Executive Forum Just Weeks Away - Monday Memo 7/22/24

July 22, 2024

ABI Executive Forum in Two Weeks; Great Program on Tap

Please consider this information as another invitation for the 2024 ABI Executive Forum.  Click here for more information about the program, which is only two weeks away, and to register: Summary - Executive Forum (Members Only) (cvent.com).  The forum will be held Thursday and Friday August 8th and 9th in North Iowa.  Thursday’s events take place in various locations around Mason City, but start at 10:00 that morning with a tour at longtime ABI member Stellar Industries.  Friday’s concluding breakfast and tour takes place at longtime ABI member Winnebago Industries in Forest City. 

Following the Stellar tour on Thursday, the event moves to the well-known MacNider Art Museum for a terrific lunch program.  We’ll be welcomed by Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel and we’ll also hear from a couple of area business leaders, Kim Pang and MercyOne North Iowa president Chad Boore). 

Following lunch on Thursday, we’ll move to the Historic Park Inn Hotel and a program featuring Wells Fargo Senior Economist Dr. Michael Swanson.  A terrific panel including ABI Board Members Heather Bruce (Osmundson Mfg. Co. Perry), Tim Conlon (Conlon Construction, Dubuque), and Peter Voorhees (Standard Golf Co., Cedar Falls) will come next. 

Former ABI Chair Mary Andringa (Vermeer Corporation, Pella) will then serve as our keynote speaker for the day.  As noted in previous memos, Mary is a second generation leader of her family’s company and is now Chair Emerita.  We’ll take a break and then Mary’s remarks will be followed by a reception and dinner that evening at Mason City’s fabulous Music Man Square events center.  

Friday morning, we’ll move to Winnebago and remarks by ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City).The manufacturing tour that follows will conclude what you can see is a fabulous program.  Make plans now to join 70 other ABI leaders in North Iowa in August! 

Business Horizons 2024 is Huge Success

As you read about in last week's edition of this memorandum, the 2024 session of the ABI Foundation's Business Horizons high school experience was held last week.  Dozens and dozens of students from all over Iowa converged on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines to participate in this terrific program.  

The week provided a fabulous experience for all involved. Making it so was another great group of students, terrific ABI members, and leaders.  BH 2024 was a huge success, with students and parents sharing praise for the curriculum and the connections made during the week.  

This program is simply a terrific event each year and it is possible only through the support of you, your company, and your employees.  Special thanks to the Foundation team of Jessi McQuerrey, Jane Galloway, and Kendall Antle, who spent the week at BH, for their terrific work in making BH a smash.  Special points to the team for keeping students and volunteers safe during the storms and a tornado that hit Greater Des Moines a week ago this afternoon! 

August ABI Executive Committee Teleconference Three Weeks from Wednesday; September Board Meeting Tentatively to be Held in West Des Moines

Members of the ABI Executive Committee will convene for their monthly Zoom meeting on August 14th.  ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) and committee members will work through a full agenda in advance of the next meeting of the ABI Board of Directors. 

As you know, the first ABI Board Meeting of the 2024-2025 fiscal year will be held on September 11th.  This is tentative, but we expect it to be held it will be held at 11:30 a.m. in West Des Moines, at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.  You will not want to miss it!  Please mark your calendars now and finalize your plans to participate in this important meeting.  

Leadership Iowa University to Begin in Two Weeks

Two weeks from yesterday, on August 4, talented Iowa college students will assemble for the annual session of the ABI Foundation’s Leadership Iowa University program.  Students come from Iowa’s public universities, private colleges, and from community colleges and all will learn about our state and ways they can impact its future.  LIU class programs have received rave reviews from students, college officials, ABI leaders, and others.  

Pre-Employment Testing Webinar Series Coming in July, September, December

For years, ABI hosted a single day conference related to pre-employment testing.  After receiving feedback from members, that conference has been re-developed as a webinar series.  Webinars will be held on July 30th, September 17th, and December 10th and will last an hour.  Get the latest information and best practices when it comes to effective pre-employment testing and related issues.  To learn more, click here: Summary - Pre-Employment Testing Process Webinar Series (cvent.com).

ABI Advisory Council Webinar July 31; ESOP 101: Options for Selling Your Business

Members of the ABI Advisory Council can be a great resource for your business.  In that regard, AC members have created a webinar to help you learn about options available to you as you contemplate transitioning your business to new ownership.  On July 31st, AC members will host an hour-long webinar that focuses on Employee Stock Ownership Plans as a potential transition method.  Click here for more information and to register: Advisory Council Webinar: ESOP 101: An Introduction to Options for Selling Your Business | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org).  

