Important ABI Meetings on Tap - Monday Memo 10/26/15
October 26, 2015
Two and a Half Weeks Until November ABI Board Meeting
The November meeting of the ABI Board of Directors will be an important one. On the agenda will be the usual operations and finance reports, a discussion of the upcoming legislative session, and receipt of the annual audit, among other business.
ABI Chair Paul Gregoire (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown) and board members will meet Wednesday, November 11 at the ABI office in Des Moines' East Village. Many of you have already registered for this free meeting of the board, but if not, please go to this link and do so now: http://www.cvent.com/events/november-abi-board-meeting/event-summary-9e4173d8fb234f6cbbb46ff6d6080c64.aspx. You will receive your board packet by email late next week. In the meantime, thank you in advance for participating in this final board meeting of 2015.
Foundation Board to Meet Today
Members of the ABI Foundation Board of Directors will meet later today at ABI. As the foundation's fiscal year differs from ABI's and begins October 1, the year has just begun.
The foundation enjoyed a very strong year in FY15 and FY16 has begun just as strong. Look for a full report at next month's meeting of the ABI Board of Directors.
Leadership Iowa, Business Horizons Boards Also Meet This Week; Converge Also on Tap
Speaking of the ABI Foundation, this is a busy week for foundation programs. Two meetings of the boards of those programs will be held.
On Wednesday, members of the Business Horizons Board of Directors will meet. That session will be followed by a meeting of the Leadership Iowa Board of Governors on Thursday. Both meetings will take place at ABI.
Finally, the members of the Regional Leadership Council, a group that includes the ABI Foundation, are sponsoring a second annual program. This one will be held tomorrow afternoon at Drake University in Des Moines. For more information, please reply to this memo.
EPIC Board Meeting Tomorrow
As you know, ABI leads a coalition of business organizations called Economic Progress for Iowa's Citizens. The EPIC Board of Directors will meet tomorrow.
This organization is important, because it provides tools and resources for you as employers to educate your employees on the views of candidates, on issues, and on elections in general. Remember to check the EPIC website,www.iavotes.com, often. There you will find such things as the Iowa Caucus Toolkit and other resources of value.
Next Elevate Ambassadors Session in November 12
ABI Vice Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics, Fairfield) and others will host a second session of training for members who will serve as Elevate Ambassadors. The training will take place on November 12th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at ABI. Contact Robyn Denson for more information at rdenson@iowaabi.org.
ABI Board Invited to Cybersecurity Seminars, Global Leadership Program
Officials have invited you, the members and past chairs of the ABI Board of Directors, to two upcoming events. Last Thursday, you received from me an email message about cybersecurity workshops. These events will be held at Iowa State University and Drake University on November 3rd. You and your management team will find the presentations to be of great value. To register for these free events, please contact me and I will send you more information.
In addition, you have also been invited to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition's Luncheon on America's Global Leadership. This event will be held on November 23rd in Des Moines. Again, please contact me for more information.
Register Now for Consulate General of Canada Reception
Canadian Consul GeneralJamshed Merchant has invited you to a reception to be held to welcome new Canadian Senior Trade Commissioner Susan Cormie to Iowa. As I noted last week, Ms. Cormie takes the post previously held by Mike Flaherty, with whom many of you worked.
The reception will be held the evening of November 10, the evening prior to the November meeting of the ABI Board of Directors. All ABI board members and former board chairs are invited to attend the reception free of charge as the guest of the Consulate. The reception will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the Des Moines Embassy Club in downtown Des Moines. To register for this free event and for more information, please reply to this message and I will send it to you.
Connecting Statewide Leaders Event December 10 in Waverly
The first 2015-2016 Connecting Statewide Leaders event will be held December 10 in Waverly. This forum is the next opportunity to participate in the popular series of events ABI has hosted around Iowa over the course of the past few years. A luncheon follows the meeting and you will have a great opportunity to visit with fellow ABI members, meet the new Leadership Iowa class, and develop new customers. Please mark your calendar now and watch for more details to come your way soon.
Another Big Announcement from Atlantic Bottling; Professional and Personal
Earlier this year. ABI member Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company announced a major expansion, that involved the company expanding into more of Iowa and parts of other states. last week, the company announced another huge expansion.
Atlantic Bottling's territory will now cover all but a tiny part of Iowa and parts of other states. Congratulations to former Chairs Jim Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlantic) and Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Waukee) and to all involved!
Speaking of expansions, I was terribly remiss in not noting the birth five months ago of Owen Feeney, Kirk and Janel Tyler's first grandson. Owen and mom Jessica Tyler Feeney and dad Rob Feeney are all doing well and are also now back in Iowa, where Rob has joined Atlantic Bottling. Congratulations to Owen, his parents, his grandparents, and his great grandfather!
Fishers Celebrate New Grandson
Longtime ABI Board Member Rand Fisher (Iowa Area Development Group, West Des Moines) and his wife,Cyndi Fisher, are the proud grandparents of a new grandson. Benton John King was born October 14 and is doing great. Rand and Cyndi's daughter, Meredith Fisher King, and her husband, Dr. John King, are also doing great. Benton and his parents are at home in Rochester, Minnesota. Congratulations to Benton, his parents, and his grandparents!
James W. Hubbell, James R. Tyler, Charese E. Yanney to be Inducted in to Hall of Fame
Three great Iowa business leaders, all with strong ties to ABI (in fact, two are former chairs of the association), were announced last week as the 2015 class of inductees in to the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. The inductees will be honored at a formal dinner and ceremony to be held later this year.
You can read more in other sources, but in the meantime, but ABI sends best wishes and heartily salutes these leaders: James W. Hubbell III, James R. Tyler, and Charese E. Yanney. ABI -- and Iowa -- have greatly benefitted from the leadership of these terrific people!
Last Tuesday A Big Media Day for Buie, Tyler
Two former ABI Chairs were spotlighted in the media last Tuesday. Former Chair Frederick V. Buie (Keystone Electrical Manufacturing Company, Des Moines) was pictured in the Des Moines Register seated one person away from U.S. President Barack Obama. In between was Greg Abel (Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Omaha). Fred and Greg were at The White House for a meeting about climate change and energy policy.
Also that day, former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Waukee) was heard on Des Moines radio station WHO throughout the day. Kirk had testified at a legislative committee meeting Monday and his comments were highlighted by WHO. Congratulation to Fred and Kirk on the great coverage!
Sadler Featured on Television Program
Longtime ABI Board Member Michael Sadler (CenturyLink, Des Moines) was featured on Des Moines television station KCWI's "Great Day" program last week (on October 21). Michael, a longtime leader in the Better Business Bureau, was interviewed about that important program. Congratulations, Michael!
Bill Brown, Rick Tollakson Celebrate Birthdays
Two ABI leaders are celebrating birthdays. ABI Board Member Rick Tollakson (Hubbell Realty Company, West Des Moines) is celebrating his birthday tomorrow. Former ABI Chair Bill Brown (BrownWinick, Des Moines)will celebrate his birthday a week from today. Happy birthday to Rick and Bill!