Nominate Legends Now - Monday Memo 7/17/17

July 17, 2017

ABI's Elevate Program to Host 3nd Annual Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner; Nominations Due August 1

As you know, ABI's Elevate Advanced Manufacturing is currently accepting nominations for the third-annual "Legends in Manufacturing Awards," which are due August 1.  The past two Legends Dinners have been a huge success and a terrific celebration of Iowa manufacturing. 

Your help is needed to ensure that Iowa manufacturers are honored for their hard work and dedication.  Please click on this link for more information and to make a nomination (there is no charge to do so): Elevate Iowa webpage. Should you have questions, please contact Elevate Coordinator Alex Monaghan.  She can be reached at amonaghan@measuredintentions.com.

Emily Schettler to Leave ABI for Harkin Institute

ABI Communications Director Emily Schettler has accepted a position at the Harkin Institute at Drake University (http://drake.edu/harkininstitute/).  Emily will lead the Institute’s work as it pertains to communications, communications strategy, and in some other areas.  Emily’s last day at ABI will be July 24. 

As you know, Emily’s work at ABI has been exceptional.  As the first communications professional on staff in many years, she completely revamped our communications work, expanded and redesigned our online and social media presence, and greatly improved our printed communications.  On top of that, she is simply a wonderful person and a terrific team player.  We will miss Emily deeply, though we congratulate her on this exciting and substantive new position. 

As for the future, you know I take seriously my charge to ensure ABI has a great team providing value for members.  THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, ABI is a destination employer and I am committed to filling this vacancy with a strong and talented professional.  I have some candidates in mind and we’ll reach out to others.  I will keep you posted throughout this process.  In the meantime, please join me in thanking Emily for her great work and on wishing her well in her new position. 

Orientations Continue with New Board Members

As I have mentioned in recent memos, you will have the opportunity to meet the new board members in September.  In the meantime, orientation sessions with these new board members are ongoing. 

This week, an orientation will be held with new board member Stacey Pellett (John Deere, Johnston). That follows sessions with new board members Jerry Patterson (Principal, Des Moines) and Tim Bianco (Iowa Spring, Adel).  In the coming weeks, a session involving honorary Leadership Iowa board member, Jenn Bleil (Van Meter, Cedar Rapids) will be held.  And remember that Kelly Barrick (The Private Bank, West Des Moines), who represented LI on the board last year and participated in an orientation session then, was also elected to the ABI Board.  Thank you to these newly-elected board members! 

CFO, Operational Excellent Roundtables to Meet in July

The ABI CFO Roundtable will this week in Ames. This panel will have another high-value program Thursday. 

The first meeting of the brand-new ABI Operational Excellence Roundtable will be held July 26 in Des Moines. Patterned after the very successful CFO group, we believe the new group will be just as successful.  For more information about either group, please reply to this message. 

Leadership Iowa University Program August 6 – 10

The 2017 class of the ABI Foundation’s annual Leadership Iowa University program will begin three weeks from yesterday. The program will be held in Greater Des Moines and surrounding locations from August 6 through 10. 

LIU brings talented Iowa college students come from Iowa’s public universities, private colleges, and from community colleges together to learn about our state and ways they can impact its future.  The first eight LIU class programs received rave remarks from students, college officials, ABI leaders, and others.  Watch for more information about LIU coming soon. 

Dozens of Members Already Registered for Next Month's Policy Development Meetings

Over the years, ABI members have always played close attention to the association's annual policy development process.  Some members travel from out of state to participate and the end result has been successful and award-winning public policy outcomes. 

Again this year, the policy development process has been advanced to increase the opportunity for success.  It appears that members like that decision, because dozens of you have already signed-up for next month's meeting.  If you aren't one of those, there is still plenty of time for you and your employees to register for these free meetings.  Go to https://www.iowaabi.org/events/ to register for the committee meetings of interest to you and your employees.  The ABI Board of Directors will act on the recommendations of these committees at the September board meeting. 

Make Your Plans Now for “Bringing ‘Boji Back” Leaders Event

In response to requests from ABI members to return to the Iowa Great Lakes, the association will hold another in the popular series of Connecting Statewide Leaders events in the Okoboji region. Mark your calendars now for August 3rd and 4th for great programming, great networking, and great venues.  

