April Executive Committee Meeting Wednesday - Monday Memo 4/2/18
April 2, 2018
April Executive Committee Teleconference Wednesday; Board to Meet May 2 in Garner, Dinner in Clear Lake Night Before on May 1
ABI Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) and members of the association’s Executive Committee will hold their regularly-scheduled April meeting by teleconference this Wednesday afternoon. The committee will work through the usual reports and metrics.
These and other issues will also be on the agenda for the next meeting of the ABI Board of Directors. The board will meet next month, on Wednesday, May 2. Your participation in this meeting is essential in order for the association to take action on many important items. It will be the final meeting of the board prior to the 2018 annual conference.
The May board meeting will be held at the Garner Golf Club in Garner. For those of you coming to town the night before then, you will be able to access the meeting hotel on the meeting registration site, which will be available very soon.
The board meeting will begin at noon on the 2nd and lunch will be served. The night before, on May 1st, those members in the area are invited to join ABI for dinner. We'll dine at the renowned Surf District Grill in Clear Lake. Detailed information will be included in the board packet that you will receive about a week in advance of the meeting.
On behalf of Dave and our other officers, I look forward to seeing you in Garner in May.
Still Time to Register, Attend Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference
There is still time for your environmental and compliance staff members to register and attend the Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference. The conference will be held next week, on April 11-12. The conference location is the Kansas City Convention Center in downtown Kansas City. While ABI receives financial support for every Iowa participant that registers for the conference, the real reason to attend is for the high-value program. Find out more information and register by clicking on http://mecconference.com/.
IEDA Internship Program Again Available in 2019
Many ABI member companies have utilized the Iowa Student Internship Program to get students into their facilities in the summer. The program provides grants to small and medium-sized companies in advanced manufacturing, biosciences, and the IT field. The goal is to provide financial support to companies to hire interns with the idea that the internship will lead to full-time employment.
For 2018, the program is full. 2019 openings may be reserved after July 1. The program is administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information, click on: http://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/workforcetraining/student.
NE Iowa Elevate Ambassador Training Next Week
Hawkeye Community College is hosting an Elevate Ambassador training session at its Waterloo campus. The training will be held next week, on Wednesday, April 11th from half-past noon until 3:30 p.m. ABI members in the area will want to participate in this training. Please RSVP by replying to this message and I will make sure you receive more information and are registered for the event.
Work Continues for Terrific 2018 Convention; Hundreds of Attendees Already Registered
ABI’s 115th Annual Convention will be held in Iowa City-Coralville in two months. The convention, the 2018 Taking Care of Business Conference, will be held June 5-7.
Registrations are pouring in, with over 200 people already registered. You will want to finalize your plans now to join your ABI colleagues in June. Go to the association’s website at www.iowaabi.org and click on the front page link to the convention website. You’ll find more information and you can register right now.
As you read in last week's memo, there are some absolutely terrific speakers and venues in store for conference attendees that make the 2018 ABI Convention a must-see event. Again, register and make your lodging reservations now. See you in Coralville on June 5!
ABI to Host Productivity Workshop
Later this month, ABI will host well-known time management expert Randy Dean for a seminar on productivity and making the most of your time. Please click here: http://www.cvent.com/events/from-distracted-to-productive-finding-your-productivity-and-focus-in-a-hyper-interrupted-world/event-summary-8bfd469e9800433790351398313df1ed.aspx to find more information or to register.
This high value 90-minute seminar has received rave reviews. It will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 on the afternoon of April 25 at ABI in Des Moines. See you there.
Next Issue of Business Record Iowa Out Soon
Next week and in partnership with the Des Moines Business Record, ABI will publish the next edition of Business Record Iowa. This newsprint publication reaches about 7,500 Iowa business leaders each month.
Many of you have taken the time to comment on this new ABI publication and shared favorable comments and positive ideas for making it even better. The publication has a greatly expanded reach and greatly increased publication schedule when compared to former ABI magazines. Look for it to come to your mailbox inside the Des Moines Business Record.
Leadership Iowa Class Meets This Week
Members of the 2017-2018 Leadership Iowa class will convene in Hampton and Franklin County this week. The class will meet Thursday and Friday (some will convene on Wednesday) for a session that focuses on agriculture and renewable energy.
