Busy Summer at ABI - Monday Memo 8/12/24
August 12, 2024
Search Update
As was noted in last week’s memo, ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) and the members of the ABI Executive Committee have been diligently fulfilling their duties related to the search for a new ABI president. The application period opened a week ago and will remain open until midnight on Wednesday (August 14th). Applicants should use this link to apply: President - Palmer Group (thepalmergroup.com). Once the application period closes, The Palmer Group will send applicant information to the Executive Committee, who will select finalists for interviews. Watch for more news as it develops.
First ABI Board Meeting of Fiscal Year on September 11th
Finalize your plans now to join ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) and members of the ABI Board of Directors for the September board meeting. The board will meet in Des Moines at the Wakonda Club (https://www.wakondaclub.com/) on September 11th. As usual, more detailed information will be sent to all board members and former chairs a week prior to the meeting.
A leading item of discussion will be the latest regarding the search for a new ABI president. The Executive Committee is serving as the search committee and members have been diligent in their attention to this work. I have been asked to remind members who comprises the Executive Committee. Per the ABI Bylaws, the Executive Committee is comprised of the five association officers and regional representatives from the five ABI Iowa districts. Current committee members can be found here: Board of Directors | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org).
Additional highlights of the meeting will include welcoming newly-elected board members to their first meeting, adoption of 2024 ABI public policy positions, and other items. As for new board members, they are: Kathy Evert (Signarama, Ankeny), Brad Henningsen (Henningsen Construction, Atlantic), Ed McGreen (Kreg Tool Company, Ankeny), Bethany Pautsch (Tyson Foods, Storm Lake), Chad Rubner (Express Logistics, Urbandale), and Andrew St. John (CIPCO, Des Moines). The honorary Leadership Iowa board representative this year is Chris LaFerla (Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, Council Bluffs). Be sure to join your ABI colleagues, meet these new directors, and participate in this important meeting.
As I noted in last week’s Memo, the September board meeting is typically well-attended and many of you have told me you already have this meeting on your calendar. On behalf of Chad and our other officers, I look forward to seeing you on September 11th.
Remember to Call on ABI Advisory Council for Assistance
Members of the ABI Advisory Council (https://www.iowaabi.org/membership/advisory-council/) can be a great resource for you and your business. ABI is grateful for the leadership and support council members provide the association. Thank you to ABI Advisory Council members Anthologic, AssuredPartners, Bankers Trust, BCC Advisers, BrownWinick, CLA, EideBailley, EMC, Fredrikson, G&A Partners, HDH Advisors, Principal Financial Network of Central Iowa, The Iowa Clinic, Wellmark, and Wells Fargo.
Annual ABI Executive Open in Two Weeks
Some years ago, ABI created an event to provide an opportunity for members (and prospective members) to have fun and network with each other. It was a huge success, with members saying they greatly appreciated the informal, relaxed nature of the event.
The event has become part of ABI’s yearly schedule and the 2024 edition of the annual ABI Executive Open Best Ball Event will be held two weeks from today, on Monday, August 26th. This year's Open will be again played at one of Iowa's most beautiful private clubs, Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines. You can register for the event at Summary - Executive Open (cvent.com). Over a hundred members have already registered. Don't miss this chance to join your ABI colleagues for a great event.
Policy Meetings Continue; Strong Participation Marks Meetings
Two of the ABI policy committees have held their annual meetings; three more committee meetings remain to be held this week and next.
Last Tuesday, ABI Member James Machamer (Neumann Brothers, Des Moines) chaired the annual meeting of the ABI Workplace and Product Safety Committee. Wednesday of last week, the ABI Environment Committee, chaired by longtime member company executive Kelly Jorgensen (ACP/Ag processing, Muscatine), met. Tomorrow and Wednesday, the ABI Employment and Workforce Committee, chaired by ABI Board Member Stacey Pellett (John Deere, Urbandale), and the ABI Economic Growth Committee, chaired by ABI Board Member Kelly Barrick (CIBC, West Des Moines), will meet. Then, on August 20th, policy meetings conclude with the ABI Tax Committee meeting, which will be chaired by ABI member company executive Ryan Loecher (EFCO, Des Moines).
Literally hundreds of ABI members from all across Iowa and beyond are participating in the 2024 series of meetings. The process next shifts to the ABI Legislative Committee and then will be complete with the meeting of the ABI Board of Directors on September 11th. On behalf of ABI Vice Chair Kellan Longenecker (General Mills, Carlisle), who this year leads this process for ABI, thank you for your participation in this important work.
Kendall Antle to Leave ABI Staff
Kendal Antle, Engagement Coordinator for the programs of the ABI Foundation, has shared the news that he has been accepted to the Drake University Law School this fall. Given the rigorous demands of law school, he will be departing ABI. His last day will be this Thursday, August 15.
It has been a pleasure getting to know Kendall and we appreciate the work he did for ABI and our Foundation programs. We wish him all the best.
Latest BR Iowa Out Today
As you know, in conjunction with member company Corridor Media Group, ABI publishes the Business Monthly. This monthly newsprint magazine is distributed to you and to business leaders all across Iowa as a part of the Corridor Business Journal and the Quad Cities Business Journal.
