There was discussion on this a couple months ago, I don't recall the exact thread but you may be able to search and find it.
Others will disagree, but if all the smoke was true then not a great look IMO. Can't fault a company for trying to develop new business UNLESS we had an exclusivity agreement with them. If we did then never mind.
As I remember there were some (insiders?) who felt Bret was in the right so perhaps there is more to the story. But on the face, punishing an Illinois company for taking Indiana work, then hiring an Iowa company to serve Illinois seems odd.