Register for 2015 Conference - Monday Memo 2/23/15
February 23, 2015
Register NOW for the Annual Conference
You have read previously about ABI's 112th annual convention, the 2015 Taking Care of Business Conference. It will be held in the Quad Cities June 10 - 12. You do not want to miss this fantastic annual event.
At the conference, you will find not one, but two headline speakers. One is Dr. Kenneth Blanchard, the internationally-acclaimed writer of The One Minute Manager and many other best-selling business books. Another internationally- acclaimed writer and thinker, Patrick Lencione, is also speaking at the conference. Throw in Deere & Company CEO Sam Allen, other Fortune 500 executives, and great panelists, and you will find no better business program than this one.
Fabulous venues, dinner on the Mighty Mississippi, great golf at a PGA championship course, and the best business networking anywhere combine with the fantastic programming to make this year's conference a must-see. Please register for the conference now by going to the event website at http://www.cvent.com/events/2015-annual-abi-conference/event-summary-03d0fa194e70462bad589a50955c2275.aspx. See you in the Quad Cities in June!
House Majority Leader to Keynote IIPAC Luncheon; Day on the Hill on Tap
Business Day on the Hill 2015 will be held March 10 (the same day as the next ABI Board meeting) in Des Moines. This is a popular event and registration fills quickly. You can find more information and register here:http://www.cvent.com/events/iowa-business-day-on-the-hill-2015/event-summary-e83e059e934d4d97a084cb18252ae941.aspx.
You will never find a visit to the Statehouse as easy as this one. After you park for free and see a brief, interesting program, you'll be picked up and taken directly by private coach to the front door of the Capitol. ABI staff will be with you all the way as you clear security, head to the rotunda, and then connect with your legislators. Upon the conclusion of your visits, you'll be picked-up at the front door and whisked back to your car.
A new feature of the Day on the Hill activities was added four years ago. ABI will continue that new tradition and will again be hosting a luncheon benefiting ABI’s political arm, the Iowa Industry Political Action Committee. On behalf of IIPAC Chair and former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Waukee), you are invited to contribute to IIPAC and join in the luncheon.
The keynote address at the luncheon will be given by the Majority Leader of the Iowa House of Representatives, Representative Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake. The Majority Leader will give you the latest exclusive information from inside the Statehouse. You don't want to miss it! I look forward to seeing you at this year’s Business Day on the Hill events in March.
Board to Meet March 10
Members of the ABI Board of Directors will meet at the ABI office on March 10. ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) will call the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
The March meeting agenda will be a full one, with many important issues on tap. In fact, there will be a full day of ABI events on March 10. The day will start with the annual Day on the Hill program that morning and the IIPAC luncheon at noon, followed by the meeting of the ABI Board of Directors. Plan now to join your fellow ABI board members and past chairs at ABI in March.
May Board Meeting to be Held in Cedar Valley May 6
Speaking of the ABI Board of Directors, ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly)recently announced changes involving the board's May meeting. Following on the success of other recent meetings which were held outside the Des Moines area, Mark announced that the May meeting will be held in Iowa's Cedar Valley Region centered on Cedar Falls and Waterloo.
Look for more information, such as the exact meeting location, the lodging choice, and information about a dinner to be held the night before the meeting. Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend the May meeting.
ABI Connecting Statewide Leaders Forum in Fairfield Next Week
As you know, the next event in ABI's Connecting Statewide Leaders series will be held next Thursday (March 5) in Fairfield. A high-value panel, networking, and a luncheon will all be a part of the program, which will be held at the beautiful Fairfield Arts and Convention Center in downtown Fairfield.
For more information and to register, click on http://www.cvent.com/events/connecting-statewide-leaders/event-summary-6bc29643d5e94b31a72f8ed2084f0374.aspx. Join fellow ABI members, Leadership Iowa Class members, local business leaders, and others for this event.
Leadership Iowa University in Cedar Falls Thursday, Friday
The ABI Foundation's Leadership Iowa University program will hold the final session of the 2014-2015 class this week in Cedar Falls. The class will convene Thursday and end its work on Friday. Congratulations to the students for another terrific LIU session.
ABI Members Invited to STEM Summit
Governor Terry Branstad and others will be featured speakers at this year's Statewide STEM Summit. As an ABI member, YOU are also invited,
The 2015 Statewide STEM Summit will be held on Monday, March 30 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines. State officials, business leaders, educators, and others will be a part of this event.
Register now for this excellent event at http://www.iowastem.gov/2015Summit. If you register by March 15, there is no cost to attend!
LINK Associates Develops LEEP Program to Assist in Addressing Workforce Challenges
ABI frequently partners with LINK Associates, a non-profit organization serving people with intellectual disabilities. LINK clients aid in assembling event materials and in other ways.
LINK has now developed an initiative called Link Employment Exploration Program. LEEP is designed to connect employers with LINK clients that can complete entry-level or simple tasks. There is no charge to employers and a LINK staff member will be on-site to supervise LINK clients while they work. The bottom line is that employers receive help with necessary work and LINK clients gain valuable experience. For more information, reply to this message and I will send you a LEEP data sheet.
John Riches Celebrates
It is always a pleasure to wish ABI Board Member John Riches (Alcoa, Davenport) a happy birthday. John celebrates his birthday this month; happy birthday, John!
Mark Hanawalt Quoted in DMACC Newspaper Biden Story
As you read in previous editions this memorandum and in other ABI publications, ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) was part of a small group of people to meet with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden recently. Mark represented employers in a roundtable discussion during the Vice President's visit to Des Moines Area Community College. Another ABI member company executive, Vince Newendorp (Vermeer Corporation, Pella), also participated.
Mark was quoted extensively in a DMACC newspaper story related to the visit. You can read the article for yourself here: http://www.campuschroniclenews.com/?p=1416. Congratulations to Mark on this great coverage! And special thanks to DMACC President Rob Denson (DMACC, Ankeny), a great ABI partner, for the invitation to participate in the event!