Legislative News
Advocacy in Action Award Presented to Kim Augspurger
At the annual ABI Advanced Manufacturing Conference on October 3, ABI Board Chair David Bywater presented Kim Augspurger, president of Saxton, Inc., with the Advocacy in Action Award. This award goes to an ABI member who exhibits exceptional leadership in the area of public policy and advocacy.
Pictured: ABI Board Chair David Bywater; Saxton President Kim Augspurger; Senior Vice President, Public Policy Nicole Crain; Coordinator, Public Policy Brad Hartkopf; Director, Public Policy Jessica Hyland
Augspurger serves on the ABI Board of Directors and has been a vocal advocate for small business and women business owners. She invites elected officials and administration officials to Saxton, Inc. as a way to increase dialogue among elected officials and business owners. In addition to her leadership at Saxton, she takes part in ABI's legislative events, attends public policy committees and is a gold level contributor to ABI's Iowa Industry PAC. Congratulations, Kim! Click here to read the news release. Click here to read more about the Advocacy in Action Award.
ABI Policy Team to Host Election Update Call
Investors in ABI's political action committee, IIPAC, will have the opportunity to participate in an investors' only teleconference call on Friday, October 26 at 8:30 a.m. The call will include an in-depth analysis of competitive House and Senate races, as well as opportunities for you to share information with others about the election. If you would like to participate in this conference call and have not yet invested in IIPAC, you can do so here. If you are an IIPAC investor and want to participate, please RSVP to Michelle Vollstedt .

ABI Members Meet with Legislators and Candidates
In case you haven't subscribed to the weekly ABI Election Update yet, the newsletter has featured photos of ABI members and staff with Friend of Iowa Business-endorsed candidates. Thank you to all IIPAC investors and ABI members who have taken time out of their schedules to meet with candidates and educate them about pro-jobs policies. Stay tuned for more photos, or subscribe to the ABI Election update!
Pictured: Past ABI Board Chair and Gold IIPAC investor Dave Zrostlik, Stellar Industries, meets with Friend of Iowa Business and 100% pro-jobs legislator Rep. Terry Baxter (R-Garner)
Pictured: Bronze IIPAC investor Bob Camblin, Camblin Mechanical, meets with Friend of Iowa Business-endorsed candidate Ray Bubba Sorensen (R-Greenfield)
Federal Spotlight: Canada Joins Agreement with U.S. and Mexico on Trade
The United States and Canada struck an accord late Sunday night concerning a new trade deal that would replace NAFTA. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was announced Monday by President Trump. Some of the highlights of the $1.2 trillion pact include increasing the auto rules of origin, strengthening standards designed to protect intellectual property of American companies, Canada allowing greater access to its dairy market and higher wages for Mexican auto workers, which is meant to remove the competitive advantage Mexico has over the U.S. in that regard. Keep reading.

DNR Seeks Comment on 2015 Ozone State Implementation Plan
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sent an email requesting public comment on Iowa's state implementation plan (SIP) for the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone. Federal law requires states to adopt and submit a plan to the EPA for implementation and enforcement within three years.  During the last revision, the ozone standard was lowered from 0.075 parts per million (ppm) to 0.070 ppm per eight-hour average concentration. An electronic copy of the 2015 ozone infrastructure SIP may be viewed here .  Keep reading .
Manufacturing Leaders Recognized
Pictured: Tim Greene with Quality Machine of Iowa
Elevate Advanced Manufacturing Honors Significant Contributions to Iowa's Economy 
In its fourth annual Legends in Iowa Manufacturing event, Elevate Advanced Manufacturing, a program of ABI, recognized leaders in manufacturing at an awards dinner on Tuesday night. Over 200 people attended the event at the Meadows Events & Conference Center in Altoona. 

Awards were presented to the following individuals, companies and organizations:  
  • Tim Greene of Quality Machine in Audubon won the Legend of Manufacturing award for companies with fewer than 100 employees. 
  • Richard Davidson of Thombert, Inc., located in Newton, won the Legend of Manufacturing award for companies having between 100-300 employees. 
  • Jim Tyler and Kirk Tyler of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling based in Atlantic was awarded the Legend of Manufacturing award for companies with more than 300 employees. 
  • Roger Brown of Precision Pulley Idler in Pella won the Manufacturer Export award. 
  • West Delaware County Community School District and the Delaware County manufacturers Henderson Products, XL Specialized Trailers and Paladin Implements were chosen as the Legends in Manufacturing Champion. 
  • Eugene Sukup of Sukup Manufacturing received the Posthumous Legends award.
  • Kelly Mitchell of DMACC Business Resources is the 2018 Elevate Ambassador of Year.  
Be a Presenter
ABI is Accepting Workshop Proposals for Annual Conference
You may now submit a workshop proposal for the 2019 Taking Care of Business Conference in Ames.  ABI is looking for speakers for the 2019 Taking Care of Business Conference who can deliver dynamic, engaging sessions with a strong emphasis on takeaways. Workshops will be held on Wednesday, June 5. The deadline for submission is December 1. Email Emily Betz, conference programming co-chair, with questions.
From the Desk of...
ABI: Always Focused on Your Future

Mike Ralston
President

How can ABI help you and your business? That question--and delivering on the answer to the question--drives our work at the association and is really what ABI is all about.

For any organization that is 115 years old such as ABI, things tend to ebb and flow over time. Unless action is taken, there will be a lot more ebbing than flowing and ultimately, the organization won't be in a position to be successful.

Thankfully for you as an ABI member, the association's board of directors and former chairs of the board provide leadership that ensures ABI will be successful. The board develops a plan each year and focuses on results. Thanks to that leadership and that focus, ABI knows at all times whether or not it is achieving success.

You know about our work in public policy, in foundation programs and in events. That work is ongoing, and in every instance, ABI and the ABI Foundation are experiencing record success in those areas. What you may not know is the board also develops other objectives and ensures ABI pays attention to them as well. Keep reading.
Top News
Applied Art & Technology Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Applied Art & Technology, a creative studio in Urbandale, celebrated its 25th anniversary in September.  From the Apple Newton in 1993 to 360-degree cameras today, Applied Art & Technology has seen it, and used it, all to create imaginative video stories for customers across almost every industry. Founded in the fall of 1993, just a few months before the Internet was born, George Christ, founder/partner, credits a focus on creative talent and new technology for keeping the business fresh over the 25-year span. Read more.

NICC and Norplex-Micarta Partner for Future Workforce Development
Partnerships and workforce training agreements between community colleges in Iowa and local companies are helping to recruit new employees, upskill current employees and encourage business growth.  Norplex-Micarta, a state-of-the-art high pressure composite manufacturer in Postville, partners with Northeast Iowa Community College to train its new and current employees. Its work with the college has enabled Norplex-Micarta to expand its workforce and reach the next generation of young workers. Keep reading.

Boeing Awarded U.S. Air Force Advanced Pilot Training System Contract
Boeing has been awarded the $9.2 billion contract for the U.S. Air Force advanced pilot training system. It includes 351 jets and associated ground-based training and support. Boeing and its partner, Saab, submitted the only clean-sheet design for the $9.2 billion contract, which covers classroom training, simulators and an all-new fighter-like training aircraft. More than 90 percent of the Boeing T-X, including the production work of Boeing's partner, Saab, will be made in the United States. In total more than 17,000 jobs in 34 states will be supported by effort. Final assembly will take place in St. Louis, Missouri.
Governor's Club Sponsors