ABI Board News - Monday Memo 6/22/15
June 22, 2015
Leaders to Retire from ABI Board; New Board Members will Begin Terms
In last week’s edition of the Monday Memo, you read about new ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) and newly-elected officers and Executive Committee members. Paul will succeed outgoing ABI ChairMark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) on the first of July. Also elected at the 112th Annual Convention were new members of the ABI Board of Directors. These individuals and/or their companies have long been active in ABI and like all of you, will make terrific board members. They take the place of members who are completing their terms or otherwise leaving the ABI Board of Directors.
Ending service on the board are Jim Long (Cline Tool, Newton) and Steve Martin (Hagie Manufacturing Company, Clarion). Myron Linn (Pella Corporation, Pella), of course, leaves his board slot as Immediate Past Chair, but remains a board member for life as do all other former Chairs. Please join me in congratulating these individuals for their service and leadership and THANK YOU to these Iowa business leaders.
Elected to the board for terms beginning July 1 were Cindy Dietz (Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids), Jack Hasken (Jackson Manufacturing, Maquoketa), and Krista Tanner (ITC Midwest, Des Moines), and the honorary Leadership Iowa board member, Kellen Longenecker (General Mills, Carlisle). Congratulations to these incoming leaders.
Executive Committee to Hold Final 2014-2015 Session
Members of the ABI Executive Committee will hold their final discussion of the 2014-2015 fiscal year Wednesday. ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) and committee members will, among other business, review the association’s performance in finance and program areas.
Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to your leadership, the association will celebrate another successful year. For example, ABI will end the year in the black for the ninth consecutive year, the association achieved strong success during the legislative session, the annual conference and other events held throughout the year were record-breakers, and the ABI Foundation programs saw increased participation and popularity.
Believe me, it is not simply rhetoric, but absolutely true to say that it is the investment in dollars, time, and other resources by ABI members all over Iowa that provide for ABI's success. And it is most certainly your leadership and support that lead the way in making it all possible; thank you.
Annual Policy Meetings Begin Today in Harlan
Each year, ABI begins its annual policy development process the same way; by going out on the road and listening to members. Later this morning, at 11:30 in Harlan, the process begins again.
The policy sessions begin with a review of the recently-completed session of the Iowa General Assembly. Then, policy staff will look ahead to what is coming next year. Following that is the most important part of the meeting, YOUR opportunity to provide feedback about what you would like to see happen in 2016. I hope you will participate n a policy session near year. For more information or to register, please see the ABI Events Calendar here:/en/events_calendar/. Thank you in advance for your attendance.
Business Horizons 2015 Next Week
The ABI Foundation's annual session of the Business Horizons entrepreneurial experience kicks off a week from yesterday. BH 2015 will be held June 29 through July 2 on the campus of Central College in Pella, Iowa.
Business Horizons is a terrific program that receives rave reviews from participating students each year. If you’ve never witnessed BH and want to see what all the excitement is about, contact me and we’ll make arrangements for you to join-in for an hour or a day. You won’t believe the passion and excitement generated by these fantastic Iowa young people.
There is still time to register students. And, as always, more volunteer industry advisors are also needed. Contact ABI for more information or to register a student today. In the meantime, check out the BH website atwww.businesshorizonsiowa.com.
Anderson to Join ABI July 6
Kathy Anderson, ABI's new Vice President for Membership Development and Programs, will join the association two weeks from today, on July 6. Kathy is currently the Director of the Home Base Iowa program for the State of Iowa. Her statewide network and experience with a large statewide conference (she formerly led planning for the Iowa Economic Development Authority's participation in the annual Iowa SMART Conference) will be excellent background as she joins ABI.
Many of you met Kathy at the Taking Care of Business Conference in the Quad Cities earlier this month. For those of you who have not yet met her, I know you join in welcoming her to ABI.
Foundation Auction Raises Nearly $30K
Thanks to an excellent auctioneer in ABI Board Member Nate Weaton (HillPhoenix, Keosauqua), who was ablyassisted by Chad Christensen (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield), and thanks to terrific staff leadership by ABI Foundation Development Director Mary Mendenhall-Core, and most especially thanks to all of the generous conference attendees/bidders, the auction benefitting the ABI Foundation held at the conference was a smashing success. Nearly $30,000 was raised for Foundation programs. THANK YOU!
2015 Conference Presentations Soon Available Online; 2016 ABI Convention in Sioux City
Many of you have shared great comments about the just-completed 2015 ABI Taking Care of Business Conference; thank you. Many of you have also remarked that you wish you could revisit some of the presentations that made the conference of such great value for your company.
The presentations will soon be available through the ABI website at /. Watch for further news soon. You'll also be able to access conference photos through the website.
The 2016 ABI Convention/Iowa's Taking Care of Business Conference will be held in Sioux City. Plans are already underway to make the event truly spectacular. Each year, conference committee members work hard to develop world-class experiences and next year, they will be able to do that with a terrific convention center and with the use of some other fabulous surprises.
ABI members love the water, and next year's conference will take place by one of America's great rivers, the Mighty Missouri. Mark your calendars now for June 14-16 and make plans to join your ABI colleagues in Siouxland!
