No Adjournment in Sight - Monday Memo 4/25/22

April 25, 2022

Will the General Assembly Adjourn this Week?  No.

At this time of the year, ABI members ask about the work of the Iowa General Assembly and when it will adjourn.  Though it was scheduled to adjourn last week, it did not.  We (our ABI policy team and I) do not believe it will adjourn this week.  In fact, the legislature might not adjourn for quite some time, though we certainly hope that is not the case. 

As you read in the most recent edition of the ABI newsletter, there has been no agreement related to the state budget, and perhaps more substantively, to a number of policy priorities of the Governor and legislative leaders.  Until that happens, the legislature will not adjourn.  The good news is that ABI’s public policy team of JD Davis and Brad Hartkopf (and Steffi Lee) has been doing its usual terrific work.  We’ll continue to work on unemployment insurance until the end of session, for example, and expect to count that among ABI’s successes when all is said and done. 

Thank you to JD and Brad and Steffi, and to all of you, for your support during the session and for your work with legislators throughout the year.  

Next ABI Legislative Update, Regional Public Policy Meetings Set

As you know, during the Iowa legislative session, ABI hosts bi-weekly legislative updates via Zoom.  The next edition of the updates will take place this Friday April 29).  Click here to register for this free, members-only event: Legislative Update (Members Only) | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org)

Related to that, ABI has established dates for the annual regional public policy meetings.  The meetings will take place in May (assuming the legislature adjourns by then) in Atlantic, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Fairfield, and Fort Dodge.  Click here and scroll down for more information and to register: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/.  

Dorothy Knowles to Retire

Since 2005, Dorothy Knowles has led work related to ABI’s member database.  She also fills many other roles at ABI and while you may not always see her, she is a key part of the ABI team.  And an all-around great person.  Last week, Dorothy let me know that at the end of July, she will begin a well-deserved retirement.  

We will be planning an event to mark this special occasion and it is sure to include Dorothy’s favorite: cake.  For now, when you see her, please thank her for her service and wish her well.  Congratulations, Dorothy! 

And by the way, a search to fill Dorothy’s position has already begun.  Watch for more information to come your way soon. 

Nominating Committee Meets Wednesday

As Immediate Past Chair of ABI, Steven Bradford (HNI Corporation, Muscatine) also serves as Chair of the 2022 ABI Nominating Committee.  The committee will meet by Zoom this Wednesday, on April 27. 

The committee includes representatives of each of ABI’s five Iowa districts.  Thank you to Steven and to these other ABI leaders for serving on the association's 2022 Nominating Committee: Mindi Vanden Bosch (Vermeer Corporation, Pella), Peter Voorhees (Standard Golf Company, Cedar Falls), Taylor Teepell (Lumen, Des Moines), Mary Landhuis (Lisle Corporation, Clarinda), and Kirk McCollough (Seneca Foundry, Webster City).  If you wish to nominate someone for board service (and self-nominations are welcomed), please contact one of the committee members or me.  ABI members will vote on the slate of nominees at the annual conference in June. 

ABI Board Meeting May 12 in Ames

ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) and the ABI Board of Directors will meet on Thursday, May 12.  The meeting will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m. at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames.  Look for your usual packet of meeting materials to arrive in your email in-basket about a week before the meeting.  This will be the final meeting of the board prior to the annual conference and it is hoped it will come after adjournment of the 2022 Iowa Legislative Session, so I hope you can attend.  If you haven’t already done so, please reply with your participation plans.  Thank you. 

Take Annual ABI CEO Survey Now

It is time for ABI’s Annual CEO Survey.  ABI surveys member CEOs regarding issues important to them and their businesses.  The survey is available now and your participation is encouraged and desired.  It will take no more than 5 to 10 minutes and your input is appreciated. 

If you haven’t yet completed the survey and need the link to do so, please reply to this memorandum and I’ll get it to you at once.  Read the June Business Record Iowa for results. 

Don’t Miss ABI’s 2022 Taking Care of Business Conference; Final Site Visit Thursday

Finalize your plans now to attend the annual conference, which will be held June 14-16 in Dubuque.  You don’t want to wait to register for this terrific event!  On behalf of ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) and conference Committee Chair Brett Burkhart (MakuSafe, Des Moines), thank you in advance for your attendance. 

Use this link to register, find hotel information, review the jam-packed agenda, and more: Summary - Taking Care of Business Conference (cvent.com).   Speaking of the annual conference, Jack and Brett will lead a delegation in a final site visit in Dubuque this Thursday.  The group will ensure that all necessary final preparations are underway to ensure a fabulous conference.  See you in Dubuque in June! 

