April Executive Committee Meeting on the 8th - Monday Memo 3/30/15
March 30, 2015
ABI Executive Committee to Meet Next Week; Board Will Meet in May in Waverly
ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) and members of the association’s Executive Committee will meet by teleconference next week. The April EC call takes place the morning of April 8 and committee members can expect to see the usual packet of meeting materials in their email in-basket later this week.
As for the ABI Board of Directors, that body will meet again next month, on May 6. The meeting will be held at the Prairie Links Golf and Events Center in Waverly.
And, if you come over the night before, join your fellow ABI members for dinner, compliments of ABI. See you in the Cedar Valley on May 5 and/or 6.
Iowa STEM Summit Today in Des Moines
ABI has long been one of Iowa's leading organizations promoting and supporting STEM education in our state. In keeping with that support, you and your employees are invited to the 2015 Iowa Statewide STEM Summit.
The summit is being held TODAY at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. State officials, business leaders, educators, and others will be a part of this event. Go here for more information (registration is now on-site, but you can access information here): http://www.iowastem.gov/2015Summit.
ABI Connecting Leaders Event Next Week in Storm Lake
The next ABI Connecting Leaders event will be next week (held April 9) in Storm Lake. ABI leaders and Advisory Council members will lead this high-value program and you can register for this event here:http://www.cvent.com/events/connecting-statewide-leaders/event-summary-4bd66e6319dc429097458db8788676b0.aspx.
Don't miss the opportunity to join your ABI colleagues, members of the current Leadership Iowa Class, and regional leaders for this great event. I hope to see you in Storm Lake on April 9.
Convention Sponsorships Going Fast
As you know, ABI's 112th Annual Convention, the 2015 Taking Care of Business Conference, will be held in the Quad Cities in June. You can click here http://www.cvent.com/events/2015-annual-abi-conference/event-summary-03d0fa194e70462bad589a50955c2275.aspx to register or to find more information.
Related to the convention, sponsorship opportunities are now being reserved and they are going fast. The convention just gets bigger and better each year and sponsors want to be a part of Iowa’s most important business networking event. You can find sponsorship information on the convention website, but you can always contact ABI directly with your questions or comments. Thank you to all of the many companies who have already made their sponsorship reservations!
Leadership Iowa Class to Converge on Storm Lake Next Week
The 2014-2015 Class of the ABI Foundation’s Leadership Iowa program has been another in a string of terrific groups. Class members have been strongly engaged in the LI sessions and they will have an opportunity to come together again next week.
Beginning with an informal session Wednesday evening, the class will convene in Storm Lake through Friday. This session will focus on issues facing our state that are related to community vitality and a wonderful slate of speakers has been developed to address the LI class. Look for a full report at the next meeting of the ABI Board of Directors.
Get Real-Time Updates from ABI Via Twitter
ABI members tell me all the time how much they value the up-to-the-minute news they receive from ABI. Quite a few ABI staffers tweet information all day long.
At this time of the year, the real-time updates from the ABI Government Relations team of Nicole Crain, Rachel Geilenfeld, and Zach Dalluge are particularly valuable. You can get news AS IT IS HAPPENING directly from the floor of the General Assembly or from a committee room. Nicole, by the way, was ranked as one of Iowa's top tweeters for business news by the Des Moines Register.
If you are already familiar with Twitter, follow Nicole, Rachel, Zach, Emily Schettler, Kay Neumann-Thomas, Mary Mendenhall-Core, Jessi Steward, and me. If you aren't a tweeter or need assistance, just reply to this email and we'll get you set up.
Nominate Students for Leadership Iowa University, Too
In recent editions of this memorandum, I have been reminding you that this is the time of year to make nominations for two important ABI Foundation programs. Let me also call for your nominations for Leadership Iowa University.
Leadership Iowa University is the newest ABI Foundation program and it recently completed another very successful year. LIU provides Iowa college students (public or private colleges, community colleges, etc.) with programming related to opportunities for them in Iowa and how they can plan for their future right here in Iowa.
LIU – and Leadership Iowa and Business Horizons – all need your nominations. It’s easy to nominate and you can do so by going to http://www.iowaabifoundation.org/ and clicking on the program links. Thank you in advance for nominating participants for each of these three important programs.
ABI Members Can Golf at Two Fantastic Courses in the Weeks Ahead; Conference Outing June 12; Executive Open August 31
You'll have the opportunity to play two of Iowa's great private golf courses in the coming months. TPC at Deere Run is one of the nation's very best golf courses and is a stop on the PGA Tour each year. Not everyone can play there... but you can! Deere Run is the site of the ABI Conference Golf Outing on June 12.
You will also have the opportunity to play the gorgeous Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines, one of Iowa's most exclusive private golf clubs. This fall, the association will host the seventh annual Executive Open at the club. A huge crowd is expected for the event, which routinely sells-out. Please mark your calendars for August 31 and make plans to join your ABI colleagues for a terrific time.
Quad Cities Venues for 2015 Iowa Taking Care of Business Conference are Spectacular
Every year at this time, I admit to being given to a bit of hyperbole when describing things related to the annual conference. In my own defense, however, every year I am right.
ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly), members of the conference planning committee, chaired by Michele Farrell (measured Intentions, Urbandale), and several of us on staff have made many visits to the Quad Cities and you will be amazed at the venues to be experienced there. The area is simply beautiful.
From the new Waterfront convention complex, to the great hotels, to the great restaurants, and to sites all over the region, you will be enchanted. Use the link noted previously and register now for the annual conference.
Nominate Students for Elevate Scholarships
Applications are due April 15 for the first-ever Elevate Advanced Manufacturing scholarships. Elevate Iowa is offering 15 Scholarships ($500 each) to Iowa high school seniors interested in studying a manufacturing-related career at one of Iowa's Community Colleges. One award will be made per college region.
Scholarship recipients will participate in a check-presentation event at their chosen community college and will be recognized at Iowa's Advanced Manufacturing Conference on September 30, 2015. Applications are due April 15th. Please spread the word to your contacts in the educational community, employees with high school students, and others.
Here is the direct link to the application: http://www.elevateiowa.com/about/elevate-scholarship-program. Nominate students today.
Rick Tollakson to be CRE Forum Panelist
ABI Board Member Rick Tollakson (Hubbell Realty Company, West Des Moines) has led his company to a leading position in commercial real estate, development, and construction. He is a frequent speaker at events focused on those industries.
Rick will be sharing his expertise again as a panelist at the annual Des Moines Business Record Commercial Real Estate Trends and Issues Forum. The 2015 forum will be held April 22 in Johnston. Congratulations to Rick and we look forward to hearing his comments. Go to www.businessrecord.com/cretrends for more information and to register.
Denise Essman Celebrates
Former ABI Board Member Denise Essman (Essman Companies, Des Moines) is celebrating her birthday tomorrow. ABI sends happy birthday wishes to Denise!