Executive Committee to Meet Next Week - Monday Memo 2/4/19
February 4, 2019
Executive Committee Meets Next Week; Board Meets March 13
The ABI Executive Committee will hold its regular February meeting a week from Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. To be convened by ABI Chair David Bywater (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art, Iowa City), this teleconference will mark the committee’s second meeting of 2019. Look for a full report on any news from the meeting at the March board meeting.
Speaking of the ABI Board of Directors, that meeting will be held at ABI on March 13. That day will see a full day of ABI meetings and events, as the annual Day on the Hill program and other events will also take place then.
Drew Wynes to Join ABI Public Policy Team
As you know, ABI has been conducting a targeted search to fill the vacant position in our public policy team. In the meantime, we have been extremely fortunate to have ABI Senior Vice President Public Policy Nicole Crain and Director Public Policy Brad Hartkopf continue their stellar work representing ABI members at the Statehouse.
The search is over and I am pleased to tell you that Drew Wynes will soon join ABI as Coordinator, Public Policy. Drew is young, but he had a very successful stint as a field director responsible for Iowa House candidates in nine targeted districts in SE Iowa last fall. He also has experience with some other political and policy organizations and he holds a degree from Augustana College in Rock Island. We are eager for Drew to begin his work with ABI and for you to meet him. Welcome, Drew Wynes!
2019 Iowa Business Day on the Hill March 13
During the first quarter of the year, much of ABI's work focuses on public policy and the Iowa General Assembly. A few years ago, following on the exploding success of the annual ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception, ABI created the annual ABI Day on the Hill. The event capitalizes on members’ wishes to get even more involved in ABI’s public policy work.
This event gives ABI members an opportunity to get the very latest news from the Capitol in the heat of legislative activity. Members are taken by private coach to the Capitol to meet with and hear from key state officials, legislative leaders, and their legislators. The event has grown bigger and better each year and this year's event will again be conducted in partnership with the Iowa Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, the Iowa Chamber Alliance, and the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Day on the Hill 2019 is being held Wednesday, March 13. The program begins with registration that morning at the ABI office near the State Capitol. Following a report on legislative news and updates on related issues, and including other information, DOTH participants will head to the Capitol for meetings with legislators. Register now at http://www.cvent.com/events/iowa-business-day-on-the-hill-2019/event-summary-2080946833bd49518eade9d46c07cfb2.aspx.
March 13 is also the day of the March meeting of the ABI Board of Directors. Thanks in advance for your participation in these important meetings.
Conference Speaker Workshops Wednesday and Thursday
Attendees at ABI’s annual Taking Care of Business Conference consistently tell us they find great value in the breakout sessions that are a part of the annual conference. That is in large part due to a very competitive speaker selection process. And in that regard, this Wednesday and Thursday, some members of the ABI Conference Committee will be conducting interviews and working with potential breakout speakers. It will all lead to an awesome convention in Ames. Thank you to these ABI leaders for developing a fabulous program and we’ll see you all in Ames June 4-6!
Leadership Iowa Seeking Great Iowa Locations
Each year, the ABI Foundation’s award-winning Leadership Iowa program takes participants to a series of great locations all over our state. As just one benefit of the program, LI class members develop an appreciation for the rich variety of experiences to be had in Iowa.
In preparation for the coming year, the Leadership Iowa Curriculum Committee selects seven rural and urban communities across the state to host Leadership Iowa sessions. The communities selected often benefit, in a number of ways, from hosting a Leadership Iowa session and welcoming 40 diverse leaders from across the state for two-day session in their town. If you know of a great Iowa community that is worthy of a Leadership Iowa visit, please click here to submit a nomination (and tell us more about why it should be considered for a future session): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFIzADVuM6LPvuL612OV66TtQEVX4MPOg7BVRGOtosoMUgrg/viewform.
Nominations are accepted year-round and held indefinitely, so if your location is not selected for the 2019-2020 year, it will be considered in the future. If you have questions, please contact Jessi Steward, Director of Programs at the ABI Foundation at jsteward@iowaabi.org or by phone at (515) 235-0570.
Legislative Update Teleconference a Week from Friday
Periodically throughout the legislative session, ABI lobbyists Senior Vice President Public Policy Nicole Crain and Director Public Policy Brad Hartkopf host a teleconference to give you the very latest information from the Statehouse. Updates on bills, legislative proposals, state actions, and other matters are covered in each call. Your specific questions about those topics are also very much welcomed.
The next call will be held a week from Friday, on February 15th, at 8:00 a.m. and you and your employees are encouraged to participate. The members-only call is free as a part of your ABI membership, but please register at https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/138-abi-members-only-legislative-conference-calls/.
Biennial ABI Workers Compensation Seminar March 27 in Des Moines
The association will host its biennial Workers Compensation Seminar late next month. This is the place to find the latest information about workers comp programs and to learn the best practices utilized by other companies.
The seminar will be held at the ABI office on March 27 and registration information will be available soon. We look forward to seeing your HR, risk management, and compliance teams at ABI on March 27th.
Next Connecting Leaders Session, Adding Business Value Event in Cedar Valley in April
More in the series of Connecting Statewide Leaders Forums are ahead. In fact, the next one will be held April 4. Again, that is April 4 (the event will not be held in March as I mistakenly indicated in last week’s Memo).
Coming on that date is both a CSL Forum and a seminar related to adding value to your business. Watch for more details to be available very soon, because you won't want to miss these events. For one thing, they will be held in a terrific ABI area of the state. For another, the programs will be terrific. Again, watch for more news soon.
Elevate Scholarships Available
You know how important ABI's Elevate Advanced Manufacturing initiative is to our state. Manufacturing firms supply nearly 210,000 jobs to Iowans. These well-paying careers require education and training beyond high school, but many don’t require the often burdensome cost of a bachelor’s degree. Recent studies have shown that two-year degree holders, especially in high-demand manufacturing occupations, can earn salaries that surpass those of college graduates.
A career in manufacturing means getting to work sooner with less debt.
Elevate Advanced Manufacturing promotes great careers in advanced manufacturing. In 2019, Elevate is offering (15) $500 scholarships to Iowa high school seniors interested in studying a manufacturing-related career at one of Iowa’s 15 Community Colleges – One award will be made per college region. Interested candidates can apply by completing the application at www.elevateiowa.com.
Annual Cedar Valley Legislative Reception Tomorrow Evening
Another great ABI member/partner is coming town. The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is hosting its annual legislative reception tomorrow night at the Des Moines Embassy Suites on the River Hotel. Welcome and congratulations to Alliance members for what is always a great event!
Great to Hear from Hank Evans
I know that many of you recall former ABI Board Member Hank Evans (A.F. Johnson Millworks, West Des Moines). Hank and his wife, Ann Evans, are terrific people. Unfortunately, as I have noted in the past, as Hank and Ann enjoy a well-deserved retirement, they must also deal with some serious health issues involving Ann.
We received a message from Hank last week and it was great to hear from him. As always, our thoughts and prayers are with Hank and Ann and we wish for them a 2019 full of peace.