Executive Committee to Meet Thursday - Monday Memo 12/7/20

December 7, 2020

ABI Executive Committee to Hold Final 2020 Teleconference Thursday; First 2021 Board Meeting Next Month

The ABI Executive Committee, chaired by Steven Bradford (HNI Corporation, Muscatine), will hold its final meeting of the calendar year Thursday.  After that, the next ABI leadership meeting will be held next month.  The first ABI Board of Directors meeting of 2021 will be held on Wednesday, January 13.  

Please register for the January board meeting by replying to this message.  At the meeting, the latest updates regarding critical association business will be a focus, as will issues related to (what will then be) the just-convened 2021 session of the Iowa General Assembly.  

Your participation in this meeting is important.  Please finalize your plans to do so and thank you in advance for making the ABI meeting on January 13 a priority. 

2021 ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception Under Review

One of the issues to be considered at this week’s ABI Executive Committee meeting is the status of the events scheduled for January 13.  As you know, on that date, ABI currently has scheduled a committee meeting, the January meeting of the board of directors, the annual legislative briefing, and the annual legislative reception. 

Current conditions related to the COVID19 pandemic may force a change in those plans.  The Executive Committee will discuss this matter and make a decision Thursday.  Please be on the lookout for an announcement related to the events to come your way soon. 

ABI Co-Sponsors Re-Shoring Seminar this Thursday

This Thursday (December 10), ABI will join CIRAS (the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State University, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Iowa Area Development Group, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority in presenting a seminar on re-shoring.  As has been discussed in ABI meetings of late, this is a timely topic, especially given the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on supply chains. 

This looks to be an interesting one-hour session and there is no charge for this high-value seminar.  Click here to register or to find more info: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/232-reshoring-webinar/.  

New Lease Finalized, ABI Office to be Re-Furbished

As you know, ABI just negotiated a new lease and will be staying in our current office space for at least five years (more likely ten).  As a part of the new lease, ABI will receive a refurbishing of our office suite by the landlord, ABI member company R&R Realty

Details are still being finalized, but the work should be done within the next 45 days or so.  We look forward to getting you back into the office so you can see the new look for yourselves (as soon as health and safety protocols allow it). 

Quarterly ABI Iowa Business Survey to Open Today

All board members and former Chairs of the Board will receive an email message from me later today related to the ABI Quarterly Iowa Business Survey. This survey applies to the first quarter of 2021.  The survey is now underway and it will close at the end of the day next Monday. 

Survey results will be tabulated and shared with you, the public, and the media.  Thank you for your participation in this initiative. 

Iowa Business Report Radio Programs Continue

As you know, the Iowa Business Report radio program is broadcast weekly on stations all over Iowa.  The program is the result of a great a partnership between well-known Iowa broadcaster Jeff Stein and ABI.  If you missed the latest episode, you can click here to listen for yourself: http://iowabusinessreport.buzzsprout.com/.  Links can also be found on the ABI website at https://www.iowaabi.org/news/iowa-business-report/.  

This week’s episode begins with an interesting interview with ABI Advisory Council member Bridget Penick (Fredrikson & Byron, Des Moines) about the latest issues in employment law.  As always, other interesting segments are also a part of the show.  Thank you to Jeff for another great program. 

Advisory Council Members Add Value

Members of the ABI Advisory Council do much to advance the work of the association.  Their leadership and support is never taken for granted.  They have played a very large part in the increase in quality and quantity of ABI programs across Iowa. 

Thank you to the members of the council for their work in 2020.  Thank you to 21st Century Rehab, ACS, Anthologic, BCC Advisers, BrownWinick, CIRAS, CliftonLarsonAllen, EMC, Focus OneSource, Fredrikson & Byron, HDH Advisors, LMC Insurance and Risk Management, Principal, The Iowa Clinic, and Wells Fargo

New Board Member Orientations Underway

Last week, orientation sessions were initiated with newly-elected members of the ABI Board of Directors.  Many thanks to Garrett Burchett (Mississippi River Distilling Company, Le Claire), Jack Carra (LMC Insurance and Risk Management, West Des Moines), and Kevin Lentz (Anthologic, West Des Moines) for taking time to meet last week.  

This week, I’ll be meeting with newly-elected directors Mike Lovell (Meredith Corporation, Des Moines) and Bill McKim (Midland Power Cooperative, Jefferson).  Next week, a session with new director Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) will close out the sessions.  Please join me congratulating these new board members.  