Thing start with a great tour. ABI Board Member Bruce Tamisiea (Tecton Industries, Spencer) will host attendees at his innovative company in Spencer.  That will be followed by a reception and dinner at former ABI Chair Toby Shine’s (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) famous Okoboji Classic Cars facility.  The next day, a program featuring ABI member CEO Ro Crosbie (Tero International, West Des Moines) will be held at the New Waterfront Conference Center on East Lake Okoboji.  Find more information and register now at: http://www.cvent.com/events/connecting-statewide-leaders-bringing-boji-back/event-summary-433257bfb0ec4215893f84f1b3d39dca.aspx.  See you at the Lakes in August! 

Homeland Security Department Workshop, Security Assessments Open to ABI

As you read last week, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has a variety of resources of value which are available to ABI member companies. Dr. Phil Pitzen, a longtime friend to ABI, and his team will conduct, at no charge to you, a security assessment of your plant, its grounds, and basic operations.  In addition, the department’s Iowa office is hosting a workshop to help your company develop a plan to deal with an active shooter who might invade your workplace.  The event will be held at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge on July 27.  If you want further information about the workshop or the other resources available through the Department of Homeland Security, please reply to this message and I will get it to you at once. 

Mark Your Calendars Now for Annual ABI Executive Open Best Ball

In recent editions of this memorandum, I have been sharing information about the ninth Annual ABI Executive Open.  This best ball golf tournament has quickly grown into one of ABI's most popular annual events.  

This year's event will be held on August 28th at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines.  Perhaps Iowa's most beautiful private club, Des Moines Golf is again sure to be a fabulous venue for this always-popular event.  Register now at http://www.cvent.com/events/abi-executive-open-2017/event-summary-7d269e2b6cdb43e588197d2b55822197.aspx.  See you in West Des Moines for what many ABI members call our association's most fun event. 

ABI Advisory Council to Hold July Meeting

Members of the ABI Advisory Council will hold their regular July meeting Thursday in Indianola.  As always, thank you to Advisory Council members for their support and leadership.  

Thank you to 21st Century Rehab, BCC Advisers, Brick Gentry P.C., BrownWinick, CIRAS, CliftonLarsonAllen, EMC, Focus OneSource, Global Reach, LMC Insurance and Risk Management, Principal Financial Group, Tero International, The Iowa Clinic, Transition Point Business Advisors, and Wellmark

2018 Annual Conference Planning Site Visit Upcoming

You know that planning never really ends with regard to the ABI Annual Conference.  In fact, plans for a truly amazing 2018 ABI Taking Care of Business Conference are well underway and a team of us will be Greater Iowa City in the near future for more planning. 

Our group will be led by ABI Chair Dave Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) and Conference Committee Chair Donna Popp-Bruesewitz (Stellar Industries, Garner) and we will tour venues and sites which will be a part of the upcoming conference.  Several highlights will make the 2018 event one for the record books.  Make your plans now to join ABI in Iowa City-Coralville next June. 

Atlantic Bottling, Story Share Great Company Newsletters

You know that at the ABI office, we always enjoy your company newsletters, as we always learn something valuable from them about the way your run your businesses. Two more great editions of company newsletters arrived last week. 

Here is what we learned from these newsletters… successful companies take care of their employees and they take care of their customers. Both newsletters include terrific columns from the respective company presidents.  Thank you to former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Waukee) and to ABI Board Member Mike Espeset (Story Construction, Ames)

Mark Hanawalt, Steve Martin Celebrate Birthdays

Two more longtime ABI Board Members are celebrating birthdays this month.  Former ABI Board Member Steve Martin (Hagie Manufacturing, Clarion) celebrates his birthday Wednesday.  Then, former ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) celebrates his birthday Thursday, July 20.  ABI sends best birthday wishes to Mark and Steve! 

Myron Linn Celebrates Birthday and Decades-Long Tenure as Athletics Official

Former ABI Chair Myron Linn (Pella Corporation, Pella) also celebrates his birthday this week; it is today, in fact.  ABI sends best birthday wishes to Myron! 

Many of you know that Myron is a longtime baseball and football official. Myron calls many high school and college games each year. 

If you are like me, you didn’t know just how long “longtime” meant. This fall, Myron will mark 35 years as a football official.  But that pales in comparison to his tenure as a baseball (and sometimes softball) official… Myron has been calling those games for over 50 years!  Congratulations on a terrific career as an official, Myron!