LIU Now Underway - Monday Memo 8/5/24
August 5, 2024
LIU Opens Annual Session
The annual class of Leadership Iowa University kicked-off its 2024 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. And click here to read last week’s Monday Memo about ways you can be involved: Annual ABI Executive Form Next Week - Monday Memo 7/29/24 | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org).
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. Many other ABI leaders will participate in LIU events throughout the week and that support is deeply appreciated as well. Finally, thanks, too, to ABI team members Jessi Steward, Kendall Antle, Jane Galloway, and Meg Schneider for their work makes which LIU possible.
This Thursday and Friday: Annual ABI Executive Forum
A great crowd has already registered, but there is still time for you to register for this week’s 2024 ABI Executive Forum. Click here for more information and to register: Summary - Executive Forum (Members Only) (cvent.com). The forum will be held Thursday and Friday (August 8th and 9th) in North Iowa.
Thursday’s events take place in various locations around Mason City, but start at 10:00 that morning with a tour at longtime ABI member Stellar Industries. Friday’s concluding breakfast and tour takes place at longtime ABI member Winnebago Industries in Forest City.
Following the Stellar tour on Thursday, the event moves to the well-known MacNider Art Museum for a terrific lunch program. We’ll be welcomed by Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel and we’ll also hear from a couple of area business leaders, Kim Pang and MercyOne North Iowa president Chad Boore).
Following lunch on Thursday, we’ll move to the Historic Park Inn Hotel and a program featuring Wells Fargo Senior Economist Dr. Michael Swanson. A terrific panel including ABI Board Members Heather Bruce (Osmundson Mfg. Co. Perry), Tim Conlon (Conlon Construction, Dubuque), and Peter Voorhees (Standard Golf Co., Cedar Falls) will come next.
Former ABI Chair Mary Andringa (Vermeer Corporation, Pella) will then serve as our keynote speaker for the day. As noted in previous memos, Mary is a second generation leader of her family’s company and is now Chair Emerita. We’ll take a break and then Mary’s remarks will be followed by a reception and dinner that evening at Mason City’s fabulous Music Man Square events center.
Friday morning, we’ll move to Winnebago and remarks by ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City).The manufacturing tour that follows will conclude what you can see is a fabulous program. Make plans now to join 70 other ABI leaders in North Iowa later this week!
Executive Committee Meets Next Wednesday; First ABI Board Meeting of Fiscal Year September 11h at Wakonda Club in Des Moines
Next week, ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) and members of the association’s Executive Committee will hold their August meeting. The committee will meet via Zoom on Wednesday morning, August 14.
The ABI Board of Directors will meet September 11th at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines. The September board meeting is typically well-attended and is important for several reasons. It marks the first board meeting of the ABI fiscal year and the first meeting for newly-elected board members. Because it also marks the first meeting of the board in three months, the agenda is typically full and involves action on a number of issues, including action on ABI's public policy agenda for the next year.
And of course a complete report on the search for a new ABI president will also be a meeting focus. On behalf of Chad and our other officers, I look forward to seeing you.
Goal: 100 Percent ABI Board Member Participation in IIPAC
ABI’s award-winning public policy work encompasses many elements. One of those elements is the Iowa Industry Political Action Committee. IIPAC is ABI’s political arm and it exists to support pro-business candidates, regardless of party. As I often say, IIPAC will support a Democrat, a Republican, a Whig, or a Tory… as long as they support business.
The IIPAC Board of Directors is chaired by former ABI Chair Kirk Tyler (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Des Moines) and it consists of ABI members and IIPAC contributors who are focused on pro-business policies. This is the time of year that the IIPAC Board and all of us at ABI are focused on raising funds for the PAC.
One key component in IIPAC support has always been the ABI Board of Directors, as there is a goal every year to have ALL board members make an IIPAC contribution. Several of us on staff contribute as well (for a list of IIPAC contributors, reply to this message). If you aren’t an IIPAC contributor already, you should be (I am). Click here now to make your donation: https://www.iowaabi.org/public-policy/iipac/. Thank you and thank you to ALL IIPAC supporters!
Annual Policy Development Committee Meetings Kick-Off Tomorrow, Wednesday
Some of the most important work done by ABI each year relates to public policy advocacy. And the most important part of that process is the active involvement and leadership of ABI members themselves. In order to ensure that ABI members have every opportunity to lead and guide this critical task, ABI hosted several meetings around the state earlier this summer. Starting this week, ABI will begin a series of meetings in Des Moines to develop public policy positions for 2025.
