*PMI - "SHAPING THE FUTURE"
PMI Convenes Its 2003 Fall Meeting
For Immediate Release
November 7, 2003
Contact: Barbara C. Higgens, Executive Director (847) 884-9764
Schaumburg, Ill. — With the buzz of politics in the air, the nation's capitol and the Capital Hilton in the backdrop, PMI returned to Washington, D.C. to hold its 2003 Fall Meeting October 26-29 with three days full of activities, issues and presentations.
Led by PMI President Ralph Herrbach, who is also president of Cifial USA, 89 members, spouses/companions, guests, speakers, press and staff made this year's meeting one of the largest in PMI's history. The theme, "Shaping the Future", symbolized how PMI is continuing to shape the plumbing industry. Below is a brief listing of action items arising from the specific committee and general meetings. Contact PMI for more information on any bulleted item. PMI also made history with this fall's meeting. On Wednesday morning, PMI signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Commerce to formalize the close working relationship both groups have had over the past few years, and will continue to have, in addressing trade issues affecting the plumbing industry.
Sunday, October 26
Following the semi-annual PMI Board of Directors meeting Sunday afternoon, the day concluded with the welcome reception and dinner, where PMI President Herrbach introduced new member Amerikam Inc., first-time meeting attendees and guests, and previewed the days to come.
Monday, October 27
Following breakfast, PMI convened a full schedule of committee meetings, beginning with universal conformity assessment, continuing with a full slate of issue-specific product groups, and ending with the Member Services Standing Committee and Fair Trade Issue Committee meetings.
The evening kicked off with a seafood reception and, following dinner, attendees came back for a late-night reception to meet with Heather Couri, chief of staff for Joe Barton (R-TX), chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality and Jerry Couri, staff director for the House Subcommittee of Environment and Hazardous Materials.
Other highlights from the day were as follows:
The Member Services Standing Committee received a presentation from Carl Cullotta and Scott Sims of Frank Lynn & Associates on sales force effectiveness. Messrs. Cullotta and Sims stated that although the sales force is often the sole revenue-generating department within a company, its functions and processes have remained relatively unaltered by the process engineering techniques that have improved other company operations over the past decade. They outlined the steps a company's sales force can use to spur profitable growth by optimizing the value delivered from key customer segments. They also identified ways to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire sales operation, including whether technology tools make sense. The committee also agreed to investigate through F.W. Dodge the development of a statistical report on market share for plumbing products.
The Fair Trade Issue Committee heard presentations from the Monika Brenner, chief of the special classification and marking branch in Bureau of Customs and Border Protection's Office of Regulations and Rulings, and Laura Koss, senior attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, on country of origin labeling and "Made in the USA" claims, respectively. The committee will continue to monitor the Foreign Sales Corporations (FSC)/ Extraterritorial Income (ETI) Rules and World Trade Organization issues.
Tuesday, October 28
Presentations continued Tuesday morning with leading expert Ken Schoonover of KMS Associates, Inc. who provided insight on accessibility issues. PMI attendees were then treated to a very different kind of presentation in keeping with the theme of "Shaping the Future." Dr. Jack Bacon, systems integration engineer with NASA, discussed the inside technology of the International Space Station.
Dr. Bacon works at Johnson Space Center in Houston as the lead systems integrator of numerous Russian and American spacecraft, including the Zarya - the first element and bridge module of the new International Space Station, launched November 20, 1998. He said his job requires that "we take everything that mankind has learned about engineering, science, politics, language and finances, and make it all work in a man-made world 200 miles above our heads. It's like needing to use everything in an encyclopedia."
Tuesday afternoon's Government Affairs meeting included an update from Charlie Schnabel, PMI's lobbyist in Texas, along with a presentation by Greg Kats from Capital E on the LEED program. The Trade Show Consolidation Committee met next with an informative presentation by National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) 2003 President Les Petrie and NKBA Chief Executive Officer Larry Spangler.
The Technical Committee, again, had a full plate of issues relating to codes, standards and the EPA water efficient labeling program. The meetings concluded with the General Membership meeting where members approved the nominations for the 2004 board of directors (see separate press release) and the 2004 annual operating budget. PMI Executive Director Barbara Higgens and PMI President Ralph Herrbach both gave remarks regarding the state of the Institute and the PMI "wins" in the industry.
After a packed-full day, attendees enjoyed a reception and dinner along with a special keynote speaker, comedian Jim Morris. Mr. Morris is a political impressionist/satirist that has become famous as a living political cartoon. Mr. Morris captured all of the attitude, optimism, and befuddled essence of our nation's leaders.
Wednesday, October 29
The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute is the voluntary, not-for-profit national trade association of manufacturers of plumbing products serving as the Voice of the Plumbing Industry. Member companies of PMI produce a substantial quantity of the nation's plumbing products. For more information on PMI or its semi-annual 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.
Photographs and PMI logos are available via email on request. The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute is the voluntary, not-for-profit national trade association of manufacturers of plumbing products serving as the Voice of the Plumbing Industry. Member companies of PMI produce a substantial quantity of the nation's plumbing products. For more information on PMI or its semi-annual 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.
Photographs and PMI logos are available via email on request.