ABI Board to Meet in Fairfield - Monday Memo 4/17/17
April 17, 2017
May Board Meeting in Two Weeks; Register Now
The final pre-annual conference meeting of the ABI Board of Directors will be held May 3 in Fairfield. ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield) and board members will meet at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center (http://www.fairfieldacc.com/) in downtown Fairfield. If you haven’t already registered, please reply to this message and we’ll take care of that for you.
The night before, the Lori and Nate Weaton and ABI will host a dinner for board members arriving in town early. The dinner will be held at the beautiful Fairfield Golf and Country Club (http://fgacc.com/) in Fairfield. If you will be attending the dinner, please reply to this message and let me know. There is nothing else you need do than that. Again, dinner is Tuesday evening, May 2.
If you are arriving in Fairfield the evening prior to the meeting and joining your ABI colleagues for dinner, you'll need a place to stay the night. Use this link to make your lodging reservation at the AmericInn Hotel and Suites (http://www.americinn.com/hotels/ia/fairfield) on the southeast edge of town.
The board meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m. on the 3rd and lunch will be served. On behalf of Lori and our other officers, I look forward to seeing you in Fairfield.
Take Annual ABI CEO Survey Now
Each year, ABI surveys member CEOs regarding issues important to them and their businesses. The survey is available now and your participation is encouraged and desired.
Please take this year's survey now. As I noted in last week's memorandum, it will take no more than 5 to 10 minutes. Use this link http://conta.cc/2oEAF2y to access the survey. You will be able to find the results in the June edition of Business Record Iowa.
Register Now for ABI Regional Policy Meetings
It appears likely that the Iowa General Assembly will adjourn before the end of the month, perhaps even by the end of the week. As you have read in the Legislative News section of the weekly ABI newsletter, this has been a historic session for ABI. More on that in future memos.
For now, make your plans to attend the ABI Regional Public Policy meeting coming to your area of the state next month. At the meeting, you will hear the latest report on the 2017 Iowa Legislative Session, the impact actions of legislators had on your business, and you will receive a preview of the upcoming ABI policy and member events. You will also have the opportunity to share input about legislative issues that you and your employees believe should be the focus of ABI in 2018.
You can register for one or more of the sessions by going to the Events Page on the ABI website. You will find that site here: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/. Simply click on the calendar or scroll down on the page for the meeting nearest you. I hope to see you at one of the policy meetings next month.
Nominating Committee Work to Begin
With a little more than a month to go to the 2017 ABI Convention, it is the time of year that the annual board member nominating process is conducted. As Immediate Past Chair of the ABI Board of Directors, Paul Gregoire (Emerson Fisher, Marshalltown), will serve as Nominating Committee Chair.
Paul and I connected last week to review the nominations process. Look for information regarding the composition and activities of the committee in future editions of this memorandum.
ABI Advisory Council to Hold April Meeting
Members of the ABI Advisory Council will hold their regular April Thursday afternoon at ABI. Making note of this allows me an opportunity to again thank the ABI 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, The Iowa Clinic, Transition Point Business Advisors, and Wellmark.
CFO Roundtable Meets Thursday
The ABI CFO Roundtable will next meet this coming Thursday at Kreg Tool in Huxley. The Roundtable is the association’s newest value-added panel, with speakers and programs of special interest to your company’s finance staff.
The CFO programs have received high marks from participants and you and your CFO are also invited. Reply to this message for more information. In the meantime, thank you to ABI Board Member and Kreg Executive Chairman Todd Sommerfeld (Kreg Tool, Huxley) and to CFO Mike McDonald (Kreg Tool, Huxley)!
Latest Edition of Business Record Iowa Now Out
Each month, in partnership with the Des Moines Business Record, ABI publishes Business Record Iowa. This newsprint publication reaches about 7,500 Iowa business leaders all across the state.
The April edition, featuring ABI member Bill McKim (Midland Power, Jefferson) on the cover of the magazine, should now be in your mailbox, inside the Des Moines Business Record. If you haven't yet received it, please let me know and another copy will be sent to you at once.
ABI Members Encouraged to Attend Iowa SMART Conference
As you read in last week’s ABI newsletter, it is again time for the annual Iowa SMART Conference. The conference is Iowa’s premiere economic development conference. It is sponsored by ABI member the Iowa Utility Association and its members, Iowa’s investor-owned electric, natural gas, and transmission utilities, and by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
The 2017 conference will be held in Des Moines on May 4. It includes a terrific agenda, with several great speakers. For more information and to register, click http://www.iowasmartconference.com/.
David Bywater Celebrates on the 20th
Each year about this time, I mention ABI Executive Committee Member David Bywater (Economy Advertising Company, Iowa City). That is because April 20th, Thursday of this week, is David’s birthday. Happy birthday, David!
Arconic Davenport Works Hosts Congressman Loebsack
One of the key ingredients in ABI’s award-winning public policy work is the personal involvement of the association’s members. In that regard, there is no better thing you can do than invite Iowa’s Congressional delegation and state officials into your plant or office. Thank you to the many of you that do that on a regular basis.
Perhaps the most recent t example of that was a visit last week by Congressman Dave Loebsack to Arconic’s Davenport Works. While he has been there before, Congressman Loebsack in this visit was able to see the latest technology and best business practices employed by Arconic and its employees. Thank you to everyone at Arconic for hosting the Congressman, especially thank you to ABI Board Member John Riches (Arconic, Davenport)!
Mores Leadership Institute in Ninth Year of Service to Iowa Newspaper Industry
Longtime ABI Board Member Alan Mores (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan) and his brother Steve Mores(Harlan Newspapers, Harlan) have long been leaders in Iowa’s newspaper industry. Some time ago, they endowed the Leo Mores Leadership Institute at the Iowa Newspaper Foundation. The Mores Institute supports the creation of future leaders in the newspaper industry and it has had much success.
The Institute, which is now accepting nominations for the next class, is marking its ninth year in 2017. Congratulations to Alan, Steve, their family, and their industry on this terrific initiative.
Carolyn Phelan Doing Well; Rich Phelan Consulting
This is an important time for longtime ABI Board Member Rich Phelan (LyondellBasell, Clinton). As you read in last week’s memo, Rich’s wife, Carolyn Phelan, underwent cardiac bypass surgery last week. The surgery was successful and Rich reports that prospects are very good for a complete recovery in 8 to 12 weeks. That’s great news and we continue to keep the Phelans in our thoughts and prayers.
On another matter, most of you know that Rich retired after a very successful 30-plus year career in the polymer/chemicals industry (he continues to represent LyondellBasell on the ABI Board of Directors). Rich has been very active in the Clinton community, leading several local boards and initiatives. He continues to do that and is involved in a local firm. And, Rich tells me he is also consulting for other organizations.
If you want information about the kinds of things with which Rich can help your organization, reply to this memo and I’ll connect you. Congratulations on Carolyn’s good news and on your new initiative, Rich!
Essman Companies Celebrate 40 Years
Former ABI Board Member Denise Essman (Essman/Associates & Essman/Research Des Moines) and her employees are celebrating a major anniversary this month. On April 27, both Essman/Associates and Essman/Research are marking 40 years in business. Congratulations to Denise and everyone at Essman!