It is the ABI Vice Chair who leads this process each year and thus Kellan Longenecker (General Mills, Carlisle) is chairing the process for 2025. The meetings always enjoy strong participation and it is clear that will continue this week. However, there is still time for you and your employees to participate in the policy committee meetings.
Tomorrow and Wednesday, two ABI policy committees will hold their annual policy meetings. The ABI Workplace and Product Safety Committee, chaired by James Machamer (Neumann Brothers, Des Moines), will meet tomorrow. The ABI Environment Committee, chaired by Kelly Jorgensen (AGP/Ag Processing, Muscatine) will meet Wednesday. Other committees will meet later in the month. Please go to www.iowaabi.org to register for these free meetings. This process will conclude next month when you (the ABI Board of Directors and Past Chairs) meet to adopt final policies. Thank you in advance for your involvement in this critical work.
2025 Convention Planning Well Underway
The 122nd ABI Annual Convention (the 2025 Taking Care of Business Conference) will be held in Council Bluffs-Omaha next June. This region has been actively courting ABI for years and community leaders there are pulling out all the stops to welcome ABI. Believe me when I say that you will see some absolutely terrific new venues. Planning for the convention is well underway and is being ably led by a great committee. The 2025 conference is shaping up to be another spectacular meeting and you won’t want to miss it. See you in Council Bluffs June 10-12!
By the way, you can already make your lodging arrangements for the conference. Registration doesn’t open until after the first for the year, but hotel registration is now open. Click here to reserve your room for next June: Taking Care of Business Conference | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org).
ABI Executive Open Coming Up
The annual ABI Executive Open best ball golf outing is always a fun event. The open will be held on Monday, August 26 (three weeks from today). Over 100 ABI members have already registered! The event will be held at Glen Oaks Country Club, a fabulous private golf course in West Des Moines.
Register now to play golf. By participating, 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.
New Board Member Orientations Continue
This is the time of year for meetings with newly-elected ABI Board Members. During next month’s meeting, you will have an opportunity to meet the new board members.
In the meantime, thank you in advance to new board members for their service: Kathy Evert (Signarama, Ankeny), Brad Henningsen (Henningsen Construction, Atlantic), Ed McGreen (Kreg Tool Company, Ankeny), Bethany Pautsch (Tyson Foods, Storm Lake), Chad Rubner (Express Logistics, Urbandale), Andrew St. John (CIPCO, Des Moines), and the honorary Leadership Iowa board representative, Chris LaFerla (Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, Council Bluffs).
Nicole Crain Returns from COSMA Annual Meeting
As you read in last week’s memorandum, ABI Executive Vice President Nicole Crain spent much of the week in New Jersey. Nicole was representing ABI at the annual meeting of the Conference of State Manufacturing Associations. ABI has long been a COSMA member and Nicole appeared on a leadership panel sharing best practices for manufacturers associations. And, she represented ABI at the annual COSMA Awards Dinner last Tuesday, at which ABI was recognized for being one of the top three COSMA Leaders for 2024. Congratulations to ABI members for this recognition and welcome home, Nicole!
Happy Birthday Kellan Longenecker
Longtime ABI Board Member and current Vice Chair Kellan Longenecker (General Mills, Carlisle) is a great leader. She also is a former University of Iowa Homecoming Queen. And she will celebrate her birthday this coming Sunday (the 11th). Happy birthday, Kellan, and best wishes for great day!
Hanawalts Mark 51st Wedding Anniversary Today
Speaking of big days, TODAY is a big day, as former ABI Chair Mark Hanawalt (United Equipment Accessories, Waverly) and Barb Hanawalt celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary today. Mark and Barb are a great couple and Mark’s leadership has meant so much to ABI over the years. Happy anniversary, Mark and Barb!
Buies to Celebrate Anniversary
Another great ABI leader and his wife are celebrating a wedding anniversary this month. Former ABI Chair Frederick V. Buie (Keystone Electrical Manufacturing Company, Des Moines) and his wife, Valeska Buie, will celebrate later in August. ABI congratulates Fred and Valeska! Best wishes for many more happy years together!
Robert Knowles Passes
Most of you well recall Dorothy Knowles. Dorothy was a key ABI team member until she retired just a couple of years ago. I am very sorry to share that Dorothy’s husband, Robert Knowles, passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. Click here to read more about Bob: Robert Knowles | Hamiltons Funeral Home.
Dorothy and Bob’s story of love lost and then found again was one for the ages and all of us on the ABI staff believe it would make a great film someday. Death is never easy, but when it comes suddenly and without warning, it is perhaps worse. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dorothy and her family.