05 Apr 2013

Loebsack Statement on Department of Labor's March Jobs Report

By Rick Martin

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor's announcement that the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent in March and the economy added 88,000 jobs.

"Today's job report confirms what many Iowans already know - our economy has been hurting and near stagnant for far too long.  This is unacceptable.

"Over the past two weeks, I brought together stakeholders in education, workforce development, labor and business to discuss how we can grow our local economy and put Iowans back to work.  These roundtables allowed people working on the ground to identify the challenges we are facing and come up with solutions as to how to best get the economy back on track.

"What I heard time and again was the need for a better trained workforce.  We have to close this so-called skills gap between the kinds of skills workers have and the kind of skills that businesses need.  This is why I have introduced legislation called the SECTORS Act that links together businesses, labor organizations, local stakeholders, and education and training providers.  This bill will work on the local level to ensure employees are properly trained so they can effectively compete in the 21st Century global economy.  I will continue to work with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to grow industry here at home and start building things in America again. Washington cannot be allowed to continue to stand in the way."

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05 Apr 2013

Governor Quinn Works to Increase Illinois Agricultural Exports During Trade Mission to Mexico

By Leslie Wertheimer

Mexico is Illinois' Third Largest Agricultural Customer

MEXICO CITY - Speaking to an audience of key leaders and decision-makers, Governor Pat Quinn promoted Illinois agricultural exports during his trade mission to Mexico - already one of the state's biggest agricultural customers. The governor's trade mission is part of his agenda to drive Illinois' economy forward and create jobs. Following last night's event, today the governor will tour Ingredion Inc.'s Mexico City agricultural production facility. Earlier this year Governor Quinn cut the ribbon on the company's new production facility in Bedford Park, Illinois.

"Agriculture is big business in Illinois, and Mexico is one of our best customers," Governor Quinn said. "Every year, almost 40 percent of our commodities - the corn and soybeans we grow and the pork and beef we raise - are sold overseas. With sales of $8.2 billion, Illinois currently is the third largest agricultural exporter in the United States, and Mexico is one of our most loyal agricultural trading partners."

Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Bob Flider and representatives of several Illinois agricultural companies have joined Governor Quinn on the trade mission, including ADM, Tate and Lyle, and Ingredion.  The Illinois delegation is meeting with top Mexican agriculture officials to reaffirm the state's existing trade relationship and discuss having Mexico purchase more Illinois agriculture and related products. Since 2010, Mexico has purchased $1.9 billion in agricultural products from Illinois, including $780 million in 2012 alone, making it the state's third largest agricultural export market.

"We are fortunate to have a governor who understands the economic vitality of Illinois depends upon its ability to cultivate global markets," Director Flider said. "Governor Quinn has set an ambitious goal of doubling Illinois exports by 2015 and created an Export Advisory Council to help achieve it. The Illinois Department of Agriculture is one of two cabinet-level agencies on the council and is playing an instrumental role in creating markets for Illinois food and agricultural products."

The Illinois Department of Agriculture maintains a trade office in Mexico City where buyers are identified and brought to Illinois for tours of grain, pork and dairy industries. The department also sponsors pavilions in Mexican trade shows and takes Illinois companies there to do business. The trade office works with the Illinois Export Advisory Council, formed by Governor Quinn to help double Illinois exports by 2015, since exports to Mexico are a major part of the council's efforts.

In the last year alone, the Illinois Department of Agriculture has participated in 13 international and domestic trade shows, led five foreign buyers' missions, facilitated 5,474 buyer-seller introductions and disseminated 1,741 trade leads. Later this month, Illinois will host the International Biotechnology Conference, where experts, universities and companies will meet to discuss and promote advancements that will help feed the world's growing population more efficiently and productively. Governor Quinn was named the 2011 BIO International Governor of the Year as a result of Illinois' efforts to provide feed, fiber and fuel to the world.

