Final Executive Committee Meeting of 2020 on Tap - Monday Memo 11/30/20

November 30, 2020

ABI Executive Committee to Hold Final 2020 Teleconference Next Thursday; First 2021 Board Meeting Next Month

The ABI Executive Committee, chaired by Steven Bradford (HNI Corporation, Muscatine), will hold its final meeting of the calendar year a week from Thursday.  After that, the next ABI leadership meeting will be held next month.  The first ABI Board of Directors meeting of 2021 will be held on Wednesday, January 13.  

Your attendance at this meeting and at the ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception that follows is essential.  Please finalize your plans to attend these events.  Please go to https://web.cvent.com/event/8db337e1-f39c-4e1f-8a9c-e88059b6b945/summary?rp=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000 for registration and event information related to the legislative briefing and reception.  And watch for health and safety information, too.  Thank you in advance for making the ABI events of January 13 a priority. 

New Board Member Orientations Begin

Following their election at the ABI Board of Directors’ November meeting, I’ll be holding orientation sessions with new directors.  The first virtual session takes place later this week with Jack Carra (LMC Insurance and Risk Management, West Des Moines).  Joining Jack in being elected to the board earlier this month were Garrett Burchett (Mississippi River Distilling Company, LeClaire), Kevin Lentz (Anthologic, West Des Moines), Mike Lovell (Meredith Corporation, Des Moines), Bill McKim (Midland Power Cooperative, Jefferson), and Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City).  I hope you will join me in congratulating these new board members at the board’s next meeting in January.  

ABI Co-Sponsors Re-Shoring Seminar on December 10

On December 10, ABI will join CIRAS (the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State University), the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Iowa Area Development Group, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority in presenting a seminar on re-shoring.  As has been discussed in ABI meetings of late, this is a timely topic, especially given the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on supply chains. 

There is no charge for this high-value seminar.  Click here to register or to find more information: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/232-reshoring-webinar/.  

Tomorrow: #Giving Tuesday

As you read about in this memo two weeks ago (and likely have seen mentioned in other sources), tomorrow is #GivingTuesday.  The hashtag signifies a global day of giving fueled by social media and collaboration.  The event is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely-represented shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  

Should you participate in #GivingTuesday, please consider the ABI Foundation as one of your beneficiaries.  Please contact ABI Foundation Development Director Becky Coady for more information at rcoady@iowaabi.org or at (515) 235-0569. 

Leadership Iowa Class Headed (Virtually) to Ottumwa

As you read last week, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Iowa, Leadership Iowa is reverting to meeting virtually for the December session.  And, the third session of the 2020-2021 Leadership Iowa Class will be held by Zoom later this week.  Class members will meet Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for a session originally scheduled for Ottumwa. 

The session will focus on economic development and workforce, and a terrific slate of speakers is on tap. Watch for a full report at the January ABI Board Meeting. 

ABI Webinar Series Concludes Thursday

Two programs to be held later this week mark the final programs in a webinar series ABI initiated last month.  Both remaining webinars will be held this Thursday, December 3.  Please click here for more information or to register for these programs: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/219-webinar-series-how-to-diffuse-unconscious-bias-that-damages-culture-productivity-and-brand/

Iowa Business Report Radio Program

As you know, the Iowa Business Report radio program is broadcast weekly on stations all over Iowa.  The program is the result of a great a partnership between well-known Iowa broadcaster Jeff Stein and ABI.  If you missed the latest episode, you can click here to listen for yourself: http://iowabusinessreport.buzzsprout.com/.  Links can also be found on the ABI website at https://www.iowaabi.org/news/iowa-business-report/.  

This week’s episode begins with an interesting interview related to working remotely and you might find some tips to make your own team more productive.  Jeff also presents a segment related to turkey production in Iowa, which is big business for our state.  Your business reports from the board meeting held earlier this month are another highlight.  It’s a great edition of the show. 

Final 2020 Quarterly ABI Iowa Business Survey to be Conducted

A week from today, you will receive the final ABI Board of Directors Quarterly Economic Survey of 2020.  The survey message will arrive in your in-box on the afternoon of December 7 and I hope you will act on it quickly. 

When you click on the survey link that will be a part of the message, you will find a very simple and easy to complete survey.  Please complete the survey as soon as possible and look for the results to be shared with you the following week. 

Rob Feeney Featured on Cover of Iowa Grocer Magazine

It was fun to receive the latest edition of Iowa Grocer magazine, published by the Iowa Grocery Industry Association (an ABI member), and see ABI Board Member Rob Feeney (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines) featured on the cover.  Rob is the IGIA Chairman this year. 

Rob is featured on the magazine’s cover with an incredible sampling of products made and/or distributed by IGIA members.  Inside, Rob penned a terrific column.  Rob addresses challenges faced by IGIA members (many hold true for ABI members as well) and discusses the need for continued strong communication.  It’s a great column and if you wish to read it, let me know and I’ll get it to you at once.  In the meantime, congratulations on the cover, Rob, and thank you for sharing your insights! 

Don Hauser Marks Birthday

Longtime ABI staff member Don Hauser is celebrating a birthday.  Don will turn 90 on Thursday, December 3.  This has been a difficult year for Don, as he lost his partner of many decades, his wife Rose.  We hope memories of happy times are solace for Don and we send him best birthday wishes.