Executive Committee to Meet Next Week - Monday Memo 8/7/17

August 7, 2017

Executive Committee Teleconference a Week from Today; Board Will Meet in September 

ABI Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) and members of the association’s Executive Committee will hold their August teleconference a week from today, on August 14.  Agenda items include discussions related to public policy, membership and events, and Foundation programs.  

Speaking of leadership meetings, the board will meet September 13 in Des Moines.  You will receive a complete packet of meeting materials in your email in-basket about a week prior to the meeting.  The board will meet at 11:30 a.m. at the ABI office in Des Moines. 

The September meeting is an important one for several reasons.  First, it marks the first meeting of the fiscal year and the first meeting for newly-elected board members.  Second, it will involve board consideration and approval of the policies developed through the annual policy development process (by September 13, literally hundreds of ABI members will have participated in meetings to propose a slate of policies for 2018).  This part of the meeting will be led by ABI Vice Chair David Bywater (Economy Advertising, Iowa City).  Please mark your calendars and make plans now to attend this important meeting.  

ABI Economic Growth, Workplace and Product Safety, Environment Committees Meet Next Week

Members of the ABI Economic Growth, Workplace and Product Safety, and Environment Committees will hold their annual policy meetings next week in Des Moines.  These committees will meet at ABI on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively.  Thank you to Committee Chairs Russ Cross (Wells Fargo, West Des Moines), Rex Butler (CIPCO, Cedar Rapids), and Mick Durham (Grain Processing Corporation, Muscatine).    

These meetings will be followed the week after by meetings of the ABI Tax Committee and the ABI Employment and Workforce Committee. You can register for any of these meetings by clicking on them in the ABI Events Calendar at https://www.iowaabi.org/events/

LIU Opens Session; Meet with Class This Week

The annual class of Leadership Iowa University kicked-off its 2017 session yesterday at ABI in Des Moines.  The program seeks to educate, inspire, and develop college students as a foundation for Iowa’s economic growth and to encourage their on-going involvement in community and state initiatives.  Go to http://www.leadershipiowauniversity.com/ to learn more. 

The students are an intelligent and enthusiastic group.  It is clear they are focused on business and advancing their careers in a way that brings value to them, their future employers, and to Iowa.  As I mentioned last week, class members come from public, private, and community colleges all across Iowa. 

You can meet the class at a reception Wednesday afternoon from 5:15-6:30.  It will be held at Market One Rooftop in the East Village, one of Des Moines’ hottest new venues.   The event is FREE and all you need do to attend is click on this link to RSVP: http://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/71-abi-foundation-rooftop-reception/.  

You are invited to participate in an LIU Leaders Luncheon Wednesday at Nationwide Insurance.  Thank you to ABI Board Member Jason Gross (Nationwide, Des Moines) for hosting the class Wednesday.  Many other ABI leaders will participate in LIU events throughout the week and that support is deeply appreciated as well.  

Search Update

As you know, ABI is in the process of filling the staff vacancy that was created when Emily Schettler left to join the Harkin Institute at Drake University. We accepted applications for the Communications Coordinator position through the end of July (a week ago today).  Several strong applications were received (16 in all). 

Last week, ABI staff members Nicole Crain, Kathy Anderson, Kay Neumann-Thomas, and I met to review the applications and we narrowed the list of candidates to five finalists. This week, we will conduct preliminary interviews and narrow the field to 2 or 3 (I hope 2) candidates.  We’ll conduct a second interview and then I’ll make an offer.  My goal is to have the successful candidate join ABI as close to September 1 as possible.  Stay tuned for more updates to come. 

Latest on City Hall Renovation: City Staying Put for 2017, 2018

Back in December of 2015, I first told you of the news that ABI had been notified that Des Moines would be renovating its City hall… and that city offices would be located to the Capital Center III Building. That is the building in which ABI is located.  

The project was to take 18 months to three years. I don’t get to say this often, because my predictions are usually off, but I knew the project length would be closer to three years.  Last week, I was notified that city offices will not move out until April of 2018 (hopefully), with complete vacation by late 2018. 

That means parking at ABI will continue to be somewhat challenging. We’ll do our best to minimize other impacts and we’ll keep you informed of any developments. 

