Executive Committee Meets in February - Monday Memo 1/30/23
January 30, 2023
Executive Committee Meets Next Week; Board Meets March 7
The ABI Executive Committee will hold its regular February meeting by Zoom a week from Wednesday (February 8) at 10:00 a.m. To be convened by ABI Chair Kim Augspurger (Pigott, Des Moines), this event will mark the committee’s second meeting of 2023. Look for a full report on any news from the meeting at the March board meeting.
Speaking of the ABI Board of Directors, that meeting will be held at ABI on March 7. That day will see a special day of ABI meetings and events, as the brand new ABI Business Day in Des Moines event will also take place then.
2023 ABI Business Day in Des Moines March 7
During the first quarter of the year, much of ABI's work focuses on public policy and the Iowa General Assembly. A few years ago, following on the exploding success of the annual ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception, ABI created the annual ABI Day on the Hill. After several years of that event and based on feedback from ABI members, ABI has now created a special, brand new event to capitalize on ABI’s public policy work.
This brand new event gives ABI members an opportunity to get the very latest news from the Capitol in the heat of legislative activity. Members will be able to hear from key state and legislative leaders and to interact regarding issues and proposed bills. Four dozen ABI members have already registered for the event!
The new event is called Business Day in Des Moines and it is being held Tuesday, March 7. You’ll hear from invited guests Governor Reynolds, legislative leaders of both chambers and both parties, you’ll hear a geopolitical update from popular ABI speaker/member Kavi Chawla (Baton Global, Des Moines), and more. You’ll have the opportunity to interact with these leaders, with fellow ABI members, and you’ll hear the latest about ABI issues and programs. You don’t want to miss it! Click here for more information and to register: Summary - Business Day in Des Moines (cvent.com). As noted above, March 7 is also the day of the March meeting of the ABI Board of Directors. Thanks in advance for your participation in these important meetings.
First 2023 ABI Legislative Update was Held Friday, Will be Held Bi-Weekly Through the End of Session
Periodically throughout the legislative session, ABI lobbyists Vice President Public Policy JD Davis and Director Public Policy Brad Hartkopf host a virtual update to give you the very latest information from the Statehouse. Updates on bills, legislative proposals, state actions, and other matters are covered in each call. Your specific questions about those topics are also very much welcomed. The first legislative update of 2023 was held this past Friday.
The second update of the session will be held a week from Friday. Now through the end of the legislative session, updates will be held bi-weekly. Thus, the next update will be February 10. Register for that event here: Legislative Update (Members Only) | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org). And remember, these Zoom conferences are free and open to ABI members only. Thank you in advance for your participation in these events.
ABI Child Care Webinar, Cobot Summit in February
Two high-value ABI programs are coming your way next month. On the 7th, ABI will host a free webinar with information about solutions related to challenges involving child care. You know that investing in child care provides a return for your employees, your business, and for all of us. Iowa Women’s Foundation Employ Engagement Director Sherry Penney will lead this informative webinar. Register now at Meeting Registration - Zoom.
We are very excited about another event taking place on February 23rd. ABI is partnering with members Kinetic Technologies and Iowa Lakes Community College on a high-value cobot automation seminar. The session will provide an informative and interactive program about brining automation to your company and it will be held on Iowa Lakes’ Algona campus on February 23rd. Lunch will be served. Click here for more information and to register: Summary - Cobot Automation Summit (cvent.com).
Biennial ABI Workers Compensation Seminar March 28 in Des Moines
The association will host its biennial workers compensation testing seminar late in March. This is the place to find the latest information about work comp programs and to learn the best practices utilized by other companies. The seminar will be held at the ABI office on March 28 and registration information will be available soon. We look forward to seeing your HR, risk management, and compliance teams at ABI on March 30th.
View Toby Shine Tribute
Last week, I noted that former ABI Chair Toby Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) celebrated a major birthday on the 23rd of this month. ABI joined people all across the state and country in wishing Toby a fabulous birthday and a great day. One cool part of that birthday was that former ABI Chair Kendig Kneen (Al-Jon, Ottumwa – Ret.) and former ABI board Member Eva Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) and others arranged a series of terrific video tributes to Toby. You can view the tributes here: 80th Birthday Tribute for Toby Shine. Congratulations and happy birthday again to Toby!
Jackson Mfg. Celebrates 10 Big Years; Haskens Featured in CIRAS News
This Wednesday, February 1st, will mark 10 years since Former ABI Chairs Jack and Sarah Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) bought a quiet manufacturing company and created Jackson Mfg. In those 10 years, Jackson has been turned into dynamo of growth of success. Congratulations, Jack and Sarah!
In other news involving jack and Sarah, they were featured in the latest edition of CIRAS News, published by ABI member/partner the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State University. Jack and Sarah were featured for the work they have done to make their plant safer for their employees. The article is a great read and if you wish to see it, simply click on this link and you can access the newsletter: https://www.ciras.iastate.edu/files/2022/12/2022Fall.pdf. Congratulations once more, Jack and Sarah, for the great coverage!
BrownWinick Opens New Coralville Office Location; Celebration Thursday in Iowa City
Longtime ABI member/ABI Advisory Council member BrownWinick recently opened a new office location in Coralville. The opening will be celebrated at an event this Thursday at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City. Big Grove was the site of the very popular Chair’s Dinner at the annual conference in Iowa City a few years ago. You are invited to attend this event and to do so, simply RSVP HERE. Congratulations to everyone at the firm, including ABI board Member Chris Sackett (BrownWinick, Des Moines) and ABI Advisory Council Member Drew Larson (BrownWinick, Des Moines)!