ABI Business Monthly Coming Your Way - Monday Memo 10/14/24
October 14, 2024
Latest ABI Business Monthly Now Out
The October edition of the ABI Business Monthly is now out and should be on your desk by now. The cover story is a focus on the coming election. If you haven’t yet received a copy of the Business Monthly, let me know and we’ll get one sent to you right away. In the meantime, thank you to our partner in publishing the Business Monthly, ABI member Corridor Media Group.
Employee Ownership Conference Wednesday
There is still time to register for an important event for Iowa’s employee ownership community. ABI is a partner in the Iowa Employee Ownership Conference. This is the second annual conference, which is led by the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership at the University of Northern Iowa. The conference will be held THIS WEDNESDAY (October 16th) at the FFA Enrichment Center at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Ankeny and you can register and find more information here: Summary - IA-CEO 2nd Annual Employee Ownership Conference (cvent.com). If you are considering transitioning your company to an ESOP or even if you are already an ESOP, you’ll find great information at this conference.
Olivia Jones to Expand Work for ABI; Will Join Staff Full-Time in May
You have read in previous editions of this memorandum about Olivia Jones. Olivia, the daughter of Brent and Amy Jones (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield), joined us last summer and was with us until August. She is now a senior at Iowa State University with a double major in Marketing and Management.
Olivia was a terrific intern and she has continued to work part-time for ABI during the semester. And, Olivia has agreed to join us for additional hours as starting in January, as ABI’s fabulous Director of Communications Marketing Kelsey O’Connor is on leave. Upon graduation, Olivia will join ABI full-time as Communications and Marketing Assistant. It will be great to have Olivia’s energy, passion, and enthusiasm around the office on a full-time basis!
Five 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, discussion by the board on association-related issues, and receipt of the annual audit, among other business.
ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) and board members will meet at the ABI office in Des Moines at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20. Many of you have already registered for this free board meeting, but if not, please reply to this memorandum and I’ll make sure you are registered. Additionally, I am told there is a reception following the board meeting. You will receive your board packet by email in about four weeks. In the meantime, thank you in advance for participating in this final board meeting of 2024.
Submit Your Conference Workshop Proposal Now
Preparations are well underway for the 2025 Taking Care of Business Conference. A fabulous program, truly exciting new venues, and terrific speakers will make the conference one of the very best ever. Mark your calendars now and join ABI in June in Council Bluffs. By the way, this isn’t just rhetoric. I mean it when I say that ALL the stops are being pulled out related to next years’ conference. You will be simply amazed at what the conference has to offer, including a spectacular Chair’s Dinner at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. Don’t miss it!
Related to the annual conference, 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 submitting a workshop proposal, please go: Taking Care of Business Conference | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org) and click on the proposal button.
Make Plans Now for 2025 ABI Legislative Reception
It is not too early to finalize your plans to participate in the 2025 edition of the ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception, our organization’s second largest annual event. The 2025 Legislative Reception, which will take place on January 15th, will be held at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines. Please make plans now to join your ABI colleagues and attend.
NAM Input Cites Steady Prices
In last Friday’s edition of the National Association of Manufacturers’ Input report, data was highlighted that cited a steady situation in producer pricing. Price concern was a top issue for respondents to ABI’s most recent quarterly economic survey, so this is good news. The NAM reports are always interesting reading and if you would like to see this one for yourself, reply to this memo and I’ll get it to you at once.
Jack and Sarah Hasken will Celebrate
Two great ABI leaders celebrate the anniversary of their wedding this week. ABI sends very best wishes to Former ABI Chair Sarah Hasken and Former ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Manufacturing, Maquoketa). Jack and Sarah will celebrate 44 years of being married on Friday. Happy Anniversary to one of the all-time great couples, Jack and Sarah!
Bill Trent Celebrates Wednesday
Every year about this time (and I say the same thing every year, because it is true), I note that former ABI Chair Bill Trent (KENT Corporation, Muscatine) is well-known as a longtime business executive, community leader, former state legislator, and as an all-around good guy. Bill still follows ABI and still stays in touch. Bill will celebrate his birthday Wednesday, October 16th. Happy birthday, Bill!
David Bywater a Surprise ABI Staffer
It was fun to see a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by ABI staff member Levi Lefebure last Thursday. Levi had arranged the ABI booth at the Iowa Artificial Intelligence Summit for Industry, held that day at Iowa State University. ABI was pleased to partner with longtime ABI member CIRAS on the event.
Levi’s post was a photograph of a surprise guest staff member, none other than former ABI Chair David Bywater (Bankers Advertising/TruArt, Iowa City). David’s company, which is a founding member of ABI, also had a presence at the summit. Thanks, David, for taking time from your busy schedule to stop by the ABI booth – and thanks for all you and your family (including former ABI Chair Bill Bywater) have done for ABI for over a century!
Levi Lefebure Runs Chicago Marathon
Speaking of ABI staffer Levi Lefebure… Levi leads ABI’s database functions and helps with several other initiatives. He is a great team member!
Levi is also a great runner and was on scholarship at Simpson College back in the day. Now, Levi has a goal of running the World Marathon Majors (World Marathon Majors - Wikipedia). Over the next several years, Levi will be running these six marathons in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London New York, and Tokyo. He has already run the Boston Marathon and he did quite well related to his time.
Yesterday, Levi ran the Chicago Marathon and I am sure he again did quite well. Belated best wishes, Levi, and on to the next one (but not right away)!
Supply Chain Expert Comments on Port Strike
It was also fun last week to see a television interview with a certain Iowa State professor (Peter Ralston) related to the recent dockworker’s strike (a strike, which while paused, which will likely be continued in January). Click here to see the interview: How did the port strike affect Iowa? | weareiowa.com. I know Dr. Ralston’s father, and he is proud of his son’s knowledge and expertise!