Looking to Next Year - Monday Memo 11/15/21

2022 ABI Legislative Briefing, Reception in January

One of ABI’s most popular events each year is the annual legislative reception (the annual members-only legislative briefing precedes it).  This important association meeting provides an opportunity for you and your employees to visit with your legislators in a fun and casual setting.  Traditionally, more legislators attend this event than any other similar event held throughout the session and it is important for ABI members to be on hand to share business perspectives with them. 

The 2022 Reception will be held Wednesday, January 12.  Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, all 150 members of the Iowa General Assembly, and other state officials have been invited again this year.  Don’t miss this opportunity to greet your legislators and share important business issues with them.  

You can register now by going to Summary - Legislative Briefing and Reception (cvent.com) and clicking on the button at the top of the page.  The event will be held at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines (all appropriate health and safety protocols will be followed) and it will follow the January meeting of the ABI Board of Directors.  See you there.  

ABI to Host Event December 2 in Pella

As you know, ABI will soon host another event designed to bring value to your company.  On the morning of December 2, ABI will host the next in a series of Connecting Statewide Leaders events.  You can register for the Connecting Statewide Leaders event now at Summary - Connecting Statewide Leaders - Pella (cvent.com).  

Advisory Council to Meet Thursday

The ABI Advisory Council will meet Thursday.  This will mark the panel's final business meeting of 2021.  Thank you to ABI Advisory Council members Anthologic, ACS, AssuredPartners, BCC Advisers, BrownWinick, CIRAS, CliftonLarsonAllen, EMC, Focus OneSource, Fredrikson & Byron, HDH Advisors, Principal, The Iowa Clinic, and Wells Fargo for your leadership and support! 

December Executive Committee Meeting on the 9th

The ABI Executive Committee will hold its next regularly-scheduled monthly meeting by Zoom at 9:30 a.m. on December 9.  ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa) and members of the committee will work through a full agenda and the teleconference will mark the final ABI leadership meeting of 2021.  

Executive Committee members should watch for their usual meeting prep packets to arrive around December 2.  Thank you in advance for your participation in this important meeting. 

First ABI Board Meeting of 2022 on January 12

The January meeting of the ABI Board of Directors is traditionally one of the association’s busiest and best attended.  The board will meet Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at the Community Choice Credit Union in Des Moines and the ABI Executive Committee will meet immediately prior.  

Your attendance is needed to ensure this important meeting goes well.  Please mark your calendars now to join your ABI colleagues on January 12 in Des Moines.  

Leadership Iowa Alumni Society Annual Membership Drive Now Underway

Alumni of the ABI Foundation’s Leadership Iowa program are some of the program’s strongest supporters.  Now is the time of year that the program is seeking all LI alumni to join the Leadership Iowa Alumni Society for the 2022-2022 program year.  The $100 membership, which is fully tax deductible, supports this year’s alumni engagement efforts as well as the development of the LI program and tis participants. 

The Foundation reports that the Alumni Society is well on its way to one of its best years ever, even surpassing last year’s record-setting numbers.  Credit card payments may be made online at www.leadershipiowa.com or call Foundation team member Jane Galloway at (515) 235-0578 for more information.  Thank you in advance for your support. 

Foundation Asks: Please Remember #Giving Tuesday

Speaking of the Foundation, please remember #GivingTuesday.  The hashtag signifies a global day of giving fueled by social media and collaboration.  

The statistics for this online event are growing exponentially.  Last year, nearly 4 billion people collectively gave more than $515 million in more than 250 countries.  The event is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely-represented shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  

Please remember that the ABI Foundation hopes you will participate in #GivingTuesday this November 30th by supporting their programs.  Please support the ABI Foundation through #GivingTuesday and don't hesitate to contact Foundation Development Director Becky Coady for more information at rcoady@iowaabi.org or at (515) 235-0569. 

Make Your 2022 Annual Conference Lodging Reservations Now

In last week's memo, I noted that it is not too early to make your lodging reservation for the 202 Taking Care of Business Conference.  The conference will be held in Dubuque June 14-16 of next year. 

Rooms are going fast, so make your reservations now.  The Hotel Julien and the Grand Harbor Resort are the main conference hotels.  Click on this link for more information: https://www.iowaabi.org/events/annual-conference/.  Watch for some other exciting conference announcements in the coming weeks. 

ABI Holds Last Board Meeting of Calendar Year

Last week in Des Moines, members of the ABI Board of Directors met for the final board meeting of 2021.  Record November attendance and great discussion marked the day.  Operations reports, the annual audit presentation, program announcements, and board member’s business updates were highlights of the day.  

Thank you to board members and former board chairs for your participation in a great meeting.  On behalf of ABI Chair Jack Hasken (Jackson Mfg., Maquoketa), thank you for helping the final 2021 board meeting go so well. 

Lori Schaefer-Weaton Accepts STEP Ahead Award

Some months ago, ABI told you of two female members who were selected for the year’s STEP Ahead Awards.  The award, present by The Manufacturing Institute and the National Association of Manufacturers, honors women leaders involved in manufacturing.  This year, 1,000 women were nominated and 130 were selected to receive this honor. 

Former ABI Chair Lori Schaefer-Weaton (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield), her husband, ABI leader Nate Weaton (Weaton Capital, Fairfield), and her father, company founder Dick Smith (Agri-Industrial Plastics Company, Fairfield) all participated in the awards dinner in Washington, DC the week before last.  I’m told it was a very special evening and Lori is certainly deserving of this honor; congratulations, Lori! 

Lorenger, Management Team Honored

HNI Corporation Chairman and CEO Jeff Lorenger (HNI Corporation, Muscatine) and the HNI management team will be honored Thursday with the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business’ Oscar C. Schmidt Award.  The award is being presented because of HNI’s longtime contributions to Iowa Business.  Read more about this honor here: Tippie honors Jeff Lorenger and HNI leadership team for contributions to Iowa business | Tippie College of Business (uiowa.edu).  Congratulations to Mr. Lorenger, to company executive and Immediate Past ABI Chair Steven Bradford (HNI Corporation, Muscatine), and everyone on the management team at HNI for this terrific award! 

Anthologic Buys Flatout

ABI member Anthologic last week acquired Flatout, a leading brand-building company especially active in the automotive, pharmaceutical, and communications markets.  The move allows Anthologic to expand its Atlanta office and expand its service delivery.  

The company also recently moved into its brand new headquarters in Des Moines’ East Village (welcome, neighbor).  Congratulations to everyone at Anthologic, including company President and ABI Board Member Kevin Lentz (Anthologic, Des Moines)!