Board Holds Great Meeting - Monday Memo 5/17/21

May 17, 2021

ABI Board Holds Terrific May Meeting

ABI Chair Steven Bradford (HNI Corporation, Muscatine) and the women and men of the ABI Board of Directors held a fabulous May meeting last Thursday.  The meeting served as the final gathering of the board in advance of next month’s 118th ABI Annual Conference (the 2021 Taking Care of Business Conference). 

The meeting was marked by strong participation and by opening remarks by Sara Craig, Chief of Staff to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.  Sara provided the latest numbers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccinations, and related matters.  The board expressed its appreciation to Sara for her leadership in helping Iowans get vaccinated. 

As always, a highlight of the meeting was the business updates that members shared regarding the state of their business.  ABI members are roaring back and are optimistic about the future.  Board members did cite two concerns, however.  The perennial concern about workforce was one and supply chain was the other.  Issues involving scarcity, quality, and price dominated the discussion related to supply chain.  Thank you to all who participated last week and we look forward to seeing you at the annual conference. 

2021 Taking Care of Business Conference Four Weeks Away

ABI’s annual Taking Care of Business Conference will be held in Coralville/Iowa City just four weeks from tomorrow.  A huge crowd (with health and safety protocols in place), world-class speakers, gorgeous brand new venues, fabulous food, great golf, a fantastic ABI Foundation Auction, and the very best business networking in Iowa will all be a part of this terrific event. 

There are still spots left.  Register NOW by clicking on https://web.cvent.com/event/18a9fddc-ffbe-43b5-8d37-7ce44f411fd1/summary.  This will be a spectacular event – don’t miss it! 

ABI a Part of IPBS’ Iowa Press Program

It was my pleasure to represent ABI as a part of the Iowa Press program, produced weekly by the Iowa Public Broadcasting System.  The program aired Friday and Sunday on IPBS.  

The focus of the show was how Iowa businesses are faring coming out of the pandemic.  Watch the show here: https://www.iowapbs.org/iowapress.   It was a wonderful opportunity to talk about all the ways ABI members helped their employees and their communities throughout the pandemic.  And about how you are now leading the way to recovery; THANK YOU for all you are doing. 

Latest Edition of Business Record Iowa Now Out

Each month, in partnership with the Des Moines Business Record, ABI publishes Business Record Iowa.  This newsprint publication reaches about 7,500 Iowa business leaders all across the state.  

The May edition, featuring ABI member John Pugh (Exec1 Aviation, Des Moines) on the cover of the magazine, should now be in your mailbox, inside the Des Moines Business Record.  If you haven't yet received it, please let me know and another copy will be sent to you at once.  

Business Horizons Board to Meet

The board of directors for one of the ABI Foundation’s flagship programs, Business Horizons, will meet this week.  The BH Board will convene Wednesday to continue planning for the program’s 2021 session.  BH 2021 will be held on the campus of Central College in Pella this summer.  Go here for more information about BH: https://www.iowaabi.org/business-horizons/.  Thank you to the members of the board for their leadership. 

NAM Report Documents Divergent Manufacturing News

Last week’s edition of the Global Manufacturing Economic Update published by the National Association of Manufacturers is an interesting one.  It includes several data points that document just how strongly global manufacturing is rebounding from a slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in fact, the report says that manufacturing is “roaring back.” 

At the same, several other data points confirm greatly increased costs and supply chain issues that are negatively impacting manufacturing.  The report seemed to confirm what members shared during last Thursday’s ABI board meeting.  As always, if you wish to see the report for yourself, reply to this memo and I’ll get it to you at once.  

Dave Zrostlik Celebrates

I did it again; I missed the birthday of an ABI leader, as Saturday was a special day for a past ABI Chair.  Former Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) marked his birthday then.  Hope it was a great one, Dave; happy belated birthday wishes from ABI! 

Diamond Vogel Continues Expansion

The Vogel Paint Company is an iconic Iowa company.  Its Diamond Vogel brand is perhaps even more iconic (if that is possible).  All the company does is make great products, employ great people, and grow. 

There is even more growth ahead.  The company announced that it will start this summer building the next phase of a $24 million expansion of tis Orange City campus.  The project will include construction of an innovation center to house its legendary research and development functions.  Read more about this terrific expansion here: https://www.radioiowa.com/2021/05/14/diamond-vogel-to-start-next-phase-of-24-million-expansion-in-orange-city/.  Congratulations to everybody at Vogel Paint, including company Chairman and ABI Board Member Drew Vogel (Vogel Paint Company, Orange City)

Mores Family Has Lots to Celebrate

It was great to hear from ABI Board Member Alan Mores (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan) recently.  There is a lot happening in the Mores Family! 

Son Jackson Mores followed up his University of Kansas Master’s in Public Health degree with a doctorate in Physical therapy, passed the national physical therapy board exams, and will now be joining a Greater Overland Park PT clinic.  Jackson’s wife, Kaitlyn Mores, passed her professional engineering licensure exam and is completing work on a Master’s degree.  She is a civil engineer. 

Daughter Chandler Mores earned a JD from the University Of Iowa College of Law Friday.  She was the Senior Managing Editor for the Iowa Law Review, had an article published in the Law Review in January, and has accepted a position as an associate attorney with a firm in Palo Alto.  Wow!  Congratulations all around!