Mark Your Calendars for ABI Executive Open

One of ABI's most popular events each year is the annual Executive Open.  This year's open will mark a return to the beautiful Glen Oaks Country Club (Glen Oaks Country Club (glenoakscc.com) in West Des Moines.  It has been many years since ABI members played this top-rated private club.  If you are not a member, it can be difficult to get the opportunity to play it.  Well, here's your chance. 

Registration will soon be open for this event, which will be held on August 29th.  For now, please save the date on your calendar.  This event sells out every year, so make your plans now and look for registration information in an upcoming edition of this memorandum. 

Foundation Program Nominations, Elevate Scholarship Nominations All Due

As you have read in previous editions of this memorandum, now is an important time for programs of the ABI Foundation.  Foundation programs such as Leadership Iowa, Leadership Iowa University, and Business Horizons are all accepting nominations for participants in the next session of each program.  And, ABI’s Elevate Advanced Manufacturing initiative is accepting nominations for its annual community college scholarships. 

To nominate worthy individuals for the programs, please go here: https://www.iowaabi.org/abi-foundation/about/.  To nominate students for a scholarship, please go here: https://www.elevateiowa.com/about/elevate-scholarship-program.  Thank you for your nominations! 

ABIF Committees to Meet

In other ABI Foundation-related news, two Foundation committees will meet this week.  On Wednesday, the Foundation’s Endowment Committee, chaired by longtime ABI Board Member Dick Davidson (Thombert, Newton), will convene.  Friday, the committee planning the 2022 session of Leadership Iowa University will meet.  Thank you to the great volunteers that lead and serve on these committees! 

NAM Report: Good News for Manufacturing

The National Association of Manufacturers’Monday Economic Report documents positive data points in its latest edition.  Data points for U.S. manufacturing and manufacturing in other parts of the globe positive, though pricing continues to be a major challenge.  As always, reply to this memorandum if you wish to read the report for yourself and I’ll get it to you at once. 

Cindy Dietz has New Title: Grandma

While there was some big news in last week’s Memo about former ABI Chair Cindy Dietz (Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids), there is even bigger news this week.  Cindy and her husband, Karl Dietz, are grandparents.  Their daughter Zoey and her husband, Eric Tvedte, are the parents of Ansel Elliot Tvedte, born on Tax Day, April 15h.  I have seen photographic evidence and the child is indeed a cutie; congratulations all around! 

Rich Phelan Undergoing Surgery

As this memorandum goes to press, ABI Board Member Rich Phelan (LyondellBasell, Clinton) is at Genesis Medical Center-East in Davenport.  Later today, Rich will undergo knee-replacement surgery.  Rich expects a swift and full recovery and that is what we wish for him.  Good luck, Rich! 

Randy Moore Highlighted in Quad Cities Event

ABI member the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal produced a neat event in Davenport last week.  Thursday morning, a group of us went over to see several business leaders share 10 ideas each about ways to move forward in life and careers.  It was fun to see that ABI Board Member Randy Moore (Iowa American Water, Davenport) was one of the leaders sharing ideas.  Randy’s presentation was powerful.  Read about the event and see some of the ideas here: 90 Ideas: Be humble, have passion, eat your veggies (quadcitiesbusiness.com)

It was also fun to connect with longtime ABI Board Member John Riches (Arconic, Davenport), who joined us for the event.  Thank you, John; and congratulations to everyone at the QCBJ, including publisher John Lohman (Quad Cities Regional Business Journal, Davenport)

New Kreg HQ Featured in Annual Real Estate Magazine

Each day during my commute south and north on I-35, I can’t help but look at the gorgeous brand new headquarters that longtime ABI member Kreg Tool built in Ankeny.  This beautiful new building graced the cover of and was the focus of a feature in Real Estate magazine, which is published by another ABI member, the Business Record.  The article highlights the building materials, features, and terrific interiors of the new building.  Reply to his message and I’ll send you a copy of the article.  In the meantime, congratulations to ABI Board Member and Kreg Chairman/CEO Todd Sommerfeld (Kreg Tool, Ankeny) and everyone at Kreg upon completion of the new HQ! 

CemenTech Featured in Construction Equipment Magazine Website

A great ABI member was featured on the website of Construction Equipment magazine last week.  CemenTech was highlighted in a story about its participation in Manufacturing 4.0.  The company was awarded an Iowa Manufacturing 4.0 grant to expand its efforts to produce more of its quality volumetric concrete mixers.  Click here to read the article for yourself: Cemen Tech Receives Grant | Construction Equipment.  Congratulations to everyone at CemenTech, including company president and ABI Board Member Connor Deering (CemenTech, Indianola)!