New ABI Directors to be Elected - Monday Memo 11/2/20

November 2, 2020

Board, Executive Committee to Meet Next Week; New Directors to be Elected

Both the ABI Board of Directors and the ABI Executive Committee will meet a week from Thursday (November 12).  ABI Chair Steven Bradford (HNI Corporation, Muscatine) will call to order the final board meeting of 2020 at 11:30 a.m.  The board will meet by Zoom.  

A review of the annual audit, staffing issues, an update regarding the conference, and your business reports are highlights of the agenda.  In addition, the board will receive the usual operational reports.  

Another highlight will be the election of several new board members.  Due to a variety of circumstances, the board has developed six openings and new members will be nominated and elected.  Nominees include Garrett Burchett (Mississippi River Distilling Company, LeClaire), Jack Carra (LMC Insurance and Risk Management, West Des Moines), Kevin Lentz (Anthologic, Clive), Mike Lovell (Meredith Corporation, Des Moines), Bill McKim (Midland Power Cooperative, Jefferson), and Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City)

If you haven't already done so, please register your attendance by simply replying to this message.  A link to access the usual packet of reports and reference materials will come your way later this week.  In the meantime and on behalf of Steven and our ABI officers, I look forward to “seeing” you next week. 

Exclusive for IIPAC Investors: Post-Election Review Wednesday

If you aren’t yet a supporter of ABI’s PAC, the Iowa Industry Political Action Committee, you should be.  You can rectify that here: https://www.iowaabi.org/upl/downloads/library/iipac-sales-sheet-2020.pdf.  

The most important reason to invest in IIPAC is to support pro-business elected officials.  Another reason is because your IIPAC investment entitles you to premium benefits.  One of those benefits is a special Post-Election Review coming Wednesday.  In it, ABI Vice President Public Policy JD Davis and ABI Director of Public Policy Brad Hartkopf will share a detailed breakdown of election results and even more importantly, what those results mean for you and your business.  ABI Executive Vice President Nicole Crain will moderate the discussion.  

The review will come by email Wednesday morning, followed by a video presentation later in the day.  Don’t miss this special event, available to IIPAC investors only. 

Board Members Invited to BIPAC Post-Election Seminar

Speaking of election reviews, ABI’s national partner in grassroots and voter education issues, BIPAC, has extended an invitation.  ABI board members and former Chairs are invited to participate in a post-election briefing.  The briefing, “What Happened and What’s Ahead,” will focus on national outcomes of the election and the implications for business.  It will be held Wednesday (November 4) at 2:00 p.m. CST.  If you wish to participate, please RSVP directly to BIPAC’s Dalexi Carrillo at carrillo@BIPAC.org.  Thank you to BIPAC for this opportunity. 

2021 ABI Legislative Reception on January 13

One of the association's most popular events is the annual legislative reception.  ABI members are proud that the reception has traditionally drawn more Iowa legislators (of both parties) than similar events hosted by any other organization.  All 150 legislators and the Governor and Lieutenant Governor will again be invited to join you at the 2021 reception, which will be held January 13 (the same day as the January ABI Board Meeting) at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.  

Mark your calendars now.  You can register for the event/find more information about the event by clicking on https://web.cvent.com/event/8db337e1-f39c-4e1f-8a9c-e88059b6b945/summary?rp=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000.  Your attendance at this important event is vital for ABI to advance its pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda.  

Conference Breakout Proposals due December 1

The members of the ABI Conference Committee are putting together plans for a spectacular Taking Care of Business Conference.  The 2021 conference will be held next June in Iowa City/Coralville.  

Speaking of the annual conference, now is the time for interested parties to submit their responses to the breakout session RFP.  Conference attendees have given very high marks to the breakout sessions in recent years and much of that is due to the very competitive process related to those sessions.  The deadline for proposals is December 1 and you can click here for more information: https://www.dmacc.edu/dbr/Pages/workshop.aspx.  The conference will be held in June 8-10 of next year.  Mark your calendars now and watch for more information soon. 

Leadership Iowa Class in Sioux Center this Week

The ABI Foundation's 2020-2021 Leadership Iowa class will hold its second session this week in Sioux Center.  The session will focus on agriculture and renewable energy.  Thank you to all of you for your support for Leadership Iowa. 

ABI Webinar Series Runs in November, December

Last Thursday, ABI initiated a high-value webinar series.  Between now and early December, ABI will host five web programs on a variety of topics.  The next, to be held on the 11th, focuses on leadership.  Go to https://www.iowaabi.org/events/ to register and find more information. 

Iowa Business Report Radio Program

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.  

A highlight in this week’s show is a terrific interview with longtime ABI member John Mikelson (Midwest Growth Partners, West Des Moines).  John and his team are incredible partners for so many Iowa businesses. 

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/.  

NAM Weekly:  Economy Bouncing Back Strongly

This week’s Monday Economic Report, published by the National Association of Manufacturers, shared a ton of positive economic data, with a projection that more good news is ahead.  That is some much-needed positive news.  Year to year, the economy is still down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is coming back strongly.  Reply to this memo if you would like to read the report and I’ll get it to you at once. 

Cindy Dietz to Celebrate

Immediate Past ABI Chair Cindy Dietz (Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids) celebrates her birthday this Friday, November 6th.  It was fun to celebrate with Cindy last year, as we enjoyed birthday cake at the November board meeting in her honor.  

This year has been a crazy one for Cindy, as it saw the closing of the Raytheon-Rockwell Collins merger, a busy year as ABI Chair, then Cindy led us through the first months of the pandemic and the cancellation of the annual conference, and finally (I hope finally), Cindy and her husband were displayed by damage to their home caused by the derecho that struck Iowa in August.  Whew!  If anyone deserves to enjoy a birthday, it is Cindy.  ABI sends very best birthday wishes to Cindy Dietz! 

Alliant Energy Announces Clean Energy Blueprint

Longtime ABI member Alliant Energy last week announced its plan to transition to renewable energy in Iowa.  The Clean Energy Blueprint focuses on increasing use of renewable resources, eliminating coal and reducing emissions by converting some operations to natural gas, adding battery storage, and more.  Read more about the Blueprint here: https://poweringwhatsnext.alliantenergy.com/clean-energy/.  Congratulations to everyone at Alliant for this big news, including ABI Board Member Julie Vande Hoef (Alliant Energy, Des Moines)

Alan Johnson to New Norplex Facility in Montana

Former ABI Board Member Alan Johnson (Norplex Micarta, Postville) and his wife, Julie Johnson, are leaving Iowa.  Alan is taking a leadership role with the brand new Norplex Advanced Composites facility nearing completion in Belgrade, Montana.  Alan has been a terrific supporter of ABI and the ABI Foundation and will be missed greatly.  Congratulations and best wishes to Alan and Julie!