The state of Illinois has 36 million acres of land, of which 75 percent is devoted to production agriculture. In a typical year Illinois farmers grow 16 percent, or two billion bushels, of the nation's corn crop and 14 percent, or 400 million bushels, of its soybean crop, ranking second in production only to Iowa. Illinois farmers also rank fourth in pork production, marketing nearly two billion pounds of the commodity. Illinois ranks first in the country with $162 billion in sales of processed food, and many of the 2,514 plants that produce these sales are located in urban communities.

Illinois also has a large network of agribusinesses that provide the tools farmers need to produce their commodities, from seed, chemical and feed companies to equipment manufacturers and implement dealers. Combined, these agriculture and agriculture-related businesses employ nearly one of every four Illinois workers.

The Mexico trade mission is the latest by Governor Quinn as he seeks to promote Illinois to an international audience. Past missions include China and Japan in 2011, and Canada and Brazil in 2012.

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05 Apr 2013

Is Your Leadership Hurting the Bottom Line?

By Ginny Grimsley
4 'Bad Leader Behaviors' That Affect Productivity, Profits

What can business leaders and managers learn from watching the earnings of publicly traded companies?

"Plenty," says Kathleen Brush, a 25-year veteran of international business and author of "The Power of One: You're the Boss," (www.kathleenbrush.com), a guide to developing the skills necessary to become an effective, respected leader.

"When looking at the corporations reporting lower-than-expected earnings, you need to read between the lines. They are not going to admit that the reason is a failure of leadership, but 99 times out of 100 that's what it is."

She cites Oracle, the business hardware and software giant, which recently reported a quarterly revenue shortfall based on a decline in new software licenses and cloud subscriptions.

The company is "not at all pleased with our revenue growth this quarter," Oracle co-president Safra Catz told analysts. "What we really saw was a lack of urgency that we sometimes see in the sales force ..."

They are pointing the finger at the employees, but they are really admitting a failure of  leadership, Brush says.

"Do you know how simple it is for managers to motivate sales people? If indeed the lack of sales urgency is the problem. There are dozens of bad leader behaviors that can cause sales to decline," she explains.

In her work for companies around the country, from restructuring operations to improving profitability, Brush says she sees an epidemic of bad leader behaviors.

"When I point them out, most leaders downplay, or refuse to acknowledge, the impact their behaviors are having on their bottom line. But, in companies where leaders change these behaviors, employees become engaged and motivated. It is really that simple to increase productivity, innovation, and the bottom line," she says.

"If you're a boss examining your own lower-than-expected performance, instead of wasting time searching for scapegoats, look in the mirror. Most bosses unwittingly exhibit bad leader behaviors daily that cause their businesses to suffer."

Here are four increasingly prevalent and damaging behaviors:

• The unethical boss: This is a category that doesn't just annoy employees, it appalls them. As such, it's a powerful demotivater. When a boss breaks or fudges the rules, cheats, lies or indulges in behaviors that reveal a lack of moral principles, he or she loses employees' respect. Without their respect, a boss cannot lead. In addition, when a leader indulges in unethical practices, he gives his employees permission to do the same. Padding mileage reports, splurging on business travel expenses, failing to take responsibility for mistakes - they all become endorsed activities by the boss - the role model.

• The unfair boss: Our current societal efforts to treat people equally - think gay marriage, health care reform, the children of undocumented immigrants - have led to confusion among some leaders about "equality" versus "fairness" in the workplace. "I talked to a manager who gave all his employees the same pay raise because 'he wanted to be fair,' " Brush recalls. He then seemed mystified that the productivity of his best employees declined to that of an average worker. "Rewards can be powerful tools of motivation, but they must be administered fairly."

• The buddy boss: Bosses can never be buddies with their employees. Ever. Friendships neutralize the boss's authority and power. They can also cloud a leader's objectivity and hinder her ability to correct behaviors, to delegate, and to hold employees accountable. When friendships compromise output, it's the boss who will be accountable. "Be friendly to employees, but do not cross the line that muddies the relationship between boss and friend. It could cost you your job." Brush says.

