Big Week for ABI - Monday Memo 1/13/20
January 13, 2020
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 a crowd of over 500 people is expected for the annual ABI Legislative Reception.
The 2020 edition of the briefing/reception and other ABI events take place Wednesday, January 15. 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.
Second Episode of New ABI-Supported Iowa Business Report Aired
There has been a strong positive response to the Iowa Business Report radio show. People all over Iowa have told us they have heard it and liked it. The show, with support from ABI, is broadcast on 22 radio stations throughout the state.
ABI is grateful to Jeff Stein, a well-known (and award-winning) Iowa radio executive, who produces the shows. Each episode includes business news, company profiles, and other features. The second episode includes interesting interviews with ABI staff members Nicole Crain and JD Davis, an interview with Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, and a great interview with former ABI Chair Bob Wersen (Interpower Corporation, Oskaloosa).
If you didn’t yet hear it on your local station, click here to listen for yourself: http://iowabusinessreport.buzzsprout.com/. Simply scroll down to click on the latest episode. Links can also be found on the ABI website at https://www.iowaabi.org/news/iowa-business-report/.
ABI Board Will Meet Wednesday
Prior to Wednesday’s briefing and reception, the ABI Board of Directors will hold its first meeting of 2020. The board will meet at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. ABI Chair Cindy Dietz (Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids) will lead the board through a fast-paced meeting. Strong attendance is expected.
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 2020 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.
Latest Business Record Iowa Out; Iowa House Leaders Featured on Cover
As you know, over five years ago, ABI partnered with the Des Moines Business Record to publish the brand new Business Record Iowa magazine. This newsprint magazine is published monthly (as opposed to six times per year for the previous ABI publication) and is distributed statewide to about four times the audience.
We hear more and more frequently from members that they find value in BRIowa and that's good. If you have questions or need additional copies, please contact me. And if you have story ideas, we are always interested in those, too.
In the meantime, congratulations and thank you to this month's BRIowa cover stars, Iowa Speaker of the House (select) Pat Grassley and House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl. If you didn’t receive your copy of BRIowa, reply to this memo and we’ll get you one right away.
First ABI Legislative Teleconference of 2020 on the 31st
ABI's Public Policy team will again hold monthly teleconferences related to the work of the Iowa General Assembly. The first call of the 2020 session will be held Friday, January 31 at 8:00 a.m.
Members have told us they appreciate these calls, which offer the very latest in news from the Statehouse. As I noted in last week's memo, the calls typically last about 30 minutes and you and your employees are invited to participate. Please click here for more information about the call, free and open to ABI members only: Register now at https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/179-abi-members-only-legislative-conference-calls/.
Conference Committee to Meet
ABI's 117th Annual Meeting, Iowa's Taking Care of Business Conference 2020, will be held June 9-11 in Cedar Rapids. There will be many highlights to the conference, including terrific speakers and exciting venues. Another highlight is golf at the gorgeous Elmcrest Country Club http://www.elmcrestcountryclub.com/. The club is well-known for its relationship with PGA pro and Masters Champion Zach Johnson.
The committee planning this fantastic conference will meet tomorrow at ABI. Watch for more information soon.
ABI events have been breaking attendance records for the past several years, with each drawing a larger number than the previous events of the same kind. On behalf of ABI Chair Cindy Dietz (Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids), please consider this your personal invitation to attend the ABI Conference. We'll see you in Cedar Rapids in June.
Leadership Iowa Class Will Meet; LI Dinner Wednesday
At 37 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: http://www.cvent.com/events/leadership-iowa-alumni-society-dinner-celebration/event-summary-de87cf1602f7429caec068f2f3819a85.aspx.
And, the current LI class will hold its January session this Wednesday – Friday. A full and varied agenda is on tap for the class. It will focus on government and will end with an exciting National Guard experience.
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)!
UEA Unveils New Website
Longtime ABI member United Equipment Accessories is a national leader in the slip ring and cable union industry. Just last week, UEA unveiled a brand new website that will make it easier for customers and the public to access their innovative products and solutions. Check out the new website here: https://www.uea-inc.com/. Meanwhile, congratulations to everyone at UEA for the cool new site, including company President and former ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly)!