Legislative News
Legislative Vote Records Now Available Online
Each year, through the public policy committee process, ABI members determine what policies and priorities are important to the business community. More than 300 members participate in the process from beginning to end. Then ABI advocates for these policy statements during the legislative session on your behalf. The last two years have been excellent years to advance policies that benefit Iowa employers and the hundreds of thousands of people they employ. As a way to help members know where legislators stand on pro-economic growth issues, ABI publishes voting records. The 2018 voting records are now available online for you to view. Click here to view the voting records for the Iowa House and Senate. The records also have a brief description of each bill. If you have questions about how your legislator voted, please contact Brad Hartkopf .
 
More than 20 New Faces in the Iowa Legislature; Your Support is Needed
The November election is a little more than three months away, and ABI wants to ensure candidates who support business policies are elected to the Legislature and state offices. To be successful in our efforts, we need your help. You may have recently received a letter from ABI PAC Board Chair Kirk Tyler asking for support. If you have not yet returned your personal contribution in the mail, please consider a credit card contribution today. If you are a manager, consider $100 to support pro-jobs candidates. If you are an executive or company owner, we hope you will commit $500 to support pro-jobs candidates. A lot of progress has been made the last few years, and we need to make sure the momentum continues. Click here to contribute today!
 
Federal Spotlight: Trump Issues Executive Order Focused on Job Training
President Trump signed an executive order last week that creates two new entities aimed at expanding job training and apprenticeship opportunities for American workers. The National Council for the American Worker will be comprised of 10 federal officials who will create recommendations aimed at developing "a national strategy for empowering American workers." The American Workforce Policy Advisory Board will be made up of the secretary of commerce and an advisor to the president. It will also include 25 other members appointed by the president, which will include private employers, representatives from states and leaders from educational institutions. Some of the key goals of the initiative are to develop a national campaign to raise awareness of workforce issues, expand the number of apprenticeships, and encourage increased investment in training and retraining American workers. ABI members can join this effort by signing a pledge to support American workers. If you are interested in learning more and signing the pledge, please contact Mike Ralston. You can read more here .
 
Federal Spotlight: Senate and House Approved CTE Legislation; Heads to President's Desk
The U.S. Senate passed the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act via voice vote on Monday evening. The Senate amended H.R. 2353, which meant the legislation went back to the House where they concurred with the amended version and passed it on a voice vote Wednesday afternoon. The bill revises and updates the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. The legislation aims to provide more federal support for CTE programs and help individuals obtain the skills and education they need by empowering state and local community leaders, improving alignment with in-demand jobs, increasing transparency and accountability, and ensuring a limited federal role. Click the links to see a fact sheet and summary of the original bill.    
 
State Leaders to Speak at Policy Meetings
 ABI's annual public policy development will begin in less than two weeks, and there is still plenty of time for you to register. We have secured many great speakers for the meetings to help frame the discussion for the policy development phase of the meeting. The economic growth committee will hear from Director Durham, and the environment committee will hear from top leaders at Iowa DNR. There are excellent speakers at the other committee meetings, and we hope you will consider attending one meeting or all five! Click here to see a full list of meetings and sign up to participate.
Advanced Manufacturing Events
Register Now for Advanced Manufacturing Conference, Awards Dinner
Registration is now open for the 2018 Advanced Manufacturing Conference, October 3, at the Prairie Meadows Events and Conference Center in Altoona. This is a can't-miss event for Iowa manufacturers and those who want to do business with them. Plus, join us the night before at the Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner. Register for both events now.
Reserve Your Room
Book Your Hotel Room Now for the 2019 Conference
Hotel rooms for ABI's annual conference sell out faster and faster each year. It's not too early to book your room. The 2019 Taking Care of Business Conference is June 4-6 in Ames. Get the discount code and reserve your room now at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center and the Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites. Click here and select the "Hotels" tab.
From the Desk of...
Are You Trying to Prepare Future Leaders? Try Executive Coaching.   