• The disorganized boss: Workplaces are filled with employees who lack direction because disorganized leaders don't deliver and manage plans and strategies to guide their teams. What's the chance of an unguided team maximizing its productivity to create competitively superior innovative widgets? "What's the chance of employees being inspired by a leader who leads like a doormat or by random thoughts?" says Brush.

"As a manager, you wield a tremendous amount of power," she says. "You can be an incredibly negative power or a positive one who's looked up to by both peers and employees."

"For the latter, bosses have to purge the bad behaviors."

About Kathleen Brush

Kathleen Brush has more than two decades of experience as a senior executive with global business responsibilities. She has a Ph.D. in management and international studies. Brush has been teaching, writing and consulting on international business and leadership for companies of all sizes, public and private, foreign and domestic.

05 Apr 2013

Grassley Seeks CMS Timeline, Communications on Key Policy Decision Affecting Investors

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today asked the top government health care agency for a timeline and details of the communications on a key Medicare policy decision this week that reportedly moved stock prices when correctly predicted by an outside firm prior to public release.

Grassley asked Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the details on a key decision on Monday over Medicare Advantage payment rates.  According to the Wall Street Journal, a firm call Height Securities issued an advisory that "a deal has been hatched to protect Medicare Advantage rates" from a proposed cut, and that stocks rose as a result of the advisory.  The advisory was issued before CMS' decision became public, raising questions about whether CMS or other federal agencies involved in the decision allowed sensitive information to flow to non-governmental entities before the government made its announcement.

"This raises questions regarding political intelligence brokers' ability to gather information from CMS in order to predict market moving events," Grassley wrote.

Grassley asked for a response by April 9, when Tavenner comes before the Finance Committee for a hearing on her nomination to serve as permanent administrator.

This is the second time in recent years Grassley has asked the agency to describe its processes for dealing with political intelligence firms and others who seek to profit from government information.  In December 2011, he wrote to the agency over allegations from a then-agency employee who said nearly one dozen agency employees were made to have a lengthy meeting with a Wall Street firm in 2009 over reimbursement policy for certain medical devices.

The agency's response revealed loose procedures for dealing with outside firms, causing continued concern for Grassley.  Grassley is working on a legislative effort to require political intelligence-gathering firms to register the way lobbyists are required to register, in an effort to provide transparency into a growing industry that seeks information from Congress, the federal agencies, and the White House for financial gain, possibly to the disadvantage of everyday investors.

Grassley's letter today is available here.

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02 Apr 2013

Governor Quinn to Lead Trade Mission to Mexico

By Ryan C. Woods

Trip to Focus on Job Creation and Economic Growth Through Agriculture, Water Tech, Manufacturing and Tourism

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn will lead a trade mission to Mexico April 3 - 6 to spur economic opportunities and tourism between Illinois and Mexico. With Illinois already leading the Midwest in exports, the mission will build on the success of Governor Quinn's agenda to aggressively pursue international trade and create jobs in Illinois. He will be Illinois' first governor to visit Mexico in 13 years and only the fourth U.S. governor to visit Mexico since 2005.

"This mission will strengthen the long-standing bridges between Illinois and Mexico - especially in agriculture, water technology, manufacturing and tourism - to help fuel our state's economic growth," Governor Quinn said. "Mexico's unique and storied culture has had a major impact on our state. Illinois is home to many small businesses of Mexican heritage and many employers that will benefit from increased trade with Mexico. This trade mission will help us capitalize on available economic opportunities that will drive our economy forward."

The three-day mission will include meetings with potential trade partners and Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture, an Illinois Tourism event and the signing of a Sister Lakes pact. Governor Quinn will meet with two state governors, and the mayors of Mexico City and Patzcuáro. The trip will be launched with a briefing by U.S. Ambassador Earl "Tony" Wayne, who was named by President Obama in 2011 after serving in Argentina and Afghanistan.

