Happening NOW: Business Horizons 2017 - Monday Memo 6/26/17
June 26, 2017
Annual Business Horizons Program Now Underway in Pella
Business Horizons 2017, the ABI Foundation’s annual entrepreneurism experience for high school students, kicked off yesterday at Central College in Pella. Members of the class, which numbers about 85 students, will graduate in a special ceremony to be held this Thursday, June 29.
Thank you to those of you who have provided help for this popular annual program. Your employees, whether they serve as industry advisors or in other roles, play a critical role in the longtime success of this important program. Look for a full report on this year’s BH session at the September meeting of the ABI Board of Directors.
Plan Now for August Policy Committee Meetings
While it seems like just yesterday that ABI celebrated adjournment of one of the most impactful Iowa legislative sessions ever, the association is already deep into planning for next year’s session. With the completion of the regional policy meetings earlier this month, work now shifts to the annual policy committee meetings to be held in August.
Through the annual policy meetings, literally hundreds of ABI members will come together to shape the public policy agenda for the association for 2018. You and your employees are key to the success of these meetings and it is not too early to get the meeting dates on your calendar. Click here for more information or to register: http://www.iowaabi.org/events/.
As always, you as board members will have the final say on ABI policies for 2018. Final action will occur at the September meeting of the board.
Legislative Reception Undergoing Makeover
Speaking of ABI’s public policy work, the annual ABI Legislative Reception us undergoing a complete makeover. You already know that the annual event, which is ABI’s second-biggest event of the year, is Iowa’s most successful event of this type. More legislators and state officials of both parties attend this event than any other single similar event held by any other organization. Throw in ABI members from all over Iowa and beyond, and over 500 people attend the reception each year.
The 2018 reception is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10. Watch for news about an exciting new location and other features that will make the 2018 event another in a series of record setters.
First Executive Committee Meeting of New Fiscal Year in Two Weeks
The ABI Board of Directors will hold its first meeting of FY18 on September 13. As for the Executive Committee, ABI Chair David Zrostlik (Stellar Industries, Garner) will call to order the first FY18 meeting on July 12. Committee members should watch for the usual packet of meeting materials to arrive in your email in-basket sometime next week.
Register now for Okoboji Connecting Statewide Leaders Event
ABI members love the Iowa Great Lakes. In honor of that, ABI is hosting the next in a series of Connecting Statewide Leaders events at the Lakes in August.
Register now for the Bringing Boji Back event, which will be held August 3rd and 4th. Great programming, great networking, and great venues will mark the event. One of the venues, the famous Okoboji Classic Cars facility (http://www.okobojicc.com/) owned by former ABI Chair Toby Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer), will be one of the exciting and fun locations.
Best of all, you will find terrific networking and programming. A tour of ABI-member Tecton Industries and a great presentation by ABI member CEO Ro Crosbie (Tero International, West Des Moines) will all make for a high-value event. Thank you to ABI Board Member Bruce Tamisiea (Tecton Industries, Spencer) for making the tour possible. Find more information and register now at: http://www.cvent.com/events/connecting-statewide-leaders-bringing-boji-back/event-summary-433257bfb0ec4215893f84f1b3d39dca.aspx.
2017 ABI Executive Open August 28
ABI’s annual Executive Open is one of the association’s most popular events. The 2017 Open will be held Monday, August 28 at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines. Because spots fill so quickly, you may wish to register now. If so, go here: http://www.cvent.com/events/abi-executive-open-2017/event-summary-7d269e2b6cdb43e588197d2b55822197.aspx. See you in West Des Moines in August!
CIPCO Holds 70th Annual Meeting; Murdock Honored
Last week, longtime ABI member Central Iowa Power Cooperative held its 70th Annual Meeting of Members. The event was a great success and featured several terrific speakers.
A highlight of the event was special recognition for its longtime CEO, former ABI Chair Dennis Murdock (CIPCO, Des Moines). Dennis has led the organization to incredible growth and success. ABI salutes and congratulates Dennis Murdock!
The meeting closed with a report by ABI Board Member/IADG President Rand Fisher (Iowa Area Development Group, Des Moines). Also spotted at the meeting was ABI Board Member Jack Pray (Reynolds & Reynolds, Des Moines) and while not spotted, I will bet also present was ABI Board Member Kirk Trede (Eastern Iowa Light & Power, Wilton). Congratulations to all on a great meeting!
Eva Shine Weds
Former ABI Board member Eva Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) was a beautiful bride Saturday night when she and Kevin Schammel were married. The wedding was wonderful in full sight of Lake Okoboji and then family and friends feted Eva and Kevin at a fabulous reception at Okoboji Classic Cars. Congratulations and very best wishes to the bride and groom and their families, including the parents of the bride, Toby and Sylvia Shine!