The August edition of BR Iowa will publish today and should be in your mailbox soon. It features a great cover story focused developing your company’s talent pipeline. While hiring is perhaps not the leading issue during the current cycle, most ABI members I know are still focused on building/adding talent. We hope you find value in the cover story and the other news featured in ABI’s monthly news journal. If you have not received your copy of ABI’s Business Monthly by the end of the week, please contact me and one will be sent to you at once.
Register Soon for ABI’s Iowa Manufacturing Conference, Now Including Legends Luncheon
Two popular ABI events return this fall, now wrapped into one event. ABI’s Iowa Manufacturing Conference now includes the Legends in Manufacturing Awards event in a luncheon format. The conference will again be held at the FFA Enrichment Center on the campus of Des Moines Area Community College on October 2nd. Registration will be available soon. For now, please block October 2nd on your calendar. If you are an Iowa manufacturer, you will want to attend this event!
LIU Session Huge Success
The 2024 session of the ABI Foundation’s Leadership Iowa University program was held last week and it was a smashing success. The class of 22 students met throughout the week. The program provides high-quality speakers and terrific networking that will help the students find their careers right here in Iowa. Go to https://www.iowaabi.org/leadership-iowa-university/ for more information. Thank you to ABI’s foundation programs team and great volunteers for making the program such a hit.
Wanted: Your Input Regarding ABI Executive Forum Event
As you know, the association recently held another edition of the ABI Executive Forum. ABI executives from around the state gathered in North Iowa last week to hear terrific presentations and connect with each other. It was a great event. As we look to future Executive Forums, we want your feedback. If you have feedback about programs, location, timing, I would appreciate hearing from you. And, to learn more about how to be a part of this event in the future, contact ABI Senior Director, Member Programs Holly Mueggenberg at hmueggenberg@iowaabi.org.
In the meantime, thank you to some key ABI leaders who shared remarks at last week’s forum; they were terrific! Thank you to Heather Bruce (Osmundson Mfg., Perry), Tim Conlon (Conlon Construction, Dubuque), Peter Voorhees (Standard Golf, Cedar Falls), and former ABI Chair Mary Andringa (Vermeer Corporation, Pella). Thanks, too, to ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) and to former ABI Chair Dave Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) for arranging tours of their respective plants. Finally, thank you to ABI Board Member Casey Cason (Wells Fargo, Des Moines) for his help in securing economist Dr. Michael Swanson as a speaker. If you missed the forum, you missed a lot.
CIBC Prediction: No Devastating Recession
As do many of you, I am a reader of about anything I can get my hands on related to business and the economy. Longtime ABI Board Member Kelly Barrick (CIBC, West Des Moines) and her team periodically publish a newsletter focused on the economy. Last week’s edition was interesting reading and I would recommend it to you. The bottom line is that bank remains of the belief that there will not be a critically hard landing for the U.S. economy. Some volatility may persist, but ultimately, the bull market will rule the day. If you wish to read the newsletter for yourself, simply reply to this message and I’ll get it to you at once. In the meantime, thank you, Kelly, for the information!
Steve Jacobs Celebrates Saturday
A great guy and a great ABI board member celebrates his birthday later this week. Longtime ABI Board member Steve Jacobs (BCC Advisers, Des Moines) celebrates his birthday on the 17th. Happy birthday, Steve!
Walt Smith Passes
Former longtime ABI Board Member Dick Davidson (Thombert, Newton – ret.) shared the new last week that former ABI and ABI Foundation leader Walt Smith (Thombert, Newton) has passed away. Walt was a terrific guy, a great businessman, and an industry leader. He was generous to his community and to a great many organizations (including ABI). Read more Walt here: Walter Smith Obituary - West Palm Beach, FL (dignitymemorial.com). Walt will be greatly missed.
Great Customer Service
Back in 2005, ABI faced many issues. One was poor customer service from our vendors. Many treated ABI as a charity, as the association asked for reduced fees or took payment in kind, or utilized some other-than-market-rate practice. We quickly changed that approach. At ABI, we expect to pay the market rate and get the same terrific service all customers of a particular vendor receive. I simply have to call out an example of great service this week.
Upon leaving the ABI staff many years ago, John Gilliland (RBC Wealth Management, Des Moines) joined his father in his investment firm here in town. One of John’s first actions was to become a significant sponsor of ABI and the ABI Foundation and he has been a leading engaged member ever since. We appreciate his support very much.
Some years later, John also became a vendor, as his firm was selected again (through a competitive bidding process) to provide guidance for investments of the ABI Foundation. And, upon receipt of a major gift last month, John studied the matter and recommended a course of action that we chose to pursue related specifically to that particular gift. Based solely on John’s advice and in a period of great volatility, the Foundation realized a gain of over $10,000 on this gift. In 2005, a gain like that would have been HUGE to ABI and the ABI Foundation. All these years later, while our situation has changed and finances are strong, we STILL like to make a gain of that kind. Thank you, John, for your service and support!
As John rightly points out, the very generous gift was the impetus for the gain, and we are deeply grateful for the gift. The point I am making is that John’s counsel allowed ABI to maximize the gift for Foundation programs. We are grateful for the gift, and for relationships that add value. That, too, is our goal at ABI: to add value for you and for all members.