A stop at longtime ABI member Sukup Manufacturing Co. is just one of the highlights of the session, and another is an appearance by former ABI Chair Charles Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Co., Sheffield). Look for a full report on the status of LI and other ABI Foundation programs at the next meeting of the ABI Board of Directors.
NAM Monday Economic Report Notes Stabilizing Manufacturing Economy
For the second week in a row, last Monday's edition of the National Association of Manufacturers' Monday Economic Report carried a lead story about the manufacturing economy stabilizing and growing. Reply to this email if you wish to read the report; I'll get it to you at once.
Zrostlik, Others Featured in Today’s Wall Street Journal
The front page of today’s Wall Street Journal carries a story focused on the Iowa workforce situation. ABI Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) and others are featured prominently in the article. It is a strong read.
If you can’t find copy of the article and wish to read it, please reply to this memo. In the meantime, congratulations and thank you to all involved for continuing to highlight this important issue.
Kaplan University is Now Purdue University Global
ABI member Kaplan University has been a great partner for Iowa businesses and students. Earlier this year, Purdue University acquired Kaplan and created a new public, nonprofit institution called Purdue University Global. As part of the Purdue University system, Kaplan is proud to deliver a world-class education online that is tailored for adults. With five campus locations in Iowa, Purdue University Global is positioned to continue to serve Iowans state-wide.
ABI members are used to seeing Kacy Webster (Purdue University Global Iowa Campuses, West Des Moines) at association events and forums. Kacy and her team are continuing to partner with other ABI member businesses to help them address their workforce education gaps and assist their employees with earning a Purdue Global degree. For more information on this exciting news, go to https://www.purduenewu.org/.
Schaefer-Weaton, Jones Featured in Business Record; Lori to Celebrate Birthday
Two leaders who are active in ABI are featured in this week’s edition of the Des Moines Business Record. Immediate Past ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield), 2017 ABI Conference Committee Chair Amy Jones (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield), and a colleague are featured in a special section focused on women business leaders. Congratulations to these great leaders!
In other news involving Lori, she is celebrating her birthday this week, on Friday. Best happy birthday wishes to Lori!
CIPCO Holds Great Annual Meeting
ABI member company Central Iowa Power Cooperative held its 71st Annual Meeting at the Meadows Events Center in Altoona last week. A great crowd was on hand. The meeting was a huge success and marked the first annual meeting under the leadership of CIPCO’s new CEO, Bill Cherrier (CIPCO, Des Moines).
The keynote speaker at the meeting was Dr. Rick Rigsby (https://www.rickrigsby.com/) and he received a standing ovation upon completion of his remarks. His guiding principles in life and business were these: 1) Don’t judge, 2) Arrive early, 3) Be kind, 4) Be a servant, and 5) Commit to excellence. The meeting was rounded out by comments from ABI Board Member Rand Fisher (Iowa Area Development Group, Des Moines); remarks from Rand are a tradition at the meeting. Congratulations all around!
Rick Tollakson Honored
Longtime ABI Board Member Rick Tollakson (Hubbell Realty Company, West Des Moines) has been named the winner of the National Planning Excellence Award for a Planning Advocate by the American Planning Association. Rick was honored in recognition of his work to improve central Iowa waterways and for his leadership of a committee that developed the Greater Des Moines Water Trials and Greenways Master Plan. Congratulations, Rick!
Fred Lisle Passes
It is with regret that I share news of the passing of a well-known SW Iowa and ABI leader. Fred Lisle (Lisle Corporation, Clarinda) passed away last week after an illness. Fred was just 57. He was involved in many boards and organizations both in Clarinda and elsewhere and was a longtime trustee of Iowa Western Community College. You can read more about Fred here: http://www.ritchiefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Fred-Lisle?obId=3043993#/obituaryInfo.
Fred was a cousin of two other ABI leaders, ABI Executive Committee Member Mary Landhuis (Lisle Corporation, Clarinda) and former ABI Board Member John Lisle (Lisle Corporation, Clarinda). Our thoughts and prayers are with Fred’s family and the entire extended Lisle Family.