One of the main objectives of the trade mission is to open the burgeoning Mexican water technology market to Illinois companies engaged in wastewater treatment and pumping technologies. Governor Quinn and the delegation will meet officials from Mexico's National Water Commission (CONAGUA) to discuss the success of the Illinois Clean Water Initiative. Spearheaded by the governor, the initiative is a $1 billion project modernizing the state's drinking water and waste treatment facilities while creating thousands of local jobs. Mexico City faces water infrastructure challenges similar to many Illinois cities, including aging pipelines, overuse, contaminants and sinkholes.

 

The trade mission also aims to increase Illinois' exports to Mexico. Exports are a significant portion of Illinois' economy and Mexico is Illinois' second-largest trade partner, as state exports to the country reached $6.4 billion in 2012. From 2009 through 2012, Illinois exports overall increased by $26.4 billion, or 63 percent - well above the national average of 47 percent.  Illinois exports that have experienced significant growth during 2012 include machinery, up 12.7 percent; plastics and rubber products, an increase of 12.2 percent; transportation equipment, a 10.3 percent increase; and electrical equipment, appliances and components, up 5.6 percent. Illinois is the fifth largest exporting state in the nation.

Mexico is among the world's leaders in corn, meat and poultry production, leading to high demand for the kinds of farm machinery made in Illinois. Agriculture and food production will be the focus of meetings with Mexico's agriculture secretary and undersecretary of foreign trade. The governor will also meet executives of Bimbo Bakeries, which owns Illinois' beloved Entenmann's Bakery. Culinary tastes in Mexico and the United States are increasingly similar, so the mission will allow Illinois food brands to promote their products in the Mexican market.

The state of Illinois maintains an office in Mexico City shared by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Department of Agriculture. These state agencies promote Illinois business and agricultural products and services to Mexico, which is Illinois' second largest export market. Illinois exports to Mexico in 2012 totaled $6.37 billion, and grew 34.1 percent in 2011 and 11.3 percent in 2012. Mexico is Illinois' third largest international market for inbound travel, contributing $103 million annually to the state's economy.

The governor will also pursue opportunities to expand Mexican tourism in Illinois. Mexico is Illinois' third-largest international market for in-bound travel with 100,000 visitors from Mexico arriving by plane alone each year, a number projected to grow 17 percent in the next four years. However, many Mexicans travel to Illinois to visit family and often do not take advantage of Illinois' diverse activities. The trade mission aims to increase Illinois' share of Mexican tourists visiting the United States and boost the length of their stay in Illinois.

Governor Quinn - who recently proclaimed "Benito Juárez Day" in Illinois to celebrate Juárez's birthday and ties to Abraham Lincoln - will participate in a solemn "Honor de Guardia" ceremony at Mexico City's Juárez Monument, and will lay wreaths at statues honoring Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He will also promote the migratory Monarch butterflies, who symbolize the long-standing relationship between Michoacán and Illinois and are the official insect of the state of Illinois.

Illinois and Mexico also have deep social ties. There are now 1.6 million persons in Illinois of Mexican origin, about one in eight Illinoisans. Mexico and Illinois have had a Sister-State relationship since 1990. Illinois and Mexico Sister-Cities include Chicago and Mexico City since 1997; Springfield and San Pedro since 1996; Highland Park and Puerto Vallarta since 2002; and Naperville and Patzcuáro since 2010.

The Mexico trade mission is the latest by Governor Quinn as he seeks to promote Illinois to a global audience. Past missions include China and Japan in 2011, and Canada and Brazil in 2012. The governor will head a delegation comprised of Illinois business leaders from such world-renowned Illinois firms as Motorola Solutions, Grundfos, Navistar and Gino's East. It also includes representatives of the Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois Manufacturers' Association, two cabinet members and Illinois Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D-Cicero).

