Preparing a Fabulous Annual ABI Conference - Monday Memo 10/22/18
October 22, 2018
Conference Site Visit Tomorrow; Speaker Announcement Soon
ABI Chair David Bywater (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art, Iowa City), Conference Committee Chair ABI Chair Lisa Patterson (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art, Iowa City), and ABI staff members will be making another formal site visit to Ames tomorrow. Believe me when I say you want to make the 2019 Taking Care of Business Conference something you add to your calendar right now.
A fabulous program, exciting new venues, and an absolutely hit-it-out-of-the-park keynote will make the conference one of the very best ever. In fact, watch for a special announcement about the keynote speaker to come within the next 30 days.
Finally, and as you know, ABI uses a sophisticated and competitive process to determine the content of breakout sessions that will be a part of the conference. If you or your company are interested in being featured at the conference, please click on this link for information about submitting a proposal: https://www.dmacc.edu/dbr/Pages/workshop.aspx.
Two and a Half Weeks Until November ABI Board Meeting
The November meeting of the ABI Board of Directors will be an important one. On the agenda will be the usual operations and finance reports, a public policy update, and receipt of the annual audit (if available), among other business.
ABI Chair David Bywater (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art, Iowa City) and board members will meet at noon on Wednesday, November 7 at the ABI office in Des Moines' East Village. Many of you have already registered for this free meeting of the board, but if not, please reply to this memorandum and I’ll make sure you are registered. You will receive your board packet by email late next week. In the meantime, thank you in advance for participating in this final board meeting of 2018.
University of Iowa Leaders to Address ABI
Prior to the November ABI board meeting, leaders from the University of Iowa will host a panel discussion in the ABI Board Room. University officials asked for this opportunity to share information and seek input from you, our association’s directors and former board chairs. A similar presentation involving the UI and ABI was held a few years ago.
The panel presentation will take place from 9:00 to 10:30 at ABI on November 7. This is your opportunity to interact personally with senior UI officials. Please reply to this memorandum if you haven’t already registered to attend.
Operational Excellence, CFO Roundtables to Meet
ABI’s Operational Excellence Roundtable and CFO Roundtable will both meet this week. The Operations panel will meet Wednesday at the headquarters of longtime ABI member Casey’s General Stores in Ankeny. Then, on Thursday, the CFO panel will meet at Des Moines Area Community College, also in Ankeny. If you would like more information about these meetings or the roundtables themselves, simply reply to this memorandum and we’ll get it to you at once.
Connecting Statewide Leaders Event December 6 in Oskaloosa
The first 2018-2019 Connecting Statewide Leaders event will be held December 6 in Oskaloosa. This forum is the next opportunity to participate in the popular series of events ABI has hosted around Iowa over the course of the past few years.
A luncheon follows the meeting and you will have a great opportunity to visit with fellow ABI members, meet the new Leadership Iowa class, and develop new customers. You will soon be able to register for the event and find more information. In the meantime, make your plans now to join the LI class and ABI members in Oskaloosa.
Remember #GivingTuesday
In previous editions of the Monday Memo, I told you of the hashtag #GivingTuesday. It signifies a global day of giving fueled by social media and collaboration. Last year, nearly a million people collectively gave hundreds of millions of dollars in more than 70 countries. The event is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely-represented shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Please remember that the ABI Foundation hopes you will participate in #GivingTuesday this November 27 by supporting their incredible programs. Please support the ABI Foundation through #GivingTuesday and don't hesitate to contact ABI Vice President Foundation Rebecca (Becky) Coady for more information at rcoady@iowaabi.org or at (515) 235-0569.
Register Now for 2019 ABI Legislative Reception
It is not too early to register for the 2019 edition of the ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception, our organization’s second biggest annual event. You can do so here: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/120-legislative-briefing-and-reception/. The 2019 Legislative Reception will be held at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines. Make plans now to attend.
Weaton Capital Acquires Fairfield Manufacturer
Longtime ABI Member and former ABI Board Member Nate Weaton (Weaton Capital, Fairfield) has acquired a well-known Fairfield manufacturing company, the Creative edge Master Shop, and its subsidiaries. The company has been in Fairfield for 30 years.
To read more about this transaction, go here: https://growfairfield.com/business-and-industry/creative-edge-master-shop-sells-to-weaton-capital-and-secures-the-legacy-of-fairfield-business-icon/. Congratulations to Nate and thank you to former ABI Chair Lori Schaefer Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield) for passing on the news!
Haskens Celebrate
Former ABI Chair Sarah McDonald Hasken and current ABI Board Member Jack Hasken (Jackson Manufacturing, Maquoketa) are great people and great ABI leaders. It is a pleasure for ABI to join others in saluting Sarah and Jack on the anniversary of their wedding; Happy Anniversary, Jack and Sarah!
Bill Brown, Rick Tollakson Celebrate Birthdays
As they do every year at about this time, two ABI leaders are celebrating birthdays. ABI Board Member Rick Tollakson (Hubbell Realty Company, West Des Moines) is celebrating his birthday on October 27th. Former ABI Chair Bill Brown (BrownWinick, Des Moines) will celebrate his on November 2nd. Happy birthday to Rick and Bill!
Hubbell Realty Makes Major Commitment to Water Trails
Speaking of Rick Tollakson (Hubbell Realty Company, West Des Moines), the company he leads, longtime ABI member Hubbell Realty Company, was in the news last week. Hubbell Realty has committed $1 million to the new water trails project in Des Moines.
Hubbell’s donation marks one of the first large investments in the project, in which a range of improvements are planned for more than 80 sites spanning 150 miles of rivers. The project includes the mitigation and reconstruction of three downtown Des Moines dams into whitewater, surfing and kayaking adventure spots. Congratulations and thank you to Rick and everyone at Hubbell!
Krista Tanner Honored at Iowa State Football Game
At the October 13th Iowa State vs. West Virginia football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, longtime ABI Board Member Krista Tanner (ITC Midwest, Des Moines) and her family were honored. Krista reports that the game featured a Wind Energy Showcase sponsored by two ABI members: ITC Midwest and MidAmerican Energy Company. The showcase promoted the economic and environmental benefits of wind energy.
It was fun seeing Krista and her family on the “big screen” at Jack Trice. Just as fun is what Krista said about her winning prediction before the game. She predicted to some folks that Iowa State would beat the nationally ranked Mountaineers by at least two touchdowns. She reports that she received “a lot of grief from people,” until Iowa State won big. Then she received a lot of offers from people who wanted to accompany her to visit another ABI member… Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. Congratulations, Krista!