BH 2021 Now Underway - Monday Memo 7/19/21
July 19, 2021
Annual ABIF Business Horizons Program NOW UNDERWAY at Central College
After taking last year off due to COVID, Business Horizons, the ABI Foundation’s annual entrepreneurism experience for high school students, kicked off yesterday at Central College in Pella. Members of the class, which numbers about 65 students, will graduate in a special ceremony to be held this Thursday, July 22.
If you have never seen this program, find time to stop by Central this week. The students are wonderful and have high energy, creativity, and incredible enthusiasm. At the end of the week, students have learned that they have terrific opportunities for a great career right here in Iowa.
Thank you to those of you who have provided help for this popular annual program. Your employees, whether they serve as industry advisors or in other roles, are critical to the longtime success of this important program. Look for a full report on this year’s BH session at the September meeting of the ABI Board of Directors.
Leadership Iowa University to Begin in Three Weeks; Applications Close Friday
Speaking of ABI Foundation programs, another popular ABIF program takes place in a little less than three weeks. Starting on August 8, talented Iowa college students will assemble for the annual session of the Leadership Iowa University program. Students come from Iowa’s public universities, private colleges, and from community colleges and all will learn about our state and ways they can impact its future. LIU class programs have received rave remarks from students, college officials, ABI leaders, and others.
There is still plenty of time for students to apply for the program and potential participants should apply now at www.LeadershipIowaUniversity.com. Applications will be accepted until the program is filled. With any questions, contact Jessi McQuerry at jsteward@iowaabi.org.
Just as is the case with Business Horizons, great supporters and donors and terrific volunteers make LIU possible. Thank you to all involved.
ABI Okoboji CEO Forum July 29, 30
There is still time for you to register for the 2021 ABI Okoboji CEO Forum. Click here for more information and to register: https://web.cvent.com/event/1a704678-9c02-49b0-9bce-419f8f4ad66b/summary. The forum will be held the 29th and 30th of July in Okoboji. Thursday afternoon’s events take place at the Waterfront Events Center in Arnolds Park. On Friday morning, we’ll be at a terrific, longtime ABI member, Parks Marina, in Okoboji. Both locations are situated on beautiful East Lake Okoboji. The forum starts with lunch on Thursday and ends with the tour Friday morning.
Following lunch on Thursday, the well-known panel of ABI Advisory Council members Kevin Lentz (Anthologic, West Des Moines), Matt Fett (BCC Advisers, Des Moines), and Brian Crotty (HDH Advisors, Des Moines) will again present their very popular panel about business valuation. That panel will be followed by a fabulous panel of ABI member family business owners; Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly), Toby Shine (Shine Bros. Corporation, Spencer), Mindi VandenBosch (Vermeer Corporation, Pella), and Drew Vogel (Vogel Paint Company, Orange City). Keynote Speaker Dan Houston (Principal, Des Moines) will speak next. Friday morning, attendees will be addressed by Butch Parks (Park Marina, Okoboji) and then tour his marina. Butch is an iconic figure in the Lakes Region and is the owner of several businesses in the area. His talk about business and entrepreneurism is sure to be a hit.
As you can see, this is an exceptional program. Join ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) and his wife and business partner, former ABI Chair Sarah Hasken, and 60 other ABI leaders at the lakes later this month!
ABI Summer Intern Cami Schaefer Completes Work This Week
University of Missouri Senior-to-be Cami Schaefer, daughter/step-daughter of former ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield) and ABI leader Nate Weaton (Weaton Capital, Fairfield), joined the ABI team back in May as our summer intern. At Mizzou, Cami is majoring in marketing with a minor in economics.
Cami has been a truly wonderful addition to the ABI team. One neat thing about her service is that she has experience related to ABI and the ABI Foundation and has been a participant in Foundation programs. Cami worked hard, actually led the way with regard to some key projects, and did exceptional work while she has been with us. She is helping out with the annual Business Horizons program this week as her last task at ABI.
When she started, I noted that Cami is smart and personable. She both of those things. She is also a wonderful young women in all respects and she will be missed. Good luck, Cami, and thank you!
Policy Committee Meetings Start Next Month
With the holding of the final ABI Regional Policy Meeting in Ottumwa last week, the association’s policy development process moves to the next stage, the holding of the five policy committee meetings. The ABI Environment Committee will kick things off on August 9 and it will be keynoted by the Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Kayla Lyon.
Regarding each of the committees, well over 100 members have already registered for these important meetings. If you haven't already done so, there is still plenty of time for you and your employees to register. Simply go to https://www.iowaabi.org/events/ to register for the committee meetings of interest to you.
Thank you to ABI Vice Chair Kim Augspurger (Saxton, Des Moines), for leading this process. The ABI Board of Directors will act on the policy recommendations at the September board meeting.
Registration Now Open for TWO Executive Opens; Foursomes Adding Up Quickly
As I noted last week, registrations are pouring in for the ABI Executive Open, one of ABI's most popular annual events. So popular, in fact, that we have added a second golf event. Dozens of foursomes have already signed-up for the events, which will be held August 30 and September 27. Register now at Summary - Executive Open - Central (cvent.com) for the Des Moines event and register here for Summary - Executive Open - East (cvent.com) for the Cedar Rapids event.
If you like golf – or if you just like to have fun and network with your fellow ABI members, attend one or both of these events!
ABI's Elevate Program to Host Annual Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner
As you know, ABI's Elevate Advanced Manufacturing will be accepting nominations for the annual "Legends in Manufacturing Awards." Past Legends Dinners have been a huge success and a terrific celebration of Iowa manufacturing. Your help is needed to ensure that Iowa manufacturers are honored for their hard work and dedication. The nomination link on the Legends website will soon be available and look for a link in an upcoming Monday Memo. Then, please make your nominations (there is no charge to do so). In the meantime, a sincere thank you to ABI Board Member Michele Farrell (Measured Intentions, Urbandale), who leads the Elevate/Legends program!
Barnett, Schaefer-Weaton Honored by The Manufacturing Institute
Each year, The Manufacturing Institute honors women in manufacturing who have achieved success with their company and with the industry. Two leaders active in ABI were among those honored this year. Congratulations to 2021 STEP Ahead Award Winners Cindy Barnett (Arconic, Davenport) and Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield)! Check the entire list of honorees here (several ABI member company executives were honored): 2021 STEP Ahead Award Winners | The Manufacturing Institute. Finally, thank you to longtime ABI Board Member John Riches (Arconic, Davenport), who made sure I was aware of this news; much appreciated, John.
Three ABI Leaders Celebrate
Every year at this time, we note that several ABI leaders are celebrating birthdays. ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa), ABI Board member Kirk McCollough (Seneca Foundry, Webster City), and Former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Waukee) are all celebrating their birthdays this week. Happy birthday to Jack and to Kirk and Kirk!