ABI Executive Committee will Meet - Monday Memo 12/4/23
December 4, 2023
ABI Executive Committee to Hold Final 2023 Zoom Meeting December 13; First 2024 Board Meeting Next Month
The ABI Executive Committee, led by Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City), will hold its final meeting of the calendar year a week from Wednesday (December 13). After that, the next ABI leadership meeting will be held next month. The first ABI Board of Directors meeting of 2024 will be held on Wednesday, January 10.
At the meeting, the latest updates regarding critical association business will be a focus, as will issues related to (what will then be) the just-convened 2024 session of the Iowa General Assembly. Your participation in this meeting is important. Please finalize your plans to do so and thank you in advance for making the ABI meeting on January 10 a priority.
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Officials, Legislators Want to See You at 2024 ABI Legislative Event; Register Now
ABI knows that Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, other state officials, and legislators of both parties attend the ABI Legislative Reception so they can see YOU. As you know, this event is one of the most popular events ABI hosts all year long. Also as you know, it is likely that over 500 people will attend the event, including more legislators of both parties than at any other similar event. I pointed out last week that the attendance of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, coupled with that of so many legislators and other state officials, is one more confirmation of your importance to Iowa policy makers. They attend because YOU attend.
The ABI staff is busy finalizing details related to the 2024 ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception, which will be held Wednesday, January 10 at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines. The briefing is your opportunity to hear the latest about legislative news and about ABI's agenda. You can then head right into the reception and share comments with your local legislators. Your participation and interaction with legislators is what makes this event a must-attend for Iowa policy-makers.
Go to the ABI Events webpage and click https://web.cvent.com/event/f801fb65-0dd6-4c24-9513-a61cd8d74686/summary. You’ll find all the information you need and can follow the easy instructions to register now. See you January 10.
Quarterly ABI Iowa Business Survey to Close December 6
All board members and former Chairs of the Board should have received an email message from me last week related to the ABI Quarterly Iowa Business Survey. This survey applies to the first quarter of 2024. The survey is now underway and it will close at the end of the day Wednesday (December 6).
If you haven’t already completed the survey, which takes just a couple of minutes, please do so now. Reply to this memo and I’ll get you the link at once. Survey results will be tabulated and shared with you, the public, and the media. Thank you for your participation in this initiative.
Fairfield LI Session, Connecting Statewide Leaders Event This Week
As usual, this time of year is a busy one for ABI. For example, the 2023-2024 Leadership Iowa Class will hold its third session later this week in Fairfield. The class will hear from an incredible array of terrific speakers. You will have an opportunity to meet the class at next month's ABI legislative reception.
By the way, a part of the LI session will include the latest in ABI’s “Connecting Statewide Leaders” series of events. A terrific panel of manufacturing/ leaders is the highlight of that event. Former ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield), ABI Board Member Rich Dwyer (KENT Corporation, Muscatine), and ABI member company executive Kevin Gaul (Pella Corporation, Pella) are on tap for the panel. You can still register for the Connecting Statewide Leaders event now at Summary - Connecting Statewide Leaders - Fairfield (cvent.com).
For now, Final ABI Event for 2023 still on: ABI Automation Summit in Carroll December 12th; May be Postponed
Perhaps because it is being planned so close to the holidays, the final ABI event of the year has been slow to garner attendees. The event is the next in the series of popular automation summits. The summits are a great forum for learning more about how automation can help your company, how to get into it easily and efficiently, and how to do so cost-effectively. For now, the next summit will be held on the Carroll campus of DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College) on December 12th. ABI, DMACC, CIRAS, and ABI member company Kinetic Technologies are partnering to produce this event. To register and/or find more information, go here: Summary - Automation Summit (cvent.com). If the pace of registrations doesn’t increase by tomorrow, we will likely postpone the event until after the new year. Please stay tuned and thank you.
Nicole Crain Attends BIPAC Events
ABI Executive Vice President Nicole Crain was in Washington, DC last week for important meetings and events at BIPAC. Founded 60 years ago as the Business and Industry Political Action Committee, BIPAC is a key national partner for ABI. BIPAC does important work helping with our grassroots efforts and election outreach. We salute the organization upon this big anniversary.
Nicole is also a member of the BIPAC’s Board of Directors (a prestigious position) and she participated in the group’s December board meeting while in town. Thank you for your leadership, Nicole!
Childcare Study Released
The Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children recently completed a child care workforce study. The study was brought to the attention of ABI by former Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) and by ABI member Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. We are grateful to Jack for sharing it with us.
The study confirms what ABI members know to be the case related to child care. Those working in the industry are not compensated adequately, better communication about available resources is needed, and better industry data is also needed. Click here to read the study for yourself: 2023 Iowa Child Care Workforce Study • I2D2 (iastate.edu). ABI has been very active with regard to this issue and we will continue our efforts. As you saw in Friday’s ABI e-newsletter, there is some success being achieved already. In the meantime, thank you again, Jack, for sharing the study!
Advisory Council Members Add Value
Members of the ABI Advisory Council do much to advance the work of the association. Their leadership and support is never taken for granted. They have played a very large part in the increase in quality and quantity of ABI programs across Iowa.
Thank you to the members of the council for their work in 2023. Thank you to Anthologic, AssuredPartners, Bankers Trust, BCC Advisers, BrownWinick, CIRAS, CliftonLarsonAllen, EMC, Fredrikson & Byron, G&A Partners, HDH Advisors, Principal Financial Network of Central Iowa, The Iowa Clinic, Wellmark, and Wells Fargo.
Members Use ABI Online Directory
A couple of years ago, ABI’s new online member directory became operational. This is just a reminder that the new directory allows you to check member company information, search industry partners, connect with ABI colleagues, and much more. Find the online directory log-in page here: https://www.iowaabi.org/member-directory/login/.
NAM Reports on Economic Data
Today’s Monday Economic Report from the National Association of Manufacturers provides an update regarding the national economy. Yields on treasury bonds are mixed, inflation seems to be moderating, and GDP is up. Mostly positive data, though growth remains moderate to slow. Read about this and more in the report. If you wish to see the report for yourself, simply reply to this message and I’ll get it to you at once.
Mores Brothers Recognized by Iowa State’s Greenlee School
Former longtime ABI Board Member Alan Mores (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan – Ret) and his brother Steve Mores (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan – Ret) were honored by Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism. Alan and Steve received the James W. Schwartz Award for Distinguished Service to Journalism and Communications. The Mores Family, of course, is legendary in Iowa newspapering and Alan and Stave had been leaders in the industry for decades. Click here to read more: Alan and Steve Mores honored with James W. Schwartz Award from Iowa State University's Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication - Iowa Newspaper Association (inanews.com). This is a very big honor and ABI salutes Alan and Steve Mores!