Board to Meet; Chair Issues YP Challenge - Monday Memo 5/16/16

May 16, 2016

Board to Meet on June 14 in Sioux City; Paul Gregoire Issues Challenge by Video

ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) announced that the association's board of directors will meet in advance of the annual conference in Sioux City.  The board will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 14, at the Sioux City Convention Center.  

The meeting will be brief, but it will provide an opportunity for a year-end review of ABI programs and initiatives.  And, the annual conference immediately follows the board meeting, kicking off at 11:00 a.m. with remarks by Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds and the annual Iowa Job Honor Awards presentation.  I hope that all board members can attend the June board meeting and the annual conference.  

Speaking of the annual conference, Paul has issued a YP challenge to all ABI members and to all young professionals in our state.  You can watch a short video by Paul and find more information by clicking on this link: http://www.iowaabi.org/news/blog/yp-challenge-bring-your-young-professionals-to-conference/.  This conference is shaping up to be ABI's biggest and best annual convention ever; I hope you will act on Paul's challenge and be a part of this very special event! 

ABI Regional Policy Meetings Kick Off this Week in Waterloo, Des Moines

Each year, following adjournment of the annual session of the Iowa General Assembly, the ABI public policy staff heads-out on the road to meet with association members all over Iowa.  These regional meetings focus on information about the actions of the General Assembly in the session just completed, on the latest news about the upcoming elections, and on gaining your counsel about ABI policies for the next year.  ABI will be traveling the state throughout the month to meet with members about these topics. 

The first of the regional meetings will be held tomorrow at the TechWorks Campus in Waterloo.  if you haven't already done so and you are in the area, please register for this free meeting now at https://www.iowaabi.org/events/.  Use that site to register for the other regional meetings as well, such as the one to be held at ABI in Des Moines on Thursday. 

Speaking of tomorrow's meeting, thank you to ABI Board Member Steve Dust (Greater Cedar valley Alliance & Chamber, Waterloo) for hosting ABI in Waterloo.  And on behalf of ABI Senior Vice President Public Policy Nicole Crain, Director Public Policy Jessica Harder, and Public Policy Counsel Myron Linn, we look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming meetings. 

ABI Annual Conference Starts Four Weeks from Tomorrow; Hotels Sold-Out!

ABI’s 113th annual meeting kicks off four weeks from tomorrow.  All the indicators point to a terrific annual convention, with registrations continuing to run at a record pace.  The convention will be held June14-16. 

You can check out the terrific convention program and you can register NOW by going to www.iowaabi.org.  On behalf of the conference committee and our ABI officers, I look forward to seeing you at the 2016 Taking Care of Business Conference, for the first time in 10 years being held in Greater Sioux City. 

By the way, when you register for the conference, don't forget to make your lodging reservations.  All three of the official conference hotels have been sold-out (this is the earliest this has ever happened, so we are expecting a big crowd),  but plenty of other great options remain.  Find more information about another great lodging option at the link mentioned above. 

Discussing the conference provides an opportunity to again thank the conference planning committee, chaired by Kim Didier (DMACC, Ankeny) and ABI staff members Member Programs Director Holly Mueggenberg, Vice President Member Development and Programs Kathy Anderson, Membership Coordinator Dorothy Knowles, Communications Coordinator Emily Schettler, Bookkeeper Chrissy Viers, and Administrative Assistant Michelle Vollstedt. 

Nominating Committee Meets; Board Slate Being Finalized

ABI Nominating Committee Chair (and Immediate Past ABI Chair) Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) and members of the committee met by teleconference a week ago today.  The committee developed a full slate of nominations for the annual convention.  Contact is now being made with the nominees. 

In addition to Mark, committee members include ABI Board Members John Riches (Alcoa, Davenport), Sarah McDonald Hasken (UnityPoint Health, Dubuque), Michael Sadler (CenturyLink, Des Moines), Alan Mores (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan), and David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner).  The committee will complete its work in the next couple of weeks and a full report will be a part of next month's annual business meeting. 

Foundation's LIU Board and Committee Meet, BH Board to Meet This Week

In ABI Foundation-related news, several of the Foundation's program panels are holding meetings.  The LIU Board of Trustees and Curriculum Committee both met last week. 

The Foundation's Business Horizons Board of Directors will meet tomorrow in Des Moines.  The group is putting final touches on the 2016 Session of BH, which will take place in July at Central College in Pella.  

In the meantime, special thanks go to the ABI Foundation staff.  Thank you to Vice President Foundation Programs Kay Neumann-Thomas, Marketing and Programs Coordinator Jessi Steward, and Administrative Assistant Jane Galloway. 

Search Nears End

Speaking of the ABI Foundation, the search for a new Foundation Development Director is nearing a successful conclusion.  Two finalists have been identified and we anticipate an offer being made before the week is out.  Hopefully, next week's Monday Memo will include news of a new staff member. 

ABI Board Members Invited to Iowa STEM Conference

Members of the ABI Board of Directors have been invited to participate in the annual Iowa STEM conference, this year called the Iowa STEM School+Business Innovations Conference.  The event will be held June 29 in Des Moines. 

This FREE conference will highlight best practices created to STEM and provide attendees with information to help build partnerships to advance STEM education in Iowa.  For more information, go to http://www.iowastem.gov/school-business-conference

Register Carries Essay about Business Horizons

Yesterday's edition of the Des Moines Register carried a nice essay about the ABI Foundation's Business Horizons program.  The essay focused on the journalism track that is a part of BH, but it was great coverage in any event.  Read it for yourself here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/05/03/summer-camp-des-moines-register-business-horizons-future-journalists/83868462/

John Krogman Elected Chair of IWD Board

You know that ABI works closely with state agencies that impact business.  One of the most important of these is Iowa Workforce Development, the agency that handles employment matters for Iowa.  The State Workforce Development Board is administered by IWD. 

Longtime ABI Board Member John Krogman (Connect-A-Dock, Atlantic) was appointed by Governor Terry Branstad and confirmed by the Iowa Senate as a member of the WD Board last year.  At a meeting Thursday in Des Moines, John was elected Chairman of the board.  That is terrific news for our state and for the board.  Congratulations, John!

Iowa Newspaper Foundation Announces 7th Mores Newspaper Leadership Institute Class

As you have read in previous editions of this memorandum, the Iowa Newspaper Foundation some years ago created the Leo Mores Newspaper Leadership institute.  The Institute helps develop leaders in the newspaper industry and promotes and advances the industry professionally.  It was made possible by a significant endowment provided by ABI Board Member Alan Mores (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan) and his brother Steve Mores (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan).  The Institute is named in honor of their father, Leo Mores, a longtime community and industry leader and publisher. 

The INF last week announced the nine members of the seventh anniversary class of the Institute.  Congratulations to them, and thank you to Alan and Steve for their leadership! 

Emerson '12 Lifesaving Behaviors' Available to ABI Members

Many of you are still taking about the great meeting of the ABI Board of Directors held earlier this month at Emerson/Fisher in Marshalltown.  ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) added two things to the beginning of the agenda that struck a chord with a great many of you. 

First, Paul began the meeting with a "Safety Minute," something Emerson does at the beginning of every meeting.  Second, Paul asked his boss, company CEO Terry Buzbee (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) to address the board and Terry's comments were very well-received. 

Regarding the safety information, Paul's comments were taken from a program of '12 Lifesaving behaviors' promoted by Emerson.  Because he received some follow-up requests for more information, Paul is making the entire Lifesaving Behaviors program available to all ABI members.  If you would like to receive this information free of charge, simply reply to this memorandum and I will send it to you at once.  In the meantime, thank you to Paul for making this high-value information available!