Elevate Program Moving Forward; Your Nominations Sought for Legends Awards
ABI members are aware of the Elevate Advanced Manufacturing Program. ABI Board Members Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) and Lori Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield) are leading this important new initiative. ABI Advisory Council member Michele Farrell (Measured Intentions, Urbandale) is providing key administrative leadership.
Don't forget all of the opportunities to support this program. Let us know if you have an employee that would make a great testimonial for Elevate; or use the program website “Made in Iowa” feature to tell us what you make. In addition to these opportunities, Elevate will always appreciate any financial support.
By the way, later this year, Elevate will sponsor the first-ever Iowa Legends in Manufacturing Awards. If you have a company you would like to nominate, please send me an email message and I will the Elevate program.
Convention Survey in Your In-Box Soon; 2016 Planning Well Underway
As I noted above, many of you have been kind to offer good words about the recently-held 112th Annual ABI Convention. Some of you have even called it the best convention ever.
It was indeed a fantastic meeting, with great speakers, exciting venues, and terrific numbers of ABI members from all over Iowa and beyond. While Member Programs Director Holly Mueggenberg, Membership Coordinator Dorothy Knowles, Bookkeeper Chrissy Blake, and Communications Coordinator Emily Schettler put the finishing touches on convention, your feedback is encouraged and desired. Watch your email in-basket for a convention survey that will arrive soon, or may have already arrived. Please take a few moments (that’s all it takes, I promise) to complete the survey and provide your counsel about how to make a great event even better.
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that planning for the 2016 Convention has already begun. Terrific ideas are being considered to make the 113th Annual Meeting something you won’t want to miss.
ABI Publishes Iowa HR Library
One of ABI’s popular services over the years has been to provide a library of reference books related to Human Resources and other issues. The reference set is periodically updated and highlighted for those companies seeking such a resource and it is offered at a very nominal rate for ABI members.
For more information or to obtain a set of manuals, please go /index.cfm?nodeID=16918&audienceID=1&action=display&newsID=8935.
IIPAC Fundraising Now Underway
The Iowa Industry Political Action Committee is ABI’s political arm and it is not pro-Republican or pro-Democrat; it is pro-business. IIPAC is an important resource for pro-business candidates.
Fundraising for IIPAC really never stops, but it occurs in earnest during the summer and fall. ABI Vice President Government Relations Nicole Crain, Policy and Regulatory Affairs Coordinator Zach Dalluge, and Policy and Political Affairs Counsel Rachel Geilenfeld, with the help of Administrative Assistant Michelle Vollstedt, are now actively recruiting contributions. I hope you will join your fellow ABI board and staff members by becoming an IIPAC contributor today. Please click on this link for more information: /en/public_policy/iipac/.
Leadership Iowa University Seeking New Class
Leadership Iowa University is the exciting program that provides a Leadership Iowa experience for Iowa college students. The sixth-ever session of the program is fast-approaching and class members are now being sought.
If you have questions or wish to be involved, please don’t hesitate to contact ABI Foundation Vice President for Programs Kay Neumann-Thomas, Development Director Mary Mendenhall-Core, or Foundation Assistant Jessi Steward. In the meantime, thanks to many of you who have already nominated Iowa college students for selection to LIU.
Register Now for 2015 ABI Executive Open at Des Moines Golf and Country Club
Each year I like to remind you that I am the fellow that predicted there wouldn't be much demand for participation in a new event created a few years ago, the ABI Executive Open. Well, I was spectacularly wrong (again). The event has become one of the association's most popular annual outings and it sells-out every year.
The 2015 Open will be held Monday, August 31 at one of Iowa's most beautiful private courses, the Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines. Click on this link to learn more about the club: http://www.dmgcc.org/. It will make a fabulous location for the 2015 Executive Open. Because spots fill so quickly, you may wish to register now. If so, go here now: http://www.cvent.com/events/abi-executive-open-2015/event-summary-7986453c0e234e2a8cb8026598c1ae36.aspx. See you in West Des Moines in August!
NAM Report: Economic Forecasts Downgraded
Last week's National Association of Manufacturers Monday Economic Report carried a feature story about the disappointing growth in the manufacturing sector nationwide. As a result of slower than anticipated growth year-to-date, forecasts for annual growth have been downgraded. If you wish to read the report for yourself, please reply to this message and I will get it to you at once.
Connect-A-Dock Celebrating Incredible Growth
While NAM reported on slower growth nationally, for an example of a manufacturer that has witnessed incredible growth, look no further than longtime ABI member Connect-A-Dock. Over the past three years, the company has grown its workforce in Atlantic from 73 to 224 full-time positions... growth of 151 positions or over two hundred percent! That's terrific and congratulations to everyone there, including company executive and ABI Board MemberJohn Krogman (Connect-A-Dock, Atlantic)!
ABI Celebrates Another Strong Year; Your Leadership is Vital
A week from tomorrow, ABI will complete another strong year. It is not just rhetoric to say that your leadership is vital; in fact, it makes all the difference. As we prepare to begin a new fiscal year and a new year of service to Iowa business, thank you.