December 5 is Fort Dodge Day for ABI - Monday Memo 11/18/19

November 18, 2019

ABI to Host Events December 5 in Fort Dodge

As you know, ABI will soon host two more events that will bring value to your company.  On the morning of December 5, ABI will host the next in a series of Connecting Statewide Leaders events.  Following that event and lunch with the Leadership Iowa class, ABI will then hold a value-building seminar. 

You can register for the Connecting Statewide Leaders event now at http://www.cvent.com/events/connecting-statewide-leaders/event-summary-e3b7200d1fdc41bda126a27754945b8b.aspx.  The seminar about building business value will immediately follow lunch.  You can register and find more information here: http://www.cvent.com/events/building-business-value-december-2019/event-summary-1fb42836b53049e2bce0730a9212f5e3.aspx.  Both events should add value to your business. 

Advisory Council to Meet Thursday

The ABI Advisory Council will meet Thursday in Ames.  This will mark the panel's final business meeting of 2019.  Thank you to ABI Advisory Council members 21st Century Rehab, ACS, BCC Advisers, BrownWinick, CIRAS, CliftonLarsonAllen, EMC, Far Reach, Focus OneSource, Fredrikson & Byron, HDH Advisors, LMC Insurance and Risk Management, Principal, Shift Interactive, Tero International, The Iowa Clinic, Wellmark, and Wells Fargo for your leadership and support! 

December Executive Committee Teleconference on the 11th

The ABI Executive Committee will hold its next regularly-scheduled monthly teleconference at 9:30 a.m. on December 11.  ABI Chair Cindy Dietz (Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids) and members of the committee will work through a full agenda and the teleconference will mark the final ABI leadership meeting of 2019.  

Executive Committee members should watch for their usual meeting prep packets to arrive around December 4.  Thank you in advance for your participation in this important meeting. 

2020 ABI Legislative Briefing, Reception in January

One of ABI’s most popular events each year is the annual legislative reception (the annual legislative briefing precedes it).  This important association meeting provides an opportunity for you and your employees to visit with your legislators in a fun and casual setting.  Traditionally, more legislators attend this event than any other similar event held throughout the session. and it is important for ABI members to be on hand to share business perspectives with them. 

The 2020 Reception will be held Wednesday, January 15.  Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, all 150 members of the Iowa General Assembly, and other state officials have been invited again this year.  Don’t miss this opportunity to greet your legislators and share important business issues with them.  

You can register now by going to http://www.cvent.com/events/2020-legislative-briefing-reception/event-summary-2c2f288944e64f1aa787141a79efb869.aspx and clicking on the appropriate button near the bottom of the page.  The event will be held at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines and it will follow the January meeting of the ABI Board of Directors.  Make your plans now to attend. 

First ABI Board Meeting of 2020 on January 15

The January meeting of the ABI Board of Directors is traditionally one of the association’s busiest and best attended.  The board will meet Wednesday, January 15, 2019 at the Community Choice Credit Union in Des Moines and the ABI Executive Committee will meet immediately prior.  

Your attendance is needed to ensure this important meeting goes well.  Please mark your calendars now to join your ABI colleagues on January 15 in Des Moines.  

Nicole Crain Attends ATRA Conference; Kathy Anderson Leads ABI Digital Manufacturing Tour

ABI Senior Vice President Public Policy Nicole Crain has returned to Des Moines after spending part of last week in Florida.Nicole represented ABI at the annual meeting of the American Tort Reform Association.  ATRA has long been an ABI partner and the annual conference provided great information from a variety of speakers and experts.  We look forward to utilizing this information as part of ABI’s public policy work.  

Also returning to Des Moines late last week was ABI Vice President Member Development and Programs Kathy Anderson.  Kathy led last week’s 2019 Digital Manufacturing Tour to stops in Iowa and Minnesota.  As was the case with last year’s tour, feedback about the 2020 event has been strongly positive.  

Thank you, Nicole and Kathy, and welcome home! 

Foundation Asks: Please Remember #Giving Tuesday

Please remember the items I shared previously related to #GivingTuesday.  The hashtag signifies a global day of giving fueled by social media and collaboration.  

The statistics for this online event are growing exponentially.  Last year, over 3.6 billion people collectively gave more than $400 million in more than 150 countries.  The event is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely-represented shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  

Please remember that the ABI Foundation hopes you will participate in #GivingTuesday this December 3rd by supporting their programs.  Please support the ABI Foundation through #GivingTuesday and don't hesitate to contact Foundation Development Director Becky Coady for more information at rcoady@iowaabi.org or at (515) 235-0569. 

Make Your 2020 Annual Conference Lodging Reservations Now

In last week's memo, I noted that it is not too early to make your lodging reservation for the 2020 Taking Care of Business Conference.  The conference will be held in Cedar Rapids June 9-11 of next year. 

Rooms are going fast, so make your reservations now.  The DoubleTree by Hilton and the Hotel at Kirkwood Center are the main conference hotels.  Click on this link for more information: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/annual-conference/.  Watch for some other exciting conference announcements in the coming weeks. 

Kirk Tyler Elected Coca-Cola Scholars Chair

It was announced last week that former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines) has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.  The Coca-Cola Scholars program has provided nearly $70 million in support to more than 6,000 scholars over the past 30 years.  Kirk is a longtime officer of the Foundation and a strong supporter of education in general.  

Kirk also continues to chair his own company and also continues to chair the American Beverage Association, based in Washington DC.  Read more about this news here: https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/blog/kirk-tyler-named-new-ccsf-board-chair/.  ABI salutes Kirk Tyler! 

Charese Yanney Elected to Siouxland Initiative Board

Former ABI Chair Charese Yanney (Guarantee Roofing and Siding, Sioux City) is a longtime leader in Greater Sioux City (and throughout Iowa).  Charese was recently elected to the board of directors of the Siouxland Initiative, that area’s award-winning development organization.  Congratulations, Charese! 

Butlers Honored

Former ABI Chair John Butler (Cottingham & Butler, Dubuque) and his wife, Alice Butler, have played leading roles in philanthropy in NE Iowa and far beyond.  In their home base of Dubuque, John and Alice have been catalysts for major developments throughout the city. 

It was fitting, then, that officials involved with Main Street Dubuque recently honored John and Alice with that organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  Congratulations to John and Alice Butler!