Monday Memo 1/20/25
January 20, 2025
ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception: A Success
Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, the leadership of the Iowa General Assembly, dozens of legislators of both parties and chambers, statewide elected officials such as Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, State Treasurer Roby Smith, state department heads, and ABI members have shared wonderful comments regarding the 2025 ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception held last week. The attendance eclipsed previous years, and the blizzard-free weather was a nice change from last year!
Prior to the reception, the annual legislative briefing was highlighted by remarks by ABI Vice President Public Policy JD Davis and ABI Senior Director Public Policy Brad Hartkopf. As you heard in last week’s board meeting from Chad, me, JD, and Brad; your interaction with legislators is important and makes the event such a key component to advancing ABI’s agenda each year. THANK YOU for your support of the 2025 ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception and sending a strong positive message to the Legislature and membership about the importance of ABI.
Board Holds First Meeting of 2025
Members of the ABI Board of Directors met last Wednesday prior to the ABI Legislative Briefing and Reception. ABI Chair Chad Reece (Winnebago Industries, Forest City) led the board through a fast-paced meeting, which was the board's first of 2025. Thank you to all of you who joined us in Des Moines last week. Highlights of the meeting if you couldn’t join us included: electing Kristine (Kris) Martins (Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling) and Tim Coonan (Hubbell Realty) to the Board; business updates and announcement of a new fundraiser for the ABI Foundation at conference.
Board members also went around the room to share updates about their business or upcoming events. Two notables: Kelli O’Brien (Union Pacific) invited Board members to attend Union Pacific’s legislative reception at Ken’s Speak Easy, in the basement of the Tap Room, in downtown Des Moines. If you would like to attend, please let me know. Another update shared was from Chip Reeves (MidWestOne Bank) about the University of Dubuque launching the first medical school in more than a century in Iowa. The project would not be possible without the generosity of former ABI Board Chair, John Butler (Cottingham & Butler) and his wife Alice. Congratulations to the University of Dubuque as well as the community and thank you to the Butler family for your continued generous investment in Iowa’s future.
The next Board meeting will be held on March 12 in Des Moines. ABI Executive Administrative Assistant, Michelle Vollstedt will be sending an email in the coming weeks to have you RSVP for that meeting, held in conjunction with Business Day in Des Moines.
Leadership Iowa Alumni Dinner Record Crowd
In addition to a fabulous networking event at the Legislative Reception; the Leadership Iowa alumni dinner had record attendance. The dinner included the currently Leadership Iowa class, and the previous classes all sat together. It was fun to be part of a such an energetic evening. The “Best Class Ever” was announced and Dr. Liang Chee Wee was honored with honorary Leadership Iowa Lifetime Alumni award.
First ABI Legislative Zoom Meeting of 2025 on the 24th
ABI's Public Policy team will hold 2025’s first Zoom update related to the work of the Iowa General Assembly this coming Friday. The meeting will be held on January 24 at 8:00 a.m. The Zoom conferences typically last about 30 minutes and you and your employees are invited to participate. Please click here for more information and to register for the update. Registering for one update will sign you up for future updates during the session
January Business Monthly Published
As you have read in past editions of the Memo, each month ABI partners with member company Corridor Media Group to publish a monthly member newsprint. The ABI Business Monthly, is included once a month in the Corridor Business Journal and the Quad Cities Business Journal. Not only do all ABI members receive our news, but so do all subscribers of the CBJ and the QCBJ. This partnership has resulted in increased exposure for ABI and new members in Eastern Iowa. The January edition of the Business Monthly has just published. You can find it on the ABI website as well as in your mailboxes. In addition to the increased visibility for ABI, the Corridor Media Group has been a great partner. They offer ABI members discounted subscription to their news publication and to their business focused events. Click here to learn more about the partnership.
DC Trip Planned in 2025; Your Feedback Requested
Many of you received an email from ABI Senior Director, Public Policy Brad Hartkopf regarding ABI’s high-value biennial fly-in to Washington D.C. later this fall. The fly-ins include meeting with all six of Iowa’s congressional delegation; briefings with the National Association of Manufacturing and BIPAC, as well as the White House Office of Political Affairs and USDA. Your feedback is requested on the best date(s) to conduct the trip. Please click here if you are interested. It will take less than one minute.
2025 ABI Conference Planning Continues
Registration opens ONE MONTH from today for the Taking Care of Business Conference. This year, for the first time, it will be held in Council Bluffs. If you haven't already done so, plan now to attend this great meeting. Throughout the next couple of weeks conference planning continues with interviews of workshop speakers and finalizing the remaining keynote. Rooms are selling out fast, so reserve your room now by clicking on the conference site: Taking Care of Business Conference | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org). Thank you for making plans now to join ABI in June!
CIRAS Board Meets Thursday
ABI member-partner is Iowa State University's Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS). CIRAS serves as the state’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and a resource for Iowa manufacturers and businesses of all kinds throughout Iowa’s 99 counties. ABI has strategically partnered with CIRAS on events, conferences, and roundtables that provide resources to manufacturers. ABI leaders have also been involved in CIRAS, and several are current members of the CIRAS Industry Advisory Board. The board will meet Thursday in Ames. Watch for news of any developments in next week's ABI Monday Memo.
Past Chairs Celebrate
Former ABI Chair Toby Shine (Shine Bros. Corp., Spencer) will celebrate his birthday on January 23. In addition to Shine Bros. Corp, Toby has a beautiful venue in Okoboji Classic Cars and has hosted ABI Annual Conference dinners, Leadership Iowa and Executive Forum dinners. If you haven’t been, you should check it out. Whether in Milford, Spencer or elsewhere; all of us at ABI are sending you warm birthday wishes!
Another past Chair, former Fisher-Emerson executive Paul Gregoire celebrates this month! Happy birthday to you, Paul, and all of us ABI look forward to an update on your woodworking projects!
Josh Wilford Promoted
Congratulations to ABI Board Member, Josh Wilford (Emerson/Fisher, Marshalltown)! Josh was just named President, Isolation Valves for Emerson. Josh has been with the company for more than 20 years and has served in different roles from plant manager to most recently to VP/GM Americas before his promotion to President. Please join me in congratulating Josh on this recent promotion!
Food for Thought: Contagious Issues
I write this week’s memo from the National Association of State Chambers CEO winter meeting. During the roundtable discussion yesterday, a fellow pro-business state association leader referenced what our peers in other states are facing. He put it perfectly and stated that although we may not see these issues in our states currently, they should be considered contagious issues. As we look at the coasts, but also our neighbors of Minnesota and Illinois; there are several dangerous policy proposals that begin in those states that can make their way to Iowa. As an association that represents businesses, we need to help educate the public and media as to what could happen if some of the contagious ideas spread to Iowa. ABI’s public policy team of JD Davis and Brad Hartkopf do that each day at the Capitol. However, we also need to remind Iowa businesses the importance of being part of ABI so they can see the trends and have the resources to respond before they become an issue.
MLK Jr. Day; President Trump Inauguration
Today marks the recognition of Martin Luther Jr. King Day. MLK Jr. Day is also the only Federal Holiday that serves as a day of service, recognizing Dr. King’s legacy and focus
Today also marks the inauguration of President Trump. As we recognize the day, a few interesting facts: the last time MLK Jr. Day and the inauguration fell on the same day was in 1983. President Reagan was the President. Similarly, President Reagan was also the President the last time a swearing-in ceremony was moved inside due to cold during his 1985 inauguration. President Trump will take the office at approximately Noon ET. For more information about the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony, click here.