Big Week for ABI - Monday Memo 1/10/22

January 10, 2022

Big Day of ABI Events Wednesday

A series of important ABI meetings and events are scheduled for the day after tomorrow in Des Moines.  The day will be capped by one of the association’s best-attended events of the year (second only to the annual conference), as hundreds of people will be on hand to participate in the annual ABI Legislative Reception.  

The 2022 edition of the briefing/reception and other ABI events take place Wednesday, January 12.  All of the events will be held at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.   

Because you attend, legislators and other state officials attend.  They want to meet you and learn about your business.  If you haven’t already registered, simply reply to this memo and I’ll make sure you are registered.  Thank you in advance for participating and see you Wednesday. 

ABI Board Will Meet Wednesday

Prior to Wednesday’s briefing and reception, the ABI Board of Directors will hold its first meeting of 2022.  The board will meet at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center.  ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) will lead the board through a fast-paced meeting.  Strong attendance is expected.  

General Assembly Convenes Today; First ABI Legislative Update of 2022 on the 21st

The Iowa General Assembly convenes today for its 2022 legislative session.  At the Capitol with legislators will be ABI Vice President Public Policy JD Davis and ABI Director Public Policy Brad Hartkopf.  JD and Brad are two of the very best public policy professionals in Iowa and you can count on them to well represent you every day and every hour the legislature is in session.  This session, JD and Brad will be joined by Steffi Lee, ABI’s Legislative and Communications Intern.  Steffi is completing the legislative internship as a part of her academic program at Drake University Law School. 

And, ABI's Public Policy team will again hold bi-weekly teleconferences related to the work of the General Assembly.  The first call of the 2022 session will be held Friday, January 22 at 8:00 a.m.  

Members have told us they appreciate these calls, which offer the very latest in news from the Statehouse.  Please click here for more information about the call, free and open to ABI members only: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/291-legislative-update-members-only/.  The calls typically last about 30 minutes and you and your employees are invited to participate.  

JD Davis to Represent ABI at Business Record Forum

ABI Vice President Public Policy JD Davis will represent the association at an upcoming legislative forum.  The forum, which will be hosted by the Business Record, will be held tomorrow.  JD and a panel of others will preview the 2022 session of the Iowa General Assembly and discuss other issues important to business.  

Click here to register for this free virtual event: 2022 Legislative Forecast Registration, Tue, Jan 11, 2022 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite.  Congratulations to JD for being selected for the panel and thank you for representing ABI members and Iowa business.

Annual Resource Guide Available Soon

The annual ABI Business Resource Guide and membership directory is being finalized and will be printed and available soon. 

Look for your 2022 directory to arrive in the near future.  In the meantime, thank you.  Your support in terms of people, resources, and ideas is what makes the guide (and ABI itself) possible.   

Conference Committee to Meet

ABI's 119th Annual Meeting, Iowa's Taking Care of Business Conference 2022, will be held June 14-16 in Dubuque.  There will be many highlights to the conference, including terrific speakers and exciting venues.  Another highlight is golf at the gorgeous Dubuque Golf and Country Club.  The club is well-known as one of Iowa’s most beautiful private clubs and YOU can play it as a part of your conference experience.  Check out the club here: https://www.dubuquegolf.org/.  

The committee planning this fantastic conference will meet tomorrow at ABI.  Watch for more information soon.  On behalf of ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) and his wife, former ABI Chair Sarah Hasken, please consider this your personal invitation to join them in their hometown and attend the ABI Conference.  We'll see you in Dubuque in June. 

Leadership Iowa Class Will Meet; LI Dinner Wednesday

At 40 years, the ABI Foundation's Leadership Iowa program is one of the nation's oldest statewide leadership development programs.  As you know, LI enjoys a strong base of alumni. 

Those alumni will meet this Wednesday evening for an LI Alumni Dinner in Des Moines. There is still time for you to register.  Do so here: Summary - Leadership Iowa Alumni Dinner & 40th Celebration (cvent.com)

 And, the current LI class will hold its January session this Wednesday – Friday.  A full and varied agenda is on tap for the class, which will focus on government 

LI NEXT Program Thursday

In addition to the events above, the LI program will host the latest in a series of alumni programs known as LI NEXT on January 12 and 13.  Tours, TEDx-type talks led by LI alums, and much more are on tap for this terrific event.  You can find more information here: Summary - LI NEXT (cvent.com).  A terrific lineup of speakers has been developed to ensure a compelling and informative program.  Don’t miss it! 

Secretary of State Seeks ABI Support for Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT)

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and his staff have invited ABI members to join him in participating in an organization known as Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking, or IBAT.  This brief video provides an overview of what IBAT is all about and more information will be presented at Wednesday’s meeting of the ABI Board of Directors. 

You are also invited to participate in a proclamation-signing ceremony (related to stopping human trafficking) with Secretary Pate and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.  That event will occur this coming Thursday at the Statehouse.  Please contact me if you would like more information. 

The Manufacturing Institute to Hold QC Event

The Manufacturing Institute (an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and a great ABI partner) will be holding a STEP Forward event in Davenport on February 10. The focus is on how to better recruit and retain female talent in the Quad Cities area. 

A panel of terrific area manufacturing leaders will be on tap to share best practice data and other information.  Click here for more information: STEP Forward: Where Do We Go From Here? | The Manufacturing Institute.  The event is sponsored by the Arconic Foundation

Pigott and Saxton Merge

There was big news involving longtime ABI member Saxton last week.  Saxton, of course, is one of Iowa’s leading office furniture companies (though that description doesn’t do the company justice). 

On December 30, another leading office furniture company, Pigott, acquired Saxton and the companies are moving forward together.  You can read more here: Pigott | Herman Miller Certified Dealer & DIRTT Partner (pigottnet.com) and click on the link to the press release. 

In the meantime, hearty congratulations to everyone involved, including Saxton President/Owner and ABI Vice Chair Kim Augspurger (Pigott, Des Moines)

Mary Landhuis, Nate Weaton Celebrate Birthdays

January is a busy time for ABI board members' birthdays.  In addition to board members already noted in previous editions of the Monday Memo, two more ABI leaders are also celebrating.  Happy birthday to board member Mary Landhuis (Lisle Corporation, Clarinda) and to former board member Nate Weaton (Weaton Capital, Fairfield)!  

ABI Earns Working Parents Designation

Best Place for Working Parents (https://bestplace4workingparents.com/) is a national organization created by businesses that seek to ensure family-friendly workforce policies in the workplace.  The group’s tagline is “A community of business leaders proving that family-friendly IS business-friendly. 

Last week, the organization announced the names of several companies and organizations that have earned “The Best Place for Working Parents” Business Designation.  These companies and organizations have done so based on their commitment to supporting working parents through family-friendly policies and practices.  ABI was among those organizations earning the coveted designation. 

While I am pleased that the ABI office earned this designation, it is really a testament to ABI members.  At ABI, we seek to mirror the policies and practices that have brought success to our members and their employees.  ABI members have long championed family-friendly policies as the right way to operate and we are simply following that lead.