Board to Meet in March - Monday Memo 2/1/16

February 1, 2016

ABI Board to Meet March 15

ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) and members of the ABI Board of Directors will next meet on March 15th.  That day will see a full day of ABI meetings and events, as the annual ABI Day on the Hill program and other events will also take place then.  

More information will come your way soon, but please mark your calendars now to join your ABI colleagues in Des Moines on March 15.  In the meantime, the ABI Executive Committee will hold its regular February teleconference next week. 

Watch for LeanWise and MarketWise Events on ABI Webpage

Two of ABI's newest programs are the MarketWise and LeanWise series.  Each of these series of events provides a forum for like-minded business people to come together to gain valuable information about LEAN processes or marketing concepts.  The networking and best-practice sharing that occurs has been rated highly by ABI members. 

Some of you have asked me about these events. The last couple of weeks were busy for these programs and more events in the series will be coming in the future. Watch the ABI Events Page for more information or to register: http://www.iowaabi.org/events/.  

Register Now for Annual Business Day on the Hill on March 15

Each year, ABI members from across Iowa (and even from outside the state) converge on the Statehouse to discuss pro-jobs policies with their legislators.  The event has grown in popularity every year and based on early numbers, a record crowd will make the 2016 event even bigger than previous ones. 

The 2016 Day on the Hill will be held on Tuesday, March 15.  This year's event is again being called Business Day on the Hill, because members of the Iowa Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business will again join us.  By the way, the 15th is also the same day as the March meeting of the ABI Board of Directors, so you can conveniently attend both events. 

The Day on the Hill begins at the ABI office at 8:30 a.m. Following an update with the very latest news from the Iowa General Assembly, DOTH participants will head to the Capitol.  There, you'll visit with legislators and hear from leading state officials.  Then, it's a return to ABI for the annual Iowa Industry Political Action Committee Luncheon.  The board meeting will occur that afternoon. 

Back by popular demand is more time at the Statehouse.  You told us you wanted more time to visit with your legislators or conduct other business in the Capitol.  You'll have that this year.  Finalize your plans now to participate in Business Day on the Hill.  Register now at http://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/12-iowa-business-day-on-the-hill/.  See you in Des Moines on March 15 and in the meantime, thank you to ABI Senior Vice President Public Policy Nicole Crain, ABI Public Policy Counsel Myron Linn, ABI Director Public Policy Jessica Harder, ABI Member Programs Director Holly Mueggenberg, and ABI Executive Administrative Assistant Michelle Vollstedt for arranging the day's programs and events. Thank you too, to ABI Bookkeeper Chrissy Blake who handles finances. 

2016 ABI Conference Committee to Meet; Sioux City Visit Generates Media Coverage

The upcoming annual ABI Taking Care of Business Conference, which will be held in Sioux City June 14-16, is shaping up to be a fabulous event. if you haven't already done so, you really need to register now for this great meeting. 

A series of meetings and events, including a press conference at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, generated terrific media coverage last week. If you didn't watch it for yourself, let me know and I'll re-send last Thursday's ABI newsletter so you can access the links. 

Thank you to ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) and Conference Committee Chair Kim Didier (DMACC, Des Moines) who led our delegation to Siouxland last week. Thank you too, to ABI Vice President Member Development and Programs Kathy Anderson and ABI Communications Coordinator Emily Schettler, who arranged the day's events. 

Register NOW for the conference by clicking on this link: http://www.cvent.com/events/2016-annual-abi-conference/event-summary-9223d9ff385a486fabd62938fbfd74d2.aspx. You can also use that link to make your lodging reservations and to find more information about the program, about Sioux City, and about other conference matters. 

In the meantime and later this week, the conference committee in charge of planning this awesome convention will meet at ABI. Thank you to these ABI leaders for developing a fabulous program! 

Next ABI Connecting Statewide Leaders Forum in Grinnell in March

At the request of members and at the direction of the board of directors, ABI created the Connecting Statewide Leaders forums.  These series of high-value informational and networking events have been incredibly successful.  Events have been held all across Iowa and there are more to come. 

The next event in the series will be held March 3 in Grinnell.  A high-value panel, networking, and a luncheon will all be a part of the program, which will be held at the Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company.  Thank you to ABI Foundation Vice President Programs Kay Neumann-Thomas, Development Director Mary Mendenhall-Core, and Foundation Marketing, Programs Coordinator Jessi Steward, and ABI Foundation Administrative Assistant Jane Galloway for all their work with the LI class meeting that day and with the leaders forums. 

These programs are simply great ways to gain information and connect with your fellow ABI members, Leadership Iowa Class members, local business leaders, and others.  And we appreciate the reports we hear about sales/deals being made during these events, too. Find more information at the ABI events page at www.iowaabi.org. Registration will be available soon. 

Fred Buie, Other ABI Leaders Featured in Register Article

In last week's Memo, I mentioned an upcoming forum involving several ABI leaders, including former ABI Chair Frederick V. Buie (Keystone Electrical Manufacturing Company, Des Moines). The forum was held in Des Moines last week and was very well-received. 

Thursday's Des Moines Register carried a great story about the forum and Fred was prominently featured in it. Please click here to read it for yourself: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2016/01/27/ceos-national-debt-needs-controlled/79410602/. Congratulations to Fred for the great coverage! 

Alan Mores Featured in INA Newsletter

Longtime ABI Board Member Alan Mores (Harlan Newspapers, Harlan) is a leader in ABI and in his specific industry association, the Iowa Newspaper Association. In fact, Alan chairs the board of directors of the INA Services Company, a for-profit INA subsidiary. 

Last week's INA newsletter carried a nice feature by Alan. Should you wish to see it for yourself, please let me know and I'll get it to you at once. Congratulations to Alan! 

IADG Moves to New Office

The Iowa Area Development Group is a valued ABI member and partner. The organization last week completed a move to a beautiful new office in Des Moines. In fact, IADG is now located in the same building as another longtime ABI member, Central Iowa Power Cooperative. Congratulations to everyone at IADG, including President - and ABI board Member - Rand Fisher (IADG, Des Moines) and Board Chair -- and former ABI Chair -- Dennis Murdock (CIPCO, Des Moines)

Babies Were the Focus at ABI Last Friday

Last Friday was a special day at the ABI office as we celebrated two babies. First, ABI Director Public Policy Jessica Harder, her husband Steve Harder, son Vaughan Harder, and brand new daughter Faye Harder stopped by the office so we could all greet Faye. And she is a beautiful baby indeed! 

Then, at 2:17 Friday afternoon, Brynna Kay Sawhill, daughter of Erin and Jeff Sawhill, was born. The baby weighed 6.9 pounds and was 18.5 inches long. Erin is the daughter of ABI Foundation Development Director Mary Mendenhall-Core and Mary reports that baby and mom (and grandma) are all doing well. Congratulations, Mary and family!