Policy Development Meetings Start Next Month

Along with other changes made to ABI's award-winning public policy advocacy work, our association has advanced the annual policy development process.  This extra time allows ABI members and staff to further engage legislators and other state officials in issues important to Iowa employers.  In keeping with that change, the annual policy development meetings will be held next month.  The ABI Workplace and Product Safety Committee will kick things off on August 6th.  

Regarding each of the committees, dozens of members have already registered for these important meetings.  If you haven't already done so, there is still plenty of time for you and your employees to register.  ABI members may participate free of charge.  Simply go to https://www.iowaabi.org/events/ to register for the committee meetings of interest to you.  The ABI Board of Directors will act on the policy recommendations at the September board meeting. 

IIPAC Newsletter Out

Speaking of ABI’s public policy work, an important part of that work is the Iowa Industry Political Action Committee.  IIPAC supports candidates who support business.  I always say candidates can be a Republican, a Democrat, a Whig, or a Tory, but if they support business, IIPAC will support them. 

One benefit of being an IIPAC donor is receiving information you can’t get anywhere else.  One such information piece is the quarterly IIPAC newsletter.  The most recent edition of that newsletter has now been published (thank you to ABI’s public policy team of JD Davis and Brad Hartkopf for their work in that regard).  If you are a donor and didn’t receive the newsletter, let me know and we’ll get it to you.  If you aren’t yet a donor, you should be (I am).  Click here to donate: IIPAC | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org).  Thank you to all IIPAC donors for their support! 

New Board Member Orientations Continue This Week

Ask any ABI staff member about one of the best perks of their job and they will cite the opportunity to tour so many Iowa manufacturing and business operations.  That is typically one of the best things about the annual orientation sessions with newly-elected board members.    

In the meantime, the orientation process continues throughout July and August.  Thank you to these newly-elected ABI Board Members for their time and service: Kathy Evert (Signarama, Ankeny), Brad Henningsen (Henningsen Construction, Atlantic), Ed McGreen (Kreg Tool Company, Ankeny), Bethany Pautsch (Tyson Foods, Storm Lake), Chad Rubner (Express Logistics, Urbandale), and Andrew St. John (CIPCO, Des Moines).  You will have an opportunity to meet the new board members at a future meeting. 

Annual ABI Executive Open in Five Weeks

Register now for the annual ABI Executive Open Best Ball, which will be held five weeks from today, on August 26th, at the beautiful Glen Oaks Country Club in West Moines.  One of the nation’s most beautiful clubs, Glen Oaks provides an exceptional playing experience.  Learn more about Glen Oaks CC here: Glen Oaks Country Club (glenoakscc.com).   

Golf, networking, and a reception will highlight the day.  To register right now for the remaining spots, go to Summary - Executive Open (cvent.com).  We look forward to seeing you at the Executive Open again this year! 

NAM Report:  Manufacturing Data Mixed

The news in this week’s National Association of ManufacturersMonday Economic Report was decidedly mixed.  For example, pricing issues and materials costs are adding pressure to manufacturers.  But industrial production is up.  As always, there was useful information included in the report, as there is every week.  If you wish to read the report for yourself, please reply to this memo and I’ll get it to you at once. 

Brad Nielsen Named Iowa American Water President

Former ABI Board Member Randy Moore (Iowa American Water, Davenport) was recently named to a new job at parent company American Water.  In his place, ABI Board Member Brad Nielsen (Iowa American Water, Davenport), has now been named Iowa American president.  Read more here: Press Release Details (amwater.com).  This is big news and ABI sends congratulations to Brad and Randy! 

Incremental Improvements Can Lead to Exponential Success

As you have read previously, I am glad that ABI receives so many of our member company newsletters.  They are always of interest and frequently provide information that helps us do our job better. 

The latest example of that was in the most recent edition of The Fizz, the company newsletter of longtime ABI member Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company.  First, it is always fun to read the employee profiles in The Fizz, as Atlantic Bottling employees have great perspectives to share.  But on the front page of this latest edition, ABI Board Member and company President Rob Feeney (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines) shares a profound message.  In comments related to a big achievement made by the team at Atlantic Bottling, Rob notes (I am paraphrasing) that stacking incremental improvements/successes on top of each other can lead to exponential success.  That’s a powerful message and one we have tried emulate over the years.  Thanks for sharing it, Rob! 

Jan Meek and Husband Celebrate 65th Anniversary

Many of you will well recall Jan Meek, who was one of a trio of ABI team members that each served the association for over 30 years.  Jan stays in touch and it was fun to learn that she and her husband, Bob Meek, recently celebrated the 65th anniversary of their wedding.  Jan reports their son and daughter-in-law hosted an open house on July 13th.  Jan said that 40 guests shared lots of photos, smiles, hugs, good food, and laughter.  The walks down memory lane made for a heartwarming and memorable afternoon.  ABI sends hearty congratulations, Jan; best wishes to you and Bob!