Members of the trip's delegation include representatives from:


  • ·               University of Illinois at Chicago
  • ·               Nalco - An Ecolab
  • ·               U.S. - Mexico Chamber of Commerce Mid-America Chapter
  • ·               Ingredion Incorporated
  • ·               Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC.
  • ·               Castro Synergies
  • ·               Ervin Equipment
  • ·               Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • ·               Illinois Department of Agriculture
  • ·               Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
  • ·               GSG Consultants
  • ·               PolyBrite International, Inc.
  • ·               Illinois Manufacturer's Association
  • ·               Elan Technologies
  • ·               Motorola Solutions
  • ·               Tate and Lyle
  • ·               Navistar
  • ·               Gino's East
  • ·               Galaxy Environmental, Inc.
  • ·               Evans Food Group
  • ·               Fricold Heating and Cooling
  • ·               Grundfos North America, Water Utility
  • ·               Choose Chicago
  • ·               In-Pipe Technology Company, Inc.
  • ·               Illinois Soybean Association
  • ·               Frantz Manufacturing Company
  • ·               ADM (in-country participant)
  • ·               Caterpillar (in-country participant)
  • ·               United Airlines (in-country participant)

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02 Apr 2013

4 Ways to Turn Your Company Into an Innovation Machine

By Ginny Grimsley
Travelocity, Kayak.com Founder Offers Tips for Culture Change

The world's future leaders overwhelmingly believe that today's businesses cangrowonly if they can innovate - and that today's business leaders aren't demonstrating they're up to the task.

While that's the thinking of nearly 5,000millennials - the 20- to 33-year-old generation - at least one baby boomer, the innovator who transformed the U.S. travel industry with his creation of Travelocity and Kayak.com, agrees.

"The future for any business today depends entirely on its ability to innovate, and the youngest adults, 'the idea generation,' know that," says Terry Jones, author of "On Innovation," (www.tbjones.com/terrys-book), a light-hearted but practical guide for fostering and innovation.

"The millennials are the group known for pioneering new ideas, rethinking processes, end-running hierarchies and solving problems by doing what simply makes sense to them. We need to listen to them; they're the innovators!"

But the worldwide survey of adults born after 1982 found that only 26 percent believe their bosses are doing enough to encourage innovation. The study by Deloitte ToucheTohmatsu Limited, publishedin January, reported 78 percent believe innovation is crucial for growing businesses.

Jones says there are some definite steps business leaders can and should take to ensure their company is hearing employees' ideas, recognizingopportunities, and ensuring a clear path to execution.

1. Build a culture of experimentation. Not every project will succeed but you can't learn from mistakes if you don't allow them to happen. The corollary: Always analyze what went wrong. Why didn't it work? To use a sports analogy, watch the "game films" to improve and learn as much from failure as you do from success. One fast and easy way to experiment is to test options out online. Whether it's polling customers, measuring which approach gets the best response, or allowing a segment of your customer base to test drive a new tool, the results can be invaluable..

2. Kill projects not people. In many companies, people stop offering up ideas and volunteering for projects because the punishment for failure is greater than the reward for success. Lunch with the boss or a $100 bonus do not compensate for the risk of being demoted or fired, or suffering a tarnished reputation. When a project fails in a company with a culture of experimentation, the first thing you shoulddo is say, "Bob, what would you like to work on now?!"

3. Break thru the "Bozone layer." Some of the greatest ideas for innovation will come from the employees on the front lines - those in direct contact with customers or production. But their ideas will never float up to the executive suite if you've created a "Bozone layer" by making it too risky for middle managers to experiment. (See No. 2.) While you're turning the culture around, find ways to reach down to the front lines to solicit  ideas. Implement them and reward the contributors with a big, public shout out - which will help you start changing for the culture.

