Don't Miss ABI Okoboji CEO Forum - Monday Memo 7/12/21

July 12, 2021

Register NOW for This Month’s ABI Okoboji CEO Forum

Registrations are strong for the 2021 ABI Okoboji CEO Forum, but there is still for you to register if you haven’t yet done so.  As you know, this is a spectacular program.  Click here for more information and to register: https://web.cvent.com/event/1a704678-9c02-49b0-9bce-419f8f4ad66b/summary.  

The forum will be held the 29th and 30th of July in Okoboji.  Thursday afternoon’s events take place at the Waterfront Events Center in Arnolds Park.  On Friday morning, we’ll be at a terrific, longtime ABI member, Parks Marina, in Okoboji.  Both locations are situated on beautiful East Lake Okoboji.  The forum starts with lunch on Thursday and ends with the tour Friday morning. 

Following lunch on Thursday, the well-known panel of ABI Advisory Council members Kevin Lentz (Anthologic, West Des Moines), Casey Cason (Wells Fargo, Des Moines),  Matt Fett (BCC Advisers, Des Moines), and  Brian Crotty (HDH Advisors, Des Moines) will again present their very popular panel about business valuation.  That panel will be followed by a fabulous panel of ABI member family business owners; Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly), Toby Shine (Shine Bros. Corporation, Spencer), Mindi VandenBosch (Vermeer Corporation, Pella), and Drew Vogel (Vogel Paint Company, Orange City).  Keynote Speaker Dan Houston (Principal, Des Moines) will speak next.  Dan, of course, is the Chairman, President, and CEO of this global company headquartered right here in Iowa.  It is a major “get” that Dan has committed to being with us on the 29th

Friday morning, attendees will be addressed by Butch Parks (Park Marina, Okoboji) and then tour his marina.  Butch is an iconic figure in the Lakes Region and is the owner of several businesses in the area.  His talk about business and entrepreneurism is sure to be a hit.  As you can see, this is an exceptional program.  See you at the Lakes later this month. 

Final ABI Regional Policy Meeting Thursday in Ottumwa

Each year upon adjournment of the Iowa General Assembly, the ABI public policy team hits the road for regional meetings around Iowa.  Normally, we cover a thousand miles or more.  And that is the case again this year. 

After meetings in Coralville, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, and Sioux City, the final 2021 regional meeting takes place in Ottumwa this Thursday.  This is your opportunity to hear the final report on the 2021 legislative session, the latest news from ABI, and to share your comments about the ABI agenda for next year.  For more information or to register, place click on https://www.iowaabi.org/events/

Orientations with New Board Members Ongoing

As I have mentioned in recent memos, you will have the opportunity to meet the new board members soon, as ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg. Inc., Maquoketa) and all of you will welcome them in September.  Orientation sessions with these new board members have started and will take place in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, please welcome newly-elected board members Heather Bruce (Osmundson Mfg. Co., Perry), Josh Byers (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan), Jerry Krantz (SSAB, Muscatine), Claudia Schabel (Schabel Solutions, Des Moines), and the honorary Leadership Iowa board representative, Eric Moerman (Interstates, Sioux Center).   

IIPAC Annual Report Published

A key part of ABI’s award-winning public policy work is financial support for candidates (regardless of party) who support business.  The Iowa Industry Political Action Committee is the association’s PAC and it makes that support possible.  YOU make the PAC possible and thank you for your contributions.  

The IIPAC Annual Report has now been published.  Click here to read the report: 2020-iipac-annual-report.pdf (iowaabi.org).  If your name isn’t listed as a contributor… it should be!  Please join us and support pro-business candidates.  Thank you again for your support. 

Business Horizons 2021 Next Week in Pella

The 2021 session of the ABI Foundation’s annual Business Horizons program will begin next Sunday.  The program will be held on the campus of Central College in Pella July 18-22. 

BH brings high school students from across Iowa together to learn about our state and the opportunities that exist for them here.  The program connects students with their future in Iowa.  By the time the annual session is completed, students know that they have terrific employment opportunities right here. 

BH has received rave reviews from students, college officials, ABI leaders, and others.  Watch for more information about BH coming soon. 

Latest Business Record Iowa Now Out; Evert, Glynn on the Cover

The latest edition of ABI’s monthly newsprint magazine, Business Record Iowa, should be in your mailbox by now.  It is another terrific edition, with lots of valuable information and the first column by newly-elected ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg. Inc., Maquoketa).   

Another highlight is a great cover story about lessons in business growth.  You can’t miss it, because you will find longtime ABI members Kathy Evert (Signarama, Ankeny) and Gabe Glynn (MakuSafe, West Des Moines) on the cover.  Thank you, Gabe and Kathy, for being our ABI cover models this month! 

Thanks, too, to another great ABI member featured in the story.  Thank you to company CEO Deb Malek (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) for sharing information from UEA.  We hope you enjoy this edition of Business Record Iowa and if for some reason you did not receive it, please reply to this memo and I’ll make sure one is sent to you right away. 

Mark Your Calendars Now for TWO ABI Executive Opens

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

This annual Des Moines-area event will be held on August 30th 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 Summary - Executive Open - Central (cvent.com).  

Another beautiful private club is the location for the Eastern Iowa Executive Open, which will be held September 27th in Cedar Rapids.  Elmcrest Country Club, the home club of PGA star Zach Johnson, is the site for this fun new event.  Find more information and register here: Summary - Executive Open - East (cvent.com).  

NAM Report: Significant Improvement in Economic Activity

This month’s Global Manufacturing Economic Update, published by the National Association of Manufacturers, included very encouraging data about the significant recovery being made by the economy.  Most experts believe the recovery is occurring much faster than was first hoped. 

That’s the good news. 

There continue to be caveats.  A spike in COVID-19 cases globally as well as the amount of ground to make up combine to temper the positive news.  Still, the outlook is hopeful.  If you wish to read the report for yourself, reply to this memo and I’ll get it to you at once. 

A Summer of Weddings for Kim Augspurger; Including her Daughter’s

ABI Vice Chair Kim Augspurger (Saxton, Des Moines) is going to be very busy this summer.  In addition to running her company, Kim reports she’ll be attending six weddings in the next few months!  The highlight will be the wedding of her daughter later this summer.  Congratulations to Kim and to all involved! 

Emily Bywater to Start Doctoral Program

It is always fun to keep up with ABI members and their families.  And a big development is in store for the Bywater Family.  Emily Bywater, eldest daughter of former ABI Chair David Bywater (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art, Iowa City) and his wife, Angie Bywater, will start a doctoral program in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan this fall.  Congratulations to Emily AND her parents… AND to her grandparents, former ABI Chair Bill Bywater (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art, Iowa City) and his wife, Linda Bywater

Big Developments at Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company; Employee Marks 72nd Year

You have read often that we enjoy your company newsletters at ABI.  The Fizz, the company newsletter for longtime member Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, arrived late last week.  It was packed with information, but a couple of things stood out. 

One, the company achieved its largest sales month on record.  That’s saying something, because the company is over a century old!  Second, another milestone was noted.  One of the company’s employees recently marked his 72nd anniversary with the company!

You guessed it, that employee is none other than Executive Chairman and former ABI Chair Jim Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlantic).  Congratulations, Jim, on this remarkable achievement!  Congratulations too, to company Chairman and former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler(Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines) and to company President and ABI Board Member Rob Feeney (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines) on the incredible sales record!