Message from the President
Your Attention Please: PMI Is NOT What It Was When!
By Lee Mercer, PMI President and Director of Product Compliance for Moen Incorporated
When I was 16 years old digging ditches for my neighbor’s plumbing company, I would have never dreamed that I would be here today, still working in plumbing and being honored with the opportunity of having a leadership role in a great organization like the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute.
As I begin my term as PMI President, I think back to something someone said to me long ago: “You are what you were when…” The statement refers to changing the perceptions that one might have about who or what you are, depending upon when and in what context they knew you. That perception could be good or bad, right or wrong! It’s all a perspective of a particular viewpoint at a point in time.
In my view, the PMI membership and Board of Directors know who and what PMI is. We also know who and what we are not. The key is getting the word out, so that others can know exactly who we are and what we stand for. As we embark on this new decade, my aim is to expand PMI during my term. PMI, of course, will continue to be proactive in pursing codes, standards and legislative policy that make sense for the industry. We will also seek ways to grow PMI and our influence, not only to a broader world but also within ourselves. We will continue to build the organization so that those on the outside looking in agree that PMI is a credible voice for the industry and an organization that they want and need to be affiliated with. As part of our outbound message to others, an organizational name change is in the works. Very soon we will bid a fond farewell to the “Institute” and move forward as Plumbing Manufacturers “International,” with a new look that better reflects what we are all about. At “home” we will look for new ways to expand the value and benefits within the member companies beyond the “usual suspects” who regularly participate in PMI activities. We put great value on the regular attendance of this loyal group, but we also need to reach out to other individuals and departments within member companies to get them to more actively participate in the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute.
As part of our strategy, PMI has become more involved in Government Affairs activities. In recent years, in addition to our Federal presence (greatly enhanced last year with the addition of Waterman & Associates), we have added state lobbyists, to further expand our role in the political area. While some would argue it is an uphill battle and question the value of the effort, if you don’t want to get steamrolled, you need to have a seat at the table and stake your claim as the “go-to expert” for our industry.
We will continue to seek participation of non-member companies in the plumbing industry. We will strengthen our effectiveness by joining forces with groups representing other disciplines within adjacent industries, and reach out to distributors, contractors and suppliers as well.
We will continue to leverage our international relationships for mutual benefit: the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) in Great Britain, CEIR (Valve Association) in Europe and, of course, one of our longest relationships, with our friends to the North at the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH). We will expand those relationships to seek ways to synergize and share best practices for the common good of our industry. We will offer more services to the members to help them address the continuing green movement.
I would also like to initiate the new practice of expanding PMI visibility and reach through community service opportunities in the cities that host our semi-annual meetings. You will hear more about this in the coming weeks.
Many opportunities and challenges lie ahead. My hope is that at this time next year we will be well on our way to an expanded PMI. We will be able to look back and say with positive enthusiasm: “PMI is not what they were when!”