 14 and 15 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas (a part of the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area). The agenda for the conference is terrific and packed full of high-value information. Your compliance staff will find no better resource for the very latest in environmental regulatory information.
ABI receives financial support for every Iowa participant that registers for the conference. While that is a great incentive, the real reason to attend is for the high-value program. Please consider sending your staff to the conference. Find out more information and register by clicking on http://mecconference.com/kansas-city/.
NAM Report Good Reading
You may think that I receive some sort of financial reward from the National Association of Manufacturers, because I plug NAM publications so often. I do not; but let me again call your attention to the NAM Monday Economic Report.
Last week's report was simply great reading, with sound information about the state of the economy and about trends for the future. if you wish to read the report for yourself, please reply to this message and I will forward it to you at once.
Mark Hanawalt Part of DC Trip in Support of Ex-Im Bank
Many ABI leaders are a part of efforts to secure the reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Former ChairsMary Andringa (Vermeer Corporation, Pella), Charles Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Co., Sheffield), and Bob Wersen (Interpower Corporation, Oskaloosa) and ABI board members Andy Hansen (John Deere, Ankeny) andChris Sackett (BrownWinick, Des Moines) are just a few.
The latest ABI leader involved in the effort is ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly). Last week, Mark was part of a delegation led by General Electric that travelled to Washington, DC to lobby government officials in support of the reauthorization. There is much more ahead on this issue, so please stay tuned.
DMACC Business Resources Unveils New Website
Des Moines Area Community College is a valued ABI member-partner and DMACC's Business Resources Office has extensive programs to aid business. DMACC Business Resources recently marked the unveiling of a new website for its Workplace Lean program, which you can access here: www.workplacelean.org.
Alliant, Dexter Laundry to be Visited by Governor, Lieutenant Governor
Later today, two longtime ABI members will be visited by Governor Terry E. Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor will be in Ottumwa this morning to help mark the ribbon-cutting forAlliant Energy's new Ottumwa Generating Station. Then, this afternoon, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor will again tour the innovative manufacturing facilities of Dexter Laundry in Fairfield.
Congratulations to these great Iowa businesses for this positive attention. And, congratulations to two terrific ABI board members who represent these companies: Vern Gebhart (Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids) and Andy Kretz (Dexter Laundry, Fairfield)!
Michael Sadler Celebrates
Longtime ABI Board Member Michael Sadler (CenturyLink, Des Moines) was heavily quoted in a story in today'sDes Moines Register. Even more noteworthy, Michael will celebrate his birthday this Friday, March 6. ABI sends happy birthday wishes to Michael!