Visit Elevate Booth at the State Fair

Again this year, ABI's Elevate Advanced Manufacturing campaign will be a part of the Iowa State Fair.  Check the Elevate booth, which will be found on the Fair's Grand Concourse.  Learn more at www.elevateiowa.com. 

Annual ABI Executive Open on the 28th

Many of you have commented to me that you are looking forward to the ninth annual ABI Executive Open best ball golf outing.  The open will be held on Monday, August 28.  As this memo goes to press, 100 ABI members have already registered. The event will be held at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club, a fabulous private golf course in West Des Moines.  Register now to play golf or just join us for the reception following the outing. 

The day’s events are arranged in such a way that most of you will be able to spend time in the office that morning and then participate in the best ball that afternoon.  You’ll have fun and have an opportunity to network with great ABI members.  To find more information or to register, please go to the ABI webpage at www.iowaabi.org and click on the events tab. 

ABI Advisory Council Meets Next Week

As you read in last week's memo, members of the ABI Advisory Council will meet soon.  The council will meet on the 17th.  Thank you to ABI Advisory Council members 21st Century Rehab, BCC Advisers, Brick Gentry P.C., BrownWinick, CIRAS, CliftonLarsonAllen, EMC, Focus OneSource, Global Reach, LMC Insurance and Risk Management, Principal Financial Group, Tero International, The Iowa Clinic, Transition Point Business Advisors, and Wellmark

Ag Secretary Perdue Visits Sukup Manufacturing

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has visited Iowa often since taking office. Last weekend, he continued a tradition maintained by several U.S. Ag Secretaries by visiting longtime ABI member Sukup Manufacturing Co. in Sheffield. 

Secretary Perdue toured the beautiful new Sukup headquarters, saw its manufacturing operations first-hand, and visited with Sukup employees. Congratulations to company President and former ABI Chair Charles Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Co., Sheffield) and everyone at the company upon hosting this high-ranking cabinet official! 

Congressman Blum Tours Standard Golf

Longtime ABI Board Member Peter Voorhees (Standard Golf Company, Cedar Falls) leads an innovative and industry-leading company. Standard Golf is the world’s oldest golf accessory business and it was the first American company to serve the European market starting back in the 90s.  

Congressman Rod Blum learned all this and more when he toured Standard Golf last Wednesday. Thank you to Peter and his employees for hosting the Congressman! 

Story Construction Building New Headquarters

Longtime ABI member Story Construction is well-known for its beautiful headquarters building on South Bell Avenue in Ames.  The building is not that old. 

However, due to its growth and success over the past 40 years, and due to its focus on continuous improvement, Story keeps growing. In fact, the company is building a new headquarters building just a bit further south on South Bell Avenue.  You can learn more about Story, and watch a video featuring its President, ABI Board Member Mike Espeset (Story Construction, Ames) by clicking on this link: https://www.storycon.com/about/facts/.  Congratulations to Mike and everyone at Story on this big news! 

At Tecton, It Starts With Three Values

Last Thursday, the first in a series of ABI events in the Iowa Great Lakes region was hosted by longtime ABI Board Member Bruce Tamisiea (Tecton Industries, Spencer) at his company on the east side of Spencer. It was great tour of one of Iowa’s most innovative manufacturing operations.  

During the tour, Bruce highlighted the three values that guide the company’s interactions with tis employees, its customers, and its suppliers: maturity, courtesy, and honesty. Bruce expanded on each of these values and the ways in which they impact the way Tecton conducts its business.  Thanks, Bruce, for a great tour and insightful comments.

By the way, other events held Thursday and Friday in the Lakes region were just as terrific. Thank you to former ABI Chair Toby Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) for hosting the reception and dinner at his fabulous Okoboji Classic Cars facility and to ABI Advisory Council Ro Crosbie (Tero International, West Des Moines) and Mark Wyzgowski (CLA, West Des Moines) members for a terrific program Friday morning. 

Jan Meek Checks In

Most of you well remember Jan Meek, who served ABI for many, many years. Jan checked in this week to let us know she and her husband, Bob Meek, have completed their move to a new home and are doing well.  It was great hearing from her and best wishes to Jan!