Big Week at ABI - Monday Memo 10/1/18

October 1, 2018

Manufacturing Legends Dinner Tomorrow Night; Manufacturing Conference Wednesday

As you have read about in the last few editions of this memorandum, two of ABI’s most popular annual events will be held this week. Tomorrow evening, the annual Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner will be held at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona.  Then, on Wednesday and at the same location, the 2018 Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Conference will take place.   

You can still register (nearly 300 of you already have) for these important events at http://www.cvent.com/events/legends-in-manufacturing-awards-dinner-and-or-advanced-manufacturing-conference/event-summary-de211e47fb134bf5ad05f7564b050780.aspx.  If you wish to make a hotel reservation, go to: http://www.prairiemeadows.com/.  As I noted last week, these events have become a must-attend for ABI members in recent years and the awards dinner is always a fun celebration of Iowa manufacturing.  See you there. 

Celebrate Kay Neumann-Thomas Today, Will Join Foundation Part-Time in November

Also as you have been reading, last Friday was the final day at work for Vice President ABI Foundation Programs Kay Neumann-Thomas. Kay retired after wonderful career spanning 20 years at the ABI Foundation. 

Please consider this your personal invitation to help us celebrate Kay’s terrific career by joining us at a reception in her honor this afternoon. The reception will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 this afternoon at the AC Hotel in Des Moines’ East Village.  Park at no charge at ABI and walk to the hotel, which is only two blocks away. 

Food and beverage and much good will are all on tap for the reception. And, should you have a story you wish to share or a comment you wish to make to recognize Kay, there will be time for that during a brief program at about 4:45.  Please join us in honoring Kay and wishing her the best in the future. 

In other exciting news, Kay will be joining the ABI Foundation in a part-time role. Kay will begin working two days per week at the Foundation as of November 1.  She will focus on engaging alumni of Foundation programs and helping in other ways. 

Coady, Steward, Galloway Lead Foundation Staff Work

Here is more news involving the ABI Foundation. As of today, Becky Coady assumes a new role as Vice President, ABI Foundation.  Jessi Steward assumes her new role as Director, Foundation Programs.  Together with ABI Foundation Administrative Assistant Jane Galloway, these women (and a soon-to-be named Marketing Coordinator) will lead the ABI Foundation going forward. 

Jessi and Jane have been a part of the team for several years, while Becky joined in June. With this team and with Kay Neumann-Thomas providing part-time assistance, big things are in store for the Foundation!  In the meantime, thank you to those staff members and to the Foundation Board of Directors, chaired by former ABI Chair Bill Brown (BrownWinick, Des Moines).  The board held its regularly-scheduled meeting Friday in Des Moines. 

ABI Directory Updates Due Next Week

As you know, this is the time of year that ABI's member database is being updated.  Information from the database will be checked, formatted, and put in to hard copy form for inclusion in the 2019 ABI Resource Guide.  The guide, in addition to including member data, includes information on the association's people, programs, and events. 

If there are no changes in your personnel or company information, you need do nothing.  If you have updates, simply send an email to Dorothy Knowles at dknowles@iowaabi.org.  The deadline to receive updates is the end of next week (Friday, October 12).  Thank you in advance for helping us make sure your information is accurate. 

Leadership Iowa Class Convenes at Honey Creek Next Wednesday

The members of the 2018-2019 Leadership Iowa Class, the 37th LI class, will convene at Honey Creek resort and Conference center in southern Iowa next Wednesday.  As is the case every year, this class is comprised of terrific young leaders from all around Iowa. 

Class members will hold the first session, become acquainted with each other and the program, and focus on learning about issues facing Iowa.  Look for a full report at next month's ABI board meeting. 

There I Go Again: January Meeting at Convention Center

In last week’s Monday Memo, I erred in noting the location of the January meeting of the ABI Board of Directors (thank you ABI Member Programs Director Holly Mueggenberg for catching the error). On January 16, 2019, the board will convene at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.  This is the same location as the annual ABI Legislative Reception (our organization’s second-largest event of the year).  By meeting at the convention center, you will not need to change locations or move your car between events. 

As was correctly noted last week, the board will meet at ABI in November of this year and in March of 2019. In May of 2019, the board will meet in Iowa City, the hometown of ABI Chair David Bywater (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art) and former ABI Chair Bill Bywater (Bankers Advertising/Tru Art).  The 2019 ABI Taking Care of Business Conference will be held in Ames in June. 

Hartkopf Chosen for ISAE Leadership Program

As you read in last week’s association eNewsletter, ABI Public Policy Coordinator Brad Hartkopf has been selected as a member of the 2018-2019 Iowa Society of Association Executives leadership program. ISAE is a professional organization comprised of staff members of Iowa associations.  

Brad was selected for the program, which highlights up and coming leaders in the association profession, based on his service during his time at ABI. The ISAE program consists of a series of monthly classes that focus on several aspects of professional association management, such as membership revenue, policy and professional development, and more.  Congratulations to Brad for this well-deserved honor! 

NAM Report Documents Strength in Economy

Last Monday’s National Association of Manufacturers’ Monday Economic Report leads with a graph of the Dow Jones Industrial Average over the course of the past two years.  It is simply a steep, climbing line.  The Report then documents the rising strength in the manufacturing economy.  All in all, it is a fascinating piece.  Should you wish to read it for yourself, reply to this message and I’ll get it to you at once. 

Charles Sukup Inducted into National Academy of Engineering

You’ll recall that earlier this year, in a previous edition of the Monday Memo, it was announced that former ABI Chair Charles Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Co., Sheffield) would be inducted into the National Academy of Engineering. The induction Ceremony was held over the weekend in Washington, DC and it was great to see Charles being honored.  ABI once again sends congratulations and best wishes to Charles! 

Kirk Tyler is New ABA Chairman

As of today, the new Chair of the American Beverage Association is an Iowan. Former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines), who has long been an ABA officer, was elected Chair of the organization at the ABA annual meeting held earlier this year.  Learn more about ABA here: https://www.ameribev.org/.  

It is terrific to see another Iowa business leader become the leader of an industry’s national trade association. ABI sends congratulations and best wishes and to Kirk Tyler! 

Northwestern College Dedicates New Science Hall

Longtime ABI Board Member Drew Vogel (Vogel Paint Company, Orange City) is also a longtime member of the Board of Trustees of Northwestern College in Orange City.  The college last week celebrated and dedicated a terrific new addition, a new science hall.  You can read more about this news here: https://www.radioiowa.com/2018/09/28/northwestern-college-to-dedicate-new-science-hall/.  Drew shared that the new facility is quite impressive.  Congratulations to the college and to its students, faculty, and alumni (including Drew) on this terrific new addition! 

Elkhart Plastics Acquires Connect-A-Dock, Plastics Professionals

ABI member Owner Revolution announced last week that it has sold two of its subsidiaries, ABI members Connect-A-Dock and Plastics Professionals, to Elkhart Plastics in Elkhart, Indiana.  Both companies will continue to operate in Atlantic, Iowa. 

Plastics Professionals will become part of Elkhart Plastics, while Connect-A-Dock will remain a separately-branded company. Best wishes to everyone at the companies, including ABI Vice Chair John Krogman (Connect-A-Dock, Atlantic)

Birthday Wishes to Kim Augspurger, John Krogman, and Art Slusark

And speaking of John Krogman (Connect-A-Dock, Atlantic), he will celebrate his birthday this Saturday, October 6.  Also celebrating recently were ABI Board Members Kim Augspurger (Saxton, Des Moines) and Art Slusark (Meredith Corporation, Des Moines).  Happy birthday to Kim, John, and Art!