SHAPING THE FUTURE: PMI Convenes 2003 Fall Meeting October 26-29 in Washington DC
For Immediate Release
August 28, 2003
Contact: Barbara C. Higgens, Executive Director (847) 884-9764
Schaumburg, Ill. — A full schedule of issue- and product-related meetings plus informative presentations on a variety of topics will take center stage October 26-29 as PMI holds its 2003 Fall Meeting at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.
Sunday, October 26 will feature a meeting of the PMI Board of Directors and welcome reception/dinner. Following a morning of product-specific meetings and an update on universal conformity assessment activities, Monday, October 27's afternoon meetings feature a presentation at the Member Services Meeting by Carl Cullotta and Scott Sims from Frank Lynn & Associates entitled, "Maximizing Your Sales Force Effectiveness." Cullotta, who made a well-received presentation at PMI's 2002 Spring Meeting on home centers, and Simms will outline the steps a company's sales force can use to spur profitable growth by optimizing the value delivered from key customer segments. They will also identify ways to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire sales operation, including whether technology tools make sense. PMI's Fair Trade Issue Committee meeting follows with two timely presentations - Laura Koss from the Federal Trade Commission will speak on "Made in the USA" labeling issues, while a representative from the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection will discuss "Country of Origin" labeling. Following Monday night's "dinner on your own" will be a late-night reception featuring an appearance by a congressional representative.
On Tuesday, October 28, leading expert Ken Schoonover of KMS Associates, Inc., will provide another timely presentation - a discussion of accessibility regulations and issues that affect the entire plumbing industry. That presentation will be followed by a special appearance by Jack Bacon, systems integration engineer at NASA. As PMI continues to shape its future and that of the plumbing industry, Dr. Bacon is shaping the future exploration of our nation as the lead systems integrator of numerous American spacecraft and Zarya, the first element and bridge module of the new International Space Station, launched November 20, 1998. He will discuss the inner technology that makes space exploration "seamless" for so many. Tuesday afternoon will feature a discussion of PMI's legislative initiatives at the state and federal level, a review of PMI's codes and standards issues, and the election of PMI officers/directors at large and approval of the 2004 annual operating budget. Tuesday evening keynote presentation following dinner will feature political impressionist/satirist Jim Morris, who is well-known inside and outside the Beltway for capturing the attitude, optimism, and befuddled essence of our past and present leaders.
Wednesday morning, October 29, will feature a "first" for PMI - the signing of a "memorandum of understanding" between PMI and the Department of Commerce to continue the close working relationship that has developed on issues that impact the plumbing industry. PMI members and guests traditionally maximize the value of the fall meeting by using this as an opportunity to make congressional visits. The visits will take place Wednesday and are arranged with the help of PMI's lobbyist Fred Eames of Balch and Bingham, LLP.
Registration materials have been mailed; the hotel deadline is September 23 and the meeting registration deadline is October 2. Visit PMI's website or call PMI at (847) 884-9PMI (9764) for a detailed agenda and registration forms.
The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute is the voluntary, not-for-profit trade association of manufacturers of plumbing products. Member companies of PMI produce a substantial quantity of the nation's plumbing products. For more information on PMI or its semiannual meetings, contact the Institute at 1340 Remington Road, Suite A, Schaumburg, Ill., 60173; or via phone (847) 884-9PMI (9764), facsimile (847) 884-9775, or website www.pmihome.org.