4. Install "sensors" to pick up customers' ideas. Don't just look to employees for innovation - learn from your customers. They have ideas for new products and new uses for existing products, and their customer service complaints are a fertile source of ideas for improvement. Listen! Social media or a forum on the company website is a good sensor for picking up ideas; Glad Wrap's 1000 Uses site is loaded with them. For customer service complaints, Travelocityinstalled a lobby phone booth where anyone in the company could listen in on customer service calls. Once a month, everyone was expected to provide feedback on at least two of those calls, and suggest an improvement to eliminate similar future calls plus a work-around for the interim.

About Terry Jones

Terry Jones founded Travelocity.com in 1996 and led the company as president and CEO until May 2002. He is managing principal of On, Inc, a consultancy he cofounded to help companies in their transition to the digital economy, and serves as chairman of the board at Kayak.com, which he also helped found. Previously Jones had a 24-year career at American Airlines holding various executive positions, rising to Chief Information Officer at their SABRE Division. Jones is the holder of several patents, has served on the boards of directors of 10 companies and began his career as a travel agent in Chicago. He holds a degree in history from Denison University.

01 Apr 2013

Loebsack and Bustos Urge Department of Defense to Avoid Any and All Civilian Furloughs That Could Hurt Economy of Quad Cities

By Joe Hand

Loebsack and Bustos Also Ask Department of Defense For A Budgetary Analysis That Explains Why Currently Planned Furloughs Are Necessary In First Place

Currently Planned Civilian Furloughs At Rock Island Arsenal Could Hurt Quad Cities Economy

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos urged the Department of Defense (DOD) to avoid making any civilian furloughs this year.  In a joint letter to the Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, Loebsack and Bustos reiterated their opposition to sequestration and said that while all government departments and agencies need to tighten their belts, the recent decision to furlough the civilian workforce for 14 days this fiscal year could not only have a lasting negative impact on morale, readiness, national security, and safety, but could also deal a big blow to local communities across the country, including the Quad Cities region in Illinois and Iowa, which is home to the Rock Island Arsenal.

In addition, Loebsack and Bustos asked for the budgetary analysis that explains why the currently planned furloughs are necessary and if the DOD is unable to completely eliminate furloughs, they urged DOD to communicate to Congress the requirements, flexibility, or resources that are needed to avoid furloughs and preserve military readiness.

A copy of the letter from Loebsack and Bustos is below.

 

The Honorable Charles T. Hagel

Secretary of Defense

100 Defense Pentagon

Washington, D.C. 20301-1000

 

Dear Secretary Hagel,

We understand that our nation faces long-term fiscal challenges, and that all government departments and agencies need to tighten their belts and look for ways to cut costs.  We are deeply opposed to sequestration and continue to support replacing it with real, responsible, and balanced deficit reduction.  However, we also fear that the decision by the Department of Defense (DOD) to furlough the civilian workforce for 14 days this fiscal year could not only have a lasting negative impact on morale, readiness, national security, and safety, but will also have significant economic consequences in local communities and across the country.

The recently passed Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, which became law on March 26, 2013, provided additional Operations and Maintenance funds to provide greater flexibility to DOD.  That funding allowed for the recently announced reduction in furloughs, which will provide a small measure of relief.  However, we remain strongly concerned that any furloughs will put families at risk of financial hardship through no fault of their own and could be a big blow to local economies throughout the country, including our region in Illinois and Iowa.  They could also jeopardize security clearances, family stability, ability to meet mission requirements, and worksite safety.

We also fear that furloughs could cause long-term damage in attracting new talent into DOD.  Reduction in pay, uncertainty, and hardship caused by furloughs could dissuade many well-qualified and talented individuals from pursuing DOD careers in the first place.

Again, while the recent announcement regarding the reduction in furlough days provides some measure of relief, we remain greatly concerned about the impact any furloughs will have. We urge you to make every effort and examine every avenue possible to avoid any furloughs for the remainder of FY13.  We also ask for the budgetary analysis that explains why the currently planned furloughs are necessary.  If the Department is unable to completely eliminate furloughs, we urge you to communicate to Congress the requirements, flexibility, or resources that are needed to avoid furloughs and preserve military readiness.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of the people who are caught in the cross-hairs of our nation's fiscal battles as you move forward.