Members Use ABI Online Directory

A couple of years ago, ABI’s new online member directory became operational.  This is just a reminder that the new directory allows you to check member company information, search industry partners, connect with ABI colleagues, and much more.  Find the online directory log-in page here: https://www.iowaabi.org/member-directory/login/.  

Virtual LI Session a Success

As usual, this time of year is a busy one for the ABI Foundation.  For example, the 2020-2021 Leadership Iowa Class held its third session last week.  Originally scheduled to be held in Ottumwa, the class instead met virtually for health and safety reasons.  Even with the online format, the class had a great session and heard from an incredible array of terrific speakers.  You'll have an opportunity to meet the class at future ABI events. 

NAM Report: “Manufacturing Remains Encouraging”

This week’s Monday Economic Report from the National Association of Manufacturers provides encouraging news.  In fact, the headline for the week specifically notes that manufacturing during the pandemic remains encouraging and cites several data points to confirm it. 

New orders are on the rise, manufacturing activity expanded for the sixth month in a row, and manufacturing employment is increasing.  Read about this and more in today’s report.  If you wish to see the report for yourself, simply reply to this message and I’ll get it to you at once. 

Lyondellbasell Named ‘One of Most Responsible’ Companies

Lyondellbasell is one of the world’s largest and most successful chemical companies.  Its Clinton plant is renowned as an industry leader.  And, the company is a longtime leading ABI member. 

For all those reasons and more, it was fun to see last week that the company was named to Newsweek magazine’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies.”  Lyondell’s work in sustainability, philanthropy, and community involvement was cited.  Click here to read more about this special recognition:  https://www.lyondellbasell.com/en/news-events/corporate--financial-news/lyondellbasell-named-to-newsweek-magazines-list-of-americas-most-responsible-companies/.  

Congratulations to everyone at Lyondell, including Clinton Lyondell Plant Manager Yarelis Hernandez (Lyondellbasell, Clinton) and to the company’s longtime ABI board representative, Rich Phelan (Lyondellbasell, Clinton)

Business Record: Todd McDonald a Difference-Maker in 2020

Longtime ABI Board member Todd McDonald (ATW Training Solutions, Urbandale) was in the news last week, as he was named one of 20 Des Moines Area business leaders who made a difference in 2020.  The list was compiled by the editors of the Des Moines Business Record

Todd was honored for his community service and leadership and for all his company has done to help Iowans.  You can read more about Todd here: http://www.dmcityview.com/business-feature/2020/12/02/20-from-2020-business-people-who-made-a-difference/.  Congratulations, Todd! 

Miller Products Increases Production through Purchase of New Swiss CNC Machine

Working away in Osceola, longtime ABI member Miller Products Company has for years been a leader in making quality precision parts for a wide array of manufacturers in the ag, medical, construction, and military sectors.  There was big news from Miller last week as the company announced the purchase of a new Ganesh SL42 Y2 Swiss CNC lathe capable of increasing the production of even more complex, custom machined parts. 

Read more about the news here: https://www.millerproductsco.com/blog/meeting-manufacturing-demand-miller-increases-swiss-cnc-machining.  In the meantime, congratulations to everyone at Miller, including ABI Board Member and company owner/CEO Jack McFarland (Miller Products Company, Osceola)

David Fisher, Steve Dust Celebrate

Well-known Iowa business leader and former ABI Chair David Fisher (Onthank Company, Des Moines) celebrates his birthday today.  Happy birthday, David!  And former ABI Board Member Steve Dust (Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation, Ottumwa) will celebrate his birthday on Thursday (December 10).  Happy birthday to you, too, Steve! 

Bill Vernon Passes

William F. Vernon, Jr. (The Vernon Company, Newton), who chaired the association in 1974 when it was still the Iowa Manufacturers Association, passed away last Thursday.  Bill was a well-known Iowa business leader and very involved in community and state activities.  

Bill died in Naples, Florida, where he had lived for many years.  He had been battling various health issues in recent years as well.  ABI mourns Bill’s passing, but celebrates his wonderful life.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the Vernon family.  Thank you to former ABI Chairs Bill Bywater (Bankers Advertising, Tru Art, Iowa City) and David Bywater (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art, Iowa City) for making me aware of this news.