NEWS RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Barbara C. Higgens, Executive Director
Plumbing Manufacturers Institute
bhiggens@pmihome.org
|
Additional Resources
Related News/ |
|
For the Media:Plumbing Manufacturers Institute Hosts 2008 Fall Meeting: Focuses on Promoting a Healthy BalanceROLLING MEADOWS, ILLINOIS (OCTOBER 23, 2008) — Promoting a healthy balance on both personal and professional levels was the bedrock of the 2008 PMI Fall Meeting, held October 5-8 at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, VA. PMI President Rod Ward, president of Speakman Company, welcomed 62 members, three spouses, 14 speakers, nine guests and four trade press representatives to this year’s meeting.
One of the highlights of the meeting was Tuesday evening’s keynote speaker Tucker Carlson, senior political correspondent for MSNBC. Mr. Carlson shared stories of his experiences covering political campaigns and offered some insight into the second presidential debate scheduled for that night. Attendees then watched the debate and Mr. Carlson took questions from the audience at the conclusion of the evening. Monday, October 6, was devoted to PMI Issue, Standing and Product Committee meetings and included special presentations by Rita Feinberg, director of international relations and development for Green Builder Media; and Kent Larson, principle research scientist in architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Tuesday, October 7 featured various issue committee meetings, but also offered the opportunity to listen to an interesting series of speakers. The day started with a dose of laughter prescribed by Dr. Art Hister, humorist and health columnist, who spoke about taking charge of your health for a better balance in life. Rear Admiral William Sutton, U.S. Department of Commerce assistant secretary for manufacturing and services, spoke on the state of manufacturing in America and what the federal government can do to aid companies in these bleak financial times. Rod Jones, manager of counterfeit intelligence for the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), spoke about the dangers of counterfeit goods and what can be done to stop counterfeiters. Jay Peters, executive director of plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas, International Code Council (ICC), spoke about the organization’s new programs. Reginald Henry, chief technology officer, ASAE/The Center for Association Leadership, showcased exciting and innovative communication tools. The luncheon keynote speaker was futurist Dr. Jack Bacon, the author of three books and an internationally known motivational speaker. In his daily work, Dr. Bacon is on the management team overseeing the construction and operation of the most complicated technical project in history: the International Space Station. Tuesday’s sessions ended with a special presentation, titled “The Voice of the Consumer,” by Tom Kraeutler, co-host of “The Money Pit,” a nationally syndicated home improvement radio show. Mr. Kraeutler shared with attendees the new demographics for home improvement projects and how much would likely be spent on these projects. Mr. Kraeutler generously autographed copies of his book, “My Home, My Money Pit,” for meeting attendees. The conference wrapped up on the morning of Wednesday, October 8, with a session titled “Looking Ahead: Economic and Political Forecasts for 2009 and Beyond.” David Huether, chief economist at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM); Jim Haughey, chief economist at Reed Business Information; Aric Newhouse, senior vice president of policy and government relations at National Association of Manufacturers (NAM); and Brian Castelli, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Alliance to Save Energy, gave attendees informative presentations on the state of manufacturing and housing in the current economy and what the upcoming elections will mean for the manufacturing industry. Don’t miss our 2009 PMI Spring Meeting, which will be held April 5-8 at The Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC. Check the PMI website www.pmihome.org for more information.
About PMI: The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute is the voluntary, not-for-profit international trade association of manufacturers of plumbing products, serving as the Voice of the Plumbing Industry. Member-companies produce a substantial quantity of the nation’s plumbing products. For more information on PMI or its semi-annual meetings, contact the Institute at 1921 Rohlwing Road, Unit G, Rolling Meadows, IL, 60008; tel.: 847.481.5500; fax: 847.481.5501. Or visit our website at www.pmihome.org.
PMI Mission Statement:
For editorial assistance, contact: # # # |