Sincerely,

 

Cheri Bustos                         Dave Loebsack

Member of Congress                       Member of Congress

 

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01 Apr 2013

Gov. Branstad to lead governors' trade mission to China

By Rick Martin

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today announced he will lead a trade delegation, including four governors, to China in mid-April. This brief trip to China was at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and will include meetings with senior government officials, current and potential business partners, a U.S. - China Governors Forum and celebration events to recognize Iowa's 30th anniversary of a sister state with the Chinese province of Hebei.

 

"Our state has a long and unique history with China's new President, Xi Jinping," said Gov. Branstad. "President Xi visited our state in 1985 and saw firsthand that Iowans are hardworking and sincere people who take pride in the work they do and the products they produce. He never forgot the people and the memories from his first trip to Iowa.  We hope to foster our unique relationship with President Xi and the people of China leading to stronger economic partnerships benefiting both the people of Iowa and the people of China."

 

The Governor and his delegation will spend four full days in China and visit the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Baoding City and Shijiazhuang.

 

"International trade is extremely important to the people of Iowa as it supports tens of thousands of jobs right here in our state," said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. "China is an important trading partner with Iowa, importing $3.2 billion worth of goods last year. We want to foster our trading partnership with China to provide our safe and reliable products to feed their population of over 1.37 billion people."

 

The following governors will participate in the trade mission led by Gov. Branstad:

 

Gov. Eddie Calvo (Guam)

Gov. Bob McDonnell (Va.)

Gov. Scott Walker (Wis.)

 

The following organizations will be represented on the trade mission with Gov. Branstad:

 


  • Iowa Economic Development Authority
  • Iowa Corn Growers Association & Iowa Corn Promotion Board
  • Iowa Farm Bureau
  • Iowa Soybean Association
  • ACT, Inc.
  • ADM
  • CMB Regional Centers
  • DuPont Pioneer
  • Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
  • John Deere
  • Monsanto
  • Pella Corporation
  • Sukup Manufacturing Co.
  • The University of Northern Iowa
  • Iowa State University
  • University of Iowa
  • Iowa Sister States
  • Cargill
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01 Apr 2013

Explore Leadership Issues at Lunch & Learn Event

By Jim Vana
IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - "Great teams do not hold back with one another. They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal."
That profound quote on the nature of teamwork comes from Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable. His many best-selling books have sold nearly 3 million copies. Lencioni was a speaker at the national leadership event, Leadercast 2012, and a video of his presentation will be shown at the next 2013 Chick-fil-A Leadercast Recap Lunch & Learn event, sponsored by Results Marketing and St. Ambrose University.
The Lunch & Learn event featuring Patrick Lencioni will be held noon to 1 p.m., Friday, April 5 at the St. Ambrose University Downtown Education Center, located in the New Ventures Center at 331 W. 3rd St., Davenport, IA 52801. Cost to attend is $15 and includes lunch from Chick-fil-A. The Lunch & Learn event will be facilitated by a St. Ambrose faculty member.
"The speakers who present at Leadercast each year are internationally known leadership experts, and it is an honor to help share their vital messages with the Quad-Cities," said Todd Ashby, Managing Partner of Results Marketing. "At our Lunch & Learn events, attendees can watch videos of presentations from the previous year and discuss their content with other area professionals."
For the past three years, Results Marketing and select sponsors have been bringing simulcasts of the Chick-fil-A Leadercast to the Quad-Cities area. Each year, Leadercast is broadcast live from Atlanta, Georgia, to audiences in metro areas worldwide.
"We will be hosting a new day-long QC Leadercast event on May 10, 2013," Ashby said, "so anyone thinking of attending the Spring 2013 event should attend these Lunch & Learn sessions beforehand, to get a feel for the topics to be discussed. Leadercast has a different theme every year, and this year's theme will be Simply Lead."
To register for the Leadercast Recap Lunch & Learn event or to find out more, call Marcia Brandt of Results Marketing at 563-322-2065 or email  Marcia@resultsimc.com. Feel free to befriend Leadercast Quad Cities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/qcleadercast.
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29 Mar 2013