Ann Block
Vice President, Client Relations

There has been a lot of attention on the topic of succession planning due to the increased numbers of baby boomers retiring or moving out of their lead roles in organizations. Why? Statistics show in a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey done with more than 1,600 family owned or managed businesses around the world, 27 percent expect to transition or change hands in the next five years. A staggering 47 percent (almost half!) of the companies have no succession plans in place. The Family Business Institute indicates only 30 percent of family owned businesses survive the second generation, and only 12 percent survive to the third generation. Keep reading.
ABI President Honored 
Pictured: Dr. Liang Chee Wee, president of Northeast Iowa Community College and Mike Ralston, president of ABI.

ABI President Honored for Contributions to Iowa Community Colleges
Last Thursday, ABI President Mike Ralston received the Larry Ebbers Award at the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees (IACCT) Conference in Mason City.  The award is given by the IACCT Board to honor statewide contributions to community colleges and strong leadership for their mission.  "This award is really ABI's award," said Ralston, "thanks to all of the great efforts of ABI members and staff."
Top News
CIBC Releases Midwest Economy and Manufacturing Report
The CIBC Economics team has released an insightful report, "Midwest vs the Rest: How the Heartland is Faring."  It provides a detailed overview of the region including growth status, its impact on the labor market, key indicators, and how the evolving landscape is further influencing manufacturing and the economy. Read the report.

Legends in Manufacturing Nominations Due on August 3
On October 2, Elevate Advanced Manufacturing, an ABI program, will recognize six outstanding leaders in manufacturing at the Legends in Manufacturing Awards Dinner. See the award categories and download a nomination form  here. Hurry, nominations are due on August 3.

Forbes Names Principal America's Best Employer for Women
Principal Financial Group in Des Moines has been named America's best employer for women by Forbes. According to Forbes, "While benefits such as flexible work schedules, prenatal care programs and an onsite childcare center help Principal Financial attract female employees, it's the company's commitment to equality that retains them." Read the Forbes article.

Are You Wasting Your Time Motivating And Delegating To Employees?      
Many new and existing leaders are. Here is your chance to avoid costing yourself hours and even days of effort and learn the most effective ways to motivate and delegate. Due to demand, a normally exclusive leadership program by Tero is being added as a public workshop.  This one-day program, "Tapping Into Internal Motivation & The Art of Delegation," will be August 21.   Click here for information and to register today .     

Kent Corporation Featured at White House Event
Two leaders of Kent Corporation, an Iowa feed company, were part of a "Made In America" showcase at the White House on Monday.  The company was the  only one from Iowa and the only ag company that was part of the event. Read the article from Radio Iowa.

Elevate Advanced Manufacturing to Hold Ambassador Training
Help promote careers in advanced manufacturing by becoming an Elevate Advanced Manufacturing ambassador. The next ambassador training will be September 11, 8:30 a.m.-noon, at the John T. Blong Technology Center in Davenport. There is no cost to attend. To register for the training, email Alexandra at [email protected]. Learn more about the ambassador program here.
Governor's Club Sponsors
Executive's Club Sponsors
3M
Manatts Construction Company, Inc.      
ACT, Inc           
McKee, Voorhees & Seese
Altria Client Services LLC                                
Meredith Corp
American Solutions for Business
Monsanto
Baker Group
Musco Corporation
Bankers Trust Company                   
Nationwide
Bank of the West
Nestle Purina Pet Care Company 
Barton Solvents Inc.                          
Prairie Meadows
BKD, LLP                
Pratum               
Casey's General Stores, Inc.                           
RSM US LLP                 
Caterpillar, Inc
Saxton, Inc.                 
CIRAS    
 SSAB Americas                                   
Corridor Business Journal        
Storey Kenworthy Office Interiors & Products
Delta Dental of Iowa                                                        
Sukup Manufacturing Co             
Diamond Vogel Paint        
TrueNorth Companies LLC
EFCO Corp
Tyson Foods
Emerson/Fisher                                       
Unite Private Networks
Geater Machining & Mfg. Co.
Universal Printing Services

Holmes Murphy & Associates, Inc.
University of Iowa - Des Moines Programs

Honkamp Krueger & Co.                 
Upper Iowa University
Hormel Foods Corporation
UTC Aerospace Systems

Kirkwood Community College
West Bank
Lennox Manufacturing Inc
Whirlpool
LWBJ
Wilson Trailer Company               
LyondellBasell Industries
Winnebago Industries, Inc.