November Board Meeting Next Week - Monday Memo 10/31/22
October 31, 2022
Board, Executive Committee to Meet Next Week
Both the ABI Board of Directors and the ABI Executive Committee will meet a week from Wednesday (November 9). ABI Chair Kim Augspurger (Pigott, Des Moines) will call to order the final board meeting of 2022 at 11:30 a.m. The board will meet at ABI and lunch will be served. The Executive Committee will meet immediately prior to the board meeting.
A review of the annual audit, an update regarding the conference, policy discussions, and your business reports are highlights of the agenda. In addition, the board will receive the usual operational reports... and there may be a surprise or two in store for those attending the meeting.
If you haven't already done so, please register your attendance by simply replying to this message. A link to access the usual packet of reports and reference materials will come your way later this week. In the meantime and on behalf of Kim and our ABI officers, I look forward to seeing you next week.
Next Connecting Statewide Leaders Event in Ames in December
The first 2022-2023 Connecting Statewide Leaders event will be held December 1 in Ames. 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. Register now for this program, which will focus on innovation and technology in the workplace and keeping your employees safe: Summary - Connecting Statewide Leaders - Ames (cvent.com). Make your plans now to join the LI class and ABI members in Ames in December.
LI CONNECT Coming Your Way
The ABI Foundation’s Leadership Iowa program is a national leader. And it’s not just for the current class. Foundation staff members have developed a series of events to engage LI alumni and others interested in learned more about emerging issues.
The LI CONNECT series has several events upcoming. The next LI CONNECT program will be held November 16th using a virtual format. For more information or to register, please go to: Meeting Registration - Zoom.
Leadership Iowa Class in SW Iowa this Week
Speaking of the ABI Foundation and LI, the Foundation's 2022-2023 Leadership Iowa class will hold its second session this week in Red Oak and Scranton. The session will focus on agriculture and renewable energy. Thank you to all of you for your support for Leadership Iowa.
If you are seeking a Manufacturing/Accounting Professional for your Plant, Contact Me
In 17 years, this is only the third time I have done this, but I have learned that because everyone is on the lookout for good people, you sometimes appreciate information about potential hires. Thus, I include this item to let you know of an individual who has experience in manufacturing, operations, and accounting and is seeking to join a new company. He is a vice president at a manufacturer in far SE Iowa and is looking to relocate elsewhere in Iowa. He has held senior positions in accounting and in manufacturing operations. While I have met him, I do not know him well. I know his family and think highly of them. The son wishes to do something new, to work for a new employer. Many of you are seeking talent, so I hope it is okay that I let you know in this manner of someone who might be right for your organization. If you are interested in learning more, please reply to this memorandum and thank you.
ABI, CIRAS to Host Supply Chain Seminars in November
Register now for important seminars coming your way next week and the week after next. On November 10th and again on November 15th, ABI will partner with CIRAS (the Center for Industrial Research and Service at Iowa State University) to produce seminars related to supply chain. The seminar on the 10th will focus on managing supply chain challenges. On the 15th, the focus will be on supply chain issues in chaotic times such as those now being experienced.
For the November 10th seminar, which takes place in Atlantic, click here to register: Summary - State of Manufacturing: Supply Chain Challenges (cvent.com). For the event on the 15th, which will be held in Oskaloosa, please click here: Summary - Supply Chains in Times of Chaos (cvent.com). I look forward to seeing you at either or both events.
2023 ABI Legislative Reception on January 11
One of the association's most popular events is the annual legislative reception. ABI members are proud that the reception has traditionally drawn more Iowa legislators (of both parties) than similar events hosted by any other organization. All 150 legislators and the Governor and Lieutenant Governor will again be invited to join you at the 2023 reception, which will be held January 11 (the same day as the January ABI Board Meeting) at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines.
Mark your calendars now. You can register for the event/find more information about the event by clicking on Summary - Legislative Briefing and Reception (cvent.com). Your attendance at this important event is vital for ABI to advance its pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda.
Check Photos from Legends Dinner and Manufacturing Conference; You May be in them
There were greats crowd for two annual ABI events held earlier this month. Both the Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner and the 2022 ABI Manufacturing Conference brought ABI members together from across Iowa. ABI Marketing and Communications Director Kelsey Smith has now posted photos from the events to the ABI webpage. You may view them here: Photos | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org). Click to see if you are featured!
Conference Breakout Proposals due December 1
The members of the ABI Conference Committee are putting together plans for a spectacular Taking Care of Business Conference. The 2023 conference will be held next June in Cedar Rapids.
Speaking of the annual conference, now is the time for interested parties to submit their responses to the breakout session RFP. Conference attendees have given very high marks to the breakout sessions in recent years and much of that is due to the very competitive process related to those sessions. The deadline for proposals is December 1 and you can click here for more information: Taking Care of Business Conference | Iowa Association of Business and Industry (iowaabi.org). The conference will be held in June 13-15 of next year. Mark your calendars now and watch for more information soon.
ABI Staff Works Hard for You
These memos are about you, ABI leaders. In this instance, however, please allow me to share a note about our ABI staff. Last Wednesday at ABI member CIPCO (Central Iowa Power Cooperative) in Des Moines, the association staff held a retreat. Thank you to CIPCO and to ABI member Jen Neumann (De Novo Marketing, Cedar Rapids), who facilitated the day’s activities and led us to a terrific outcome. It was great day of learning and comradeship.
ABI is fortunate to have a staff full of dedicated professionals, talented, and good at what they do. They are simply good people. And they are focused on providing value for ABI members. When you next see them, please join me in thanking Nicole Crain, Kendall Antle, Becky Coady, JD Davis, Jane Galloway, Brad Hartkopf, Levi Lefebure, Jessi McQuerrey, Holly Mueggenberg, Kelsey Smith, and Michelle Vollstedt. I am grateful every day to get to work with them.
NAM Weekly: Mortgage Rates Increase, Housing Demand Decreases
Last week’s Monday Economic Report, published by the National Association of Manufacturers, focused first on housing data. The U.S. economy is seeing increased mortgage rates, which are leading to decreased housing demand. There is a lot of other data in the report, of course, so reply to this memo if you would like to read the report and I’ll get it to you at once.
Cindy Dietz to Celebrate
Immediate Past ABI Chair Cindy Dietz (Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids) celebrates her birthday this Sunday, November 6th. ABI sends best birthday wishes to Cindy Dietz!