Governor Quinn Hosts Illinois' First Women Business Owner Symposium

By Rick Martin

Encourages Women Entrepreneurs to Use Available State Resources to Grow Their Businesses

CHICAGO - Coinciding with Women's History Month, Governor Pat Quinn today hosted Illinois' first Women Business Owners Symposium (WBOS) at the UIC Forum in Chicago. Today's event is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to encourage entrepreneurship that will drive economic growth and create jobs in Illinois. More than 1,200 women registered for today's free, daylong symposium where state officials and business leaders discussed the many resources Illinois offers to help businesses grow and thrive.

"Women entrepreneurs are a large and growing part of Illinois' economy," Governor Quinn said. "We want to do everything we can to help them expand their businesses because when they do, they create jobs that strengthen families and communities throughout the state."

Three out of 10 firms in Illinois are owned by women, generating a total of $53.4 billion in sales, according to Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) based on U.S. Census data. The number of women-owned firms has grown to nearly 350,000?30 percent of which are minority-owned?up from 240,000 in the mid 1990s. Among U.S. counties, Cook County has the second most women-owned firms in the nation.

The daylong DCEO event?which was free and open for women looking to start or expand a business?included keynote speakers Ruth Ann Gillis, president, Exelon Business Services Co.,  and Judith A. Roussel, director, Illinois district of the U.S. Small Business Association. There was also an exhibit hall, one-on-one counseling and free on-site daycare.

Panel discussions at the event focused on capital funding and financial growth, technology and infrastructure, new markets (private and public) and state agencies and programs. Attendees also heard first-hand experiences of women who have built their own companies. Topics of discussion ranged from how to gain access to capital, how to get a foot in the door of large corporations, where to find free technology support, how to get certified for government contracts and how to use the U.S. Census Bureau web site for market research.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to help small businesses, we are reaching out to women-owned firms, helping them to find the access to capital and the technical assistance to thrive and expand," said DCEO Director Adam Pollet. "We want to do all we can to make sure businesses know about the many ways our state can help them prosper and grow."

The list of panelists included Wendy Lewis, senior vice president, diversity and strategic alliances, Major League Baseball; Pat Harris, global chief diversity officer, McDonald's Corp.; Marsha Serlin, CEO, United Scrap & Metal Co.; Katrina Markoff, CEO and founder, Vosges Haut-Chocolat; Joanne Tica-Steiger, director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses; Sona Wang, founder and managing director, Ceres Venture Fund LP; Maria A. Colangelo, vice president, Wintrust Bank; Poonam Gupta-Krishnan, CEO, Iyka Enterprises Inc.; Kristin Barrett, vice president, Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center Project 1871 and Rita Haake, program manager, College of DuPage Center for Entrepreneurship.

Directors of four state agencies (DCEO, Transportation, Tollway and Veteran Affairs) and officials from three federal agencies (SBA, Census, and Commerce) discussed how to find business support and outline government projects that are fully funded and seeking contractors.

"Illinois is proud to be home to many innovative small businesses that are helping to create jobs and revitalize our economy," said Carol E. Bell, deputy director of Women's Business Development. "The participants in today's event exemplify the type of creative thinking that is prevalent in entrepreneurs across our state."

WBOS comes on the heels of a longstanding relationship between the state of Illinois and the Women's Business Development Center, a small business development center that has worked with the state for nearly three decades, leading the effort to help further women owned business in Illinois.

For more on why Illinois is the right place for business, visit illinoisbiz.biz.

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