ABI Webinar Series Begins Thursday - Monday Memo 10/26/20

October 26, 2020

ABI Begins Webinar Series Thursday

ABI will kick-off a high-value webinar series on October 29 (this Thursday).  Between then and early December, ABI will present a series of programs on a variety of business-related topics. 

The first webinar focuses on e-commerce and association member Michael Bird (Spindustry, Clive), a digital and e-commerce expert, will be the keynoter.  Go here for more information: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/215-webinar-series-get-your-e-commerce-product-data-right-selling-online-supporting-your-dealer-partners/.  Check the ABI Events page for more info. 

Membership Staffer Update

You’ll recall that the association has been without a member development staff member since last December.  That is on purpose and while the Executive Committee has received updates about this position, the board has not, so please allow this update. 

ABI began the search for a new member development director last February.  A strong candidate list was developed, with many qualified applicants seeking to join the ABI team.  As the search progressed through February and March, three great finalists were identified.  It was at that point that the COVID-19 pandemic hit Iowa. 

At that point, not sure of the full impact of the disease on ABI operations and revenues, I made the decision to pause the search.  My view was it wouldn’t be fair to bring on a new staffer under the conditions caused by the pandemic and in addition, I also believed that ABI could benefit from greater flexibility with regard to HR expenses.  During this period, Nicole Crain, Dorothy Knowles, Holly Mueggenberg, and I have collectively led ABI’s member development work (note: as you can see in your board packets, ABI has steadily added new members during the period). 

That said, this position is ABI’s chief sales position and it is too important to leave vacant indefinitely.  Thus, after the first of the year, we’ll re-start the search.  I know we’ll be able to announce a terrific new staffer sometime in Q1 of 2021.  Stay tuned for more news as it develops. 

Final ABI Board Meeting of 2020 in Two Weeks

The final board meeting of the calendar year will be held two weeks from Thursday.  The November meeting is an important one for ABI and it is typically one of the best-attended meetings of the year.  

The ABI Board of Directors, chaired by Steven Bradford (HNI Corporation, Muscatine), will convene at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 12.  The board will meet by Zoom and you can register for the board meeting by simply replying to this memo. 

As noted above, the November board meeting is an important one.  Members will work through a very full agenda of reports and action items.  Look for the usual packet of reports and materials to help you prepare for the meeting to arrive in your email in-basket late next week.  

At the meeting held a couple of years ago in November, a board member mentioned that it was nice that the board meetings were enjoying strong participation.  He indicated that wasn't always the case.  As I replied then to that comment, strong board participation is much more than nice.  In fact, your participation in board meetings is all-important.  Our association needs your leadership and it is board leadership that has made the difference in ABI's growth and return to prominence.  Thank you in advance for your attendance and participation in next week's meeting. 

Listen to the Weekly Iowa Business Report Radio Program; Governor Reynolds, Mark Hanawalt Featured

The Iowa Business Report radio program is broadcast weekly on stations all over Iowa.  The program is the result of a great partnership between well-known Iowa broadcaster Jeff Stein and ABI.   

This week, highlights of the show include a feature interview with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.  In it, the Governor thanks Iowa businesses for all their efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues.  Another highlight is more from an earlier interview with former ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly).  An interview with Iowa Workforce Development Deputy Director Ryan West rounds out the show. 

If you missed the latest episode, you can click here to listen for yourself: http://iowabusinessreport.buzzsprout.com/.  Links can also be found on the ABI website at https://www.iowaabi.org/news/iowa-business-report/.  

Leadership Iowa to Hold Second 2020-2021 Session in Sioux Center

The ABI Foundation's 2020-2021 Leadership Iowa class is comprised of a terrific group of Iowans.  The class will meet for its second session beginning Wednesday of next week in Sioux Center.  This session will focus on agriculture and renewable resources.  

Elevate Advanced Manufacturing Receives Praise for Scholarships

Several years ago, thanks to the leadership of former ABI Chairs Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield), Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly), and Paul Gregoire (Emerson Fisher, Marshalltown) and ABI Board Member Michele Farrell (Measured Intentions, Urbandale), ABI created the Elevate Advanced Manufacturing initiative.  Go to https://www.elevateiowa.com/ to learn more. 

Over the years, Elevate has done much to connect Iowans with training and manufacturing careers.  Elevate was recently singled out for praise by Iowa’s community college leaders for the Elevate scholarship program (the initiative provides a $500 scholarship for worthy Iowans to attend one of the state’s 15 community college, for a total of $7,500 in scholarships annually).  

Congratulations to Elevate and especially to Michele Farrell (Measured Intentions, Urbandale), who even while leading her business and continuing her service on the ABI Board of Directors, also continues to lead Elevate! 

Nearly a Hundred Already Registered for 2021 ABI Legislative Reception

ABI’s second most popular event each year is the annual Legislative Briefing and Reception.  Well over 500 people attend this event, many more than attend any other similar event. 

Related to that, nearly a hundred people are already registered for the 2021 event to be held in Des Moines on January 13.  You, too, can get registered by clicking on this link: https://web.cvent.com/event/8db337e1-f39c-4e1f-8a9c-e88059b6b945/summary?rp=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000.  

The 2021 Legislative Reception will again be held at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.  Make plans now to attend. 

Several ABI Leaders (Bill Brown, Lande, Tollakson, White) Celebrate Birthdays

As they do every year at about this time, several ABI leaders are celebrating birthdays.  ABI Board Member Rick Tollakson (Hubbell Realty Company, West Des Moines) is celebrating his birthday tomorrow.   Former ABI Chair Bill Brown (BrownWinick, Des Moines) will celebrate his on November 2nd.  Former ABI Chair Dick White (John Deere, Ankeny) is also celebrating this week and former ABI Chair Roger Lande (Stanley, Lande & Hunter, and Muscatine) will celebrate his birthday later in November.  ABI sends happy birthday wishes to Rick, Bill, Dick, and Roger! 

Kreg Tool Named Economic Impact Award Winner

Longtime ABI member Kreg Tool Company is building a brand new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ankeny.  I check the progress of the project every day as I commute to ABI on I-35.  It’s a huge project and the plant will be visually stunning when completed. 

This project led to big news for Kreg, as it was named winner of a 2020 Economic Impact Award by the Greater Des Moines Partnership.  You can read more about it here: https://www.dsmpartnership.com/news-media/news/2020-economic-impact-award-winners-announced.  Congratulations to everyone at Kreg, including the company’s Chairman and CEO, ABI Board Member Todd Sommerfeld (Kreg Tool Company, Huxley)

The Business of ABI: Moving Forward

You know that from time to time in these memos I like to provide information about ABI's internal operations, what I call the business of ABI.  As you know, I believe ABI needs to operate as a business and provide value to its customers (ABI has customers, we just happen to call them members). 

One thing that is clear from all of you is that one part of what you all do in leading your companies is always move forward.  You are always innovating, always meeting new demands, always providing value.  ABI sure needs to do that as well.  

Over the years, you have allowed us to try new things.  Some have worked very well and grown (Elevate Advanced Manufacturing and BizWize and Leadership Iowa University and the Iowans for Jobs Initiative and many others).  Some have grown and we have spun them off to flourish on their own (VentureNet Iowa and others).  Some have not worked as well, or others are doing them better, so we stopped doing them (ABI Jobs Fair).  The point is that by following your example and with your leadership, ABI continues to enjoy growth and increase.  THANK YOU.