ABI Leadership Meetings Ahead - Monday Memo 8/2/21
August 2, 2021
Executive Committee Teleconference a Week from Thursday; Board Will Meet in September
ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) and members of the association’s Executive Committee will hold their August meeting a week from Thursday, on August 12. Agenda items include discussions related to public policy, membership and events, and Foundation programs.
Speaking of leadership meetings, the board will next meet on September 9. The board will meet in Maquoketa and will have the opportunity to tour Jackson Mfg. prior to the start of the meeting.
The September meeting is an important one for several reasons. First, it marks the first board meeting of the fiscal year and the first meeting for newly-elected board members. Second, it will involve board consideration and approval of the policies developed through the annual policy development process (by September 9, literally hundreds of ABI members will have participated in meetings to propose a slate of policies for 2022). This part of the meeting will be led by ABI Vice Chair Kim Augspurger (Saxton, Des Moines). Please mark your calendars and make plans now to participate in this important meeting.
ABI Environment, Employment and Workforce, and Workplace and Product Safety Committees to Meet Next Week
Speaking of the annual policy committee meetings, the meetings will be kicked-off in earnest next week. Members of the ABI Environment, Employment and Workforce and Workplace and Product Safety Committees will hold their annual policy meetings August 9, 10, and 11. These committees will meet at ABI and thank you to Committee Chairs Kelly Jorgensen (AGP/Ag Processing, Eagle Grove), Amy Larsen (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) and Rex Butler (CIPCO, Cedar Rapids).
The ABI Economic Growth Committee and ABI Tax Committee meet later in the month. You can register for any of these meetings by clicking on them in the ABI Events Calendar at Events Calendar | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org).
LIU Opens Session Next Week
The annual class of Leadership Iowa University will kick off its 2021 session a week from Yesterday, on August 8. The program seeks to educate, inspire, and develop college students as a foundation for Iowa’s economic growth and to encourage their on-going involvement in community and state initiatives.
Go to http://www.leadershipiowauniversity.com/ to learn more. As I mentioned last week, class members come from public, private, and community colleges all across Iowa. These students will be tomorrow’s workforce and business owners; we look forward to their participation in LIU.
Connecting Statewide Leaders Event August 11
Speaking of Leadership Iowa University, the week always includes an event that is a part of the ABI Connecting Statewide Leaders series. This year, that event, which is focused on the New Normal (after COVID), will be held on August 11 at 3:30 in the afternoon. It will be held at R&R Realty’s famous Westfield Campus in West Des Moines.
Find more information and register here: Summary - Connecting Statewide Leaders - Des Moines (cvent.com). This is your opportunity to get to know the LIU class – and to recruit them to your business!
New Board Member Orientations Continue
Meetings with new members of the ABI Board of Directors continue. Orientations have been held with new board members Josh Byers (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan), Jerry Krantz (SSAB, Muscatine), and Claudia Schabel (Schabel Solutions, Des Moines.
Later this month, two more new board member orientation sessions are on tap, as I’ll be meeting with Heather Bruce (Osmundson Mfg, Co., Perry) and the honorary Leadership Iowa board representative, Eric Moerman (Interstates, Sioux Center). You will have a chance to meet these new board members soon.
ABI Holds Fabulous Executive Forum
The fastest growing event at ABI is the annual Executive Forum and there is a simple reason that is the case. This fabulous program gets better and better every year.
Last Thursday and Friday, five dozen ABI leaders met in Okoboji to hear from terrific speakers, visit fantastic new venues, and tour great operations. Members tell us that can’t wait for next year’s program. Thank you to all those who attended and to the many members who served as panelists and speakers!
Annual ABI Executive Open on the 30th, Cedar Rapids ABI Open Next Month
Many of you have commented to me that you are looking forward to the annual ABI Executive Open best ball golf outing. The open will be held on Monday, August 30. As this memo goes to press, over 60 90 ABI members have already registered. The event will be held at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club, a fabulous private golf course in West Des Moines. Register now to play golf.
The same goes for a second golf outing that ABI is hosting Cedar Rapids. Elmcrest Country Club, the home, club of PGA Champion Zach Johnson, will be a terrific locale for golf on September 27. By participating, you’ll have fun and have an opportunity to network with great ABI members. To find more information or to register, please go to the ABI webpage at www.iowaabi.org and click on the events tab.
ABI Members Invited to Future Ready Iowa Summit on September 16;Dietz Featured
Officials with the Office of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds have reached out to ABI to invite all of the 2021 Future ready Iowa Summit. The summit will be held on September 16th and you can find more information and register here: Registration for the Future Ready Iowa Summit is now OPEN | Iowa STEM Home | Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council. A terrific agenda has been developed for the event. In fact, Former ABI Chair Cindy Dietz (Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids) will lead one of the panels at the forum. Hope to see you all at the summit.
Last Friday a Big Day for the Haskens
Last Friday, and by that I mean July 23rd, was a big day for ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) and his wife, former ABI Chair Sarah Hasken. Jack celebrated his birthday, and Sarah celebrated the beginning of her retirement. Happy birthday, Jack, and congratulations Jack and Sarah! And THANK YOU for all you do for ABI!
Jim Tyler Turns 96
Each year about now, because it coincides with his birthday, I note that former ABI Chair Jim Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlantic) is a terrific Iowa leader and a great guy. Jim turns 97 this year! Happy birthday, Jim!
Anniversary Today for Bill and Mary Zinkewich
Many of you will well recall former longtime ABI Board Member Bill Zinkewich (SSAB, Muscatine). Bill played a leading role in ABI’s resurgence in 2006 and 2007. After a long and successful career, Bill retired and moved to Florida with his wife, Mary Zinkewich.
Bill still stays up to date on ABI and just checked in last week. Best wishes to Bill and to Mary, who celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary (!) today, August 2nd. Congratulations all around!
The Business of ABI: Connections
Recently, I was contacted by an ABI board member who asked if I would connect them to an executive at another ABI member company. We receive these types of requests all the time and of course I was pleased to do it. This is an essential benefit you get as an ABI member, the opportunity to connect with others. You certainly don’t need to pay anything additional for it.
Want to add a customer? Ask about a manufacturing process? Seek information on a new location? These topics and just about anything else you might want to discuss can be a part of a conversation with your fellow ABI members. We want ABI members to do business with each other and will work hard to make it happen. Connecting folks is really what ABI is all about, so let us know how we can help you and thank you!