PMI 2015 Conference

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The 2015 PMI Conference will be held October 26-29 at the Hotel Contessa on the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas. Join us as we take an in-depth look at “The Future of Water: Wins, Woes and Worries.”

The Conference will kick off on Monday, October 26, with a Board of Directors Meeting (invitation only) followed by VIP and Welcome Receptions, as well as exhibits from conference sponsors.

Tuesday, October 27, will open with an official welcome followed by the Advocacy/Government Affairs Committee with reports from PMI government relations consultants Stephanie Salmon (Washington, D.C.) and Jerry Desmond (California). Dr. Marc Edwards, environmental engineer, biophysicist and professor at Virginia Tech will present, “Achieving Water Conservation Without Compromising Public Health,” and Dr. Paul Sturman, research engineer, industrial coordinator and professor at the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University, will address “Biofilm Growth and Response to Antimicrobial Treatment.”

The afternoon will close with our popular Dual Track Session where attendees will split into two committee groups, Technical and Outreach/Communications, to address specific industry concerns. The Technical Track will feature an expanded presentation by Dr. Sturman on “Biofilms and Pathogen Survival,” and a Plumbing Efficiency Research Coalition (PERC) update from Pete DeMarco, senior vice president of advocacy and research, IAPMO, followed by an update on the European Water Label by Christian Taylor-Hamlin, technical director, Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA).

The Outreach/Communications Track will begin with a presentation by CMD Group’s Laura Marlow, senior director, business development and strategic partnerships, and Derek Guffey, senior director of enterprise solutions and registered architect, followed by a panel discussion on “Social Media and Digital Communications Strategies.” The panel will feature Martha Sprague, social media manager, National Association of Manufacturing; John Mesenbrink, president, Mechanical-Hub; Wes Baerga, digital marketing strategist and client development, Vue Point Creative; Beth Livingston, WaterSense brand manager, Environmental Protection Agency; Yvonne Orgill, chief executive, BMA; and Ashlei Cooper, editorial director, PHC News and Plumbing Engineer Magazine. The panel will be moderated by Scott McDonald, vice president of marketing, Fluidmaster Inc.

That evening, conference attendees are invited to join us for fun and networking in a special “Dine Around San Antonio” event. Choose as your dining destination, one of three of San Antonio’s restaurants in the historic downtown River Walk district, all within walking distance of our hotel. Please note there is NO additional fee, except for a cash bar. View restaurant menus.

Wednesday, October 28, will begin with a keynote address from Ross Shafer, six-time Emmy Award winning comedian, writer, and TV host of such shows as: “The Match Game” on ABC, “The Late Show” on FOX, and “Day’s End” on ABC. The Water Efficiency and Sustainability Committee will present John Mesenbrink, president, Mechanical-Hub, on Net Zero Building; Ralph Suppa, president and general manager, Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating, will share updates on Canadian plumbing industry; and the Sustainability Task Group will provide updates on the Product Category Rules (PCR) Guidance document. The morning will conclude with updates from the Fair Trade Committee by U.S. Department of Commerce’s Gary Stanley, director, Office of Materials Industries, and Salim Bhabhrawala, senior trade specialist.

The afternoon will continue with reports from the Dual Track Sessions and the Allied Member Committee. After which, there will be a General Membership Meeting where elections of new officers and board members will occur. We’ll honor PMI service by handing out plaques and awards. The 2016 operating budget will be approved and there will be a ceremonial “passing of the gavel” from 2015 PMI president, Fernando Fernandez, TOTO USA, to 2016 president, Paul Patton, Delta Faucet Co. (Note that Mr. Fernandez will remain as president through the end of 2015 and Mr. Patton will take over as president on January 1, 2016.) The day will wrap-up with a cocktail reception amid the sponsor exhibits followed by the official conference dinner.

The final day of the conference, Thursday, October 29, will begin with Karen Guz, conservation director, San Antonio Water Systems, who will share insights on San Antonio’s successes and challenges in converting the city to WaterSense products. It will conclude with a panel discussion on the “The Future of Water: Wins, Woes and Worries” featuring: Carole Baker, executive director, Texas Water Foundation and chair emeritus, Alliance for Water Efficiency; Eddie Wilcut, senior project manager, Alan Plummer Associations Inc.; Chris Piper, government relations, Denver Water; and Ms. Guz. The conference will conclude with plenty of time to allow attendees to travel to the airport for their return home. Don’t rush off too soon and miss out on this exciting final day of the conference!

Also featured will be the return of last year’s successful Expanded Sponsorship Program which will bring together industry related companies and other organizations with an interest in PMI and its membership. Participants in the Expanded Sponsorship Program will be available for networking starting at Monday’s Welcome Reception and following all the way through to the end of the conference.

Registration is now open!

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