It's Time for Golf - Monday Memo 8/29/22
August 29, 2022
TODAY: The 2022 ABI Executive Open
As I noted last week, the annual ABI Executive Open is one of the association’s most popular events. The 2022 Open tees-off in just a few hours at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines.
While golf for today’s event is set, even if you haven’t registered, you may attend the after-event reception. Come on out to the Glen Oaks clubhouse club at 4:30 this afternoon and ABI will take care of you.
First ABI Board Meeting of 2022 Fiscal Year Week After Next
The ABI Board of Directors, chaired by Kim Augspurger (Pigott, Des Moines), will hold its first meeting of the new fiscal year on Wednesday, September 14. The board will convene at 11:30 a.m. at the new Johnston headquarters/conference center of longtime ABI member the Iowa Bankers Association. A week from Wednesday, you will receive the usual email message from me that includes the link to the meeting packet. The packet will include an agenda, detailed reports, and other items to help you prepare for the meeting.
A number of important issues will be reviewed and acted upon at the meeting. One highlight, led by ABI Vice Chair Rich Phelan (LyondellBasell, Clinton), will be the consideration of recommendations related to the association's 2023 policy positions. Watch for more information in your board packet.
If you haven’t already done so, please register now by replying to this memo. All board members and Past Chairs are encouraged to join ABI for the board meeting. On behalf of Kim and our other officers, I look forward to seeing you on September 14.
Tracking Available Industrial/Manufacturing Space
Recently, ABI has been contacted by members in different parts of the state interested in leasing available manufacturing space (turn-key industrial buildings). We have a number of sources with which we work on identifying space and usually can help. However, if you know of available space, please reply to this memorandum, and share it with us. We’ll add it to our list - thank you.
Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference in Two Weeks
ABI and a number of other organizations partner each year in producing the Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference. The 2022 conference will be held September 13-14 at the Kansas City Convention Center in downtown Kansas City. You may also participate via live streaming video. The agenda for the conference is packed full of information and your team members who attend will receive the very latest in environmental regulatory information.
ABI receives financial support for every Iowa participant that registers for the conference. While that is a great incentive, the real reason to attend is for the high-value program. Find more information and register by clicking on http://mecconference.com/.
Employee Retention Credit Webinar, Supply Chain Events Coming Your Way
Three new, high-value ABI events are coming up in the next few weeks. You and/or your management team will find them of interest.
First up is a webinar about the employee retention tax credit. Created as part of federal legislation to help employers manage the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic – and to keep folks employed – the employee retention credit has been expanded. It is a refundable tax credit up to $5,000 per employee in 2020 and up to $28,000 per employee in 2021. If you haven’t already, you should learn more about the credit and determine its applicability to your company.
In that regard, ABI is pleased to sponsor a webinar about the ERC. Experts from Eide Bailly will present the webinar at 10:00 a.m. on September 21st. Click here for more information and to register Webinar: What to Know about the Expanded Employee Retention Credit | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org).
Other ABI events have also been created. As reported last week and in an effort to provide information of value for you as you manage your way through these issues, ABI is developing two supply chain events in November.
These events will be held in Atlantic on November 10th and in Oskaloosa on November 15th. Watch for more information and the opening of registration soon.
ABI Manufacturing Conference October 5; Legends Dinner the Night Before
ABI, Agri-Industrial Plastics, the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State University (CIRAS), Community State Bank, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and RAMCO Innovations are the lead sponsors for ABI’s Iowa Manufacturing Conference 2022. The conference will be held at the FFA Enrichment Center on the campus of Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny on October 5th.
There is a great speaker lineup for this event. The afternoon will feature a terrific keynote address by Chairman and CEO Gage Kent (KENT Corporation, Muscatine). In a morning session, Director Debi Durham (Iowa Economic Development Authority, Des Moines), will moderate a panel featuring three ABI manufacturing leaders: Steve Boal (Accumold, Ankeny), Kelli Gallagher (DeeZee, Des Moines), and Hank Norem (Ramco Innovations, West Des Moines). Find more information and register now for the conference by clicking on this link: Summary - Legends In Manufacturing Awards Dinner (and/or) Manufacturing Conference (cvent.com).
As always, the conference will be preceded the evening before (October 4) by ABI’s Elevate initiative’s annual Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner. You can use the link above to register for this always-fun and uplifting event.
Legislative Committee to Meet
The ABI Legislative Committee, chaired by ABI Vice Chair Rich Phelan (LyondellBasell, Clinton), will meet Wednesday in Des Moines. Following on the many meetings held in Des Moines and around Iowa before it, the meeting will result in a final set of polices being developed for action by you and your fellow board members next month. Look for the final policy draft in your September board packet.
Latest Edition of BCC Advisers’ baton Out Now
As you know, we find great value in your company newsletters. One we always look forward to is baton, the newsletter from longtime ABI member and leading supporter/Advisory Council member BCC Advisers. The latest edition of baton is out now and you can read it for yourself here: Baton 19.2 (bccadvisers.com).
In addition to always-interesting comments from the firm’s President, ABI Board Member Steve Jacobs (BCC Advisers, Des Moines), there is a terrific cover story about steps you can take to increase the value of your business. And other articles make this edition of interest as well. Thank you to Steve and the team at BCC Advisers for sharing this great information.
Sukups Celebrate September 3rd
Former ABI Chair Charles Sukup (Sukup Manufacturing Co., Sheffield) and his wife, Mary Sukup, celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this Saturday. As I note every year, Charles and Mary are one of the all-time great couples. It is a pleasure to send very best wishes and congratulations to Charles and Mary. Happy anniversary to the Sukups!
Trojans Open Season with Big Win in Rivalry Game
Longtime ABI leader and ABI Board Member Nate Weaton (Weaton Companies, Fairfield) is a terrific manufacturer. He is also a football coach, as he is the Head Coach of the Fairfield High School football team (the Trojans).
Nate and the Trojans opened the 2022 season in a big rivalry game Friday. They played Mount Pleasant, a 4A school (Fairfield is 3A). The size of the school didn’t matter, as the Trojans soundly defeated the Panthers, 41-20. Read about the game here: Fairfield flies to Game 1 victory | Southeast Iowa Union. Great win, Coach! Good luck this week!