PMI25 Manufacturing Success Conference

Date

November 3rd, 2025–November 6th, 2025

Location

Fairmont Hotel - Millennium Park, Chicago, Illinois

Overview

PMI25 Manufacturing Success Conference

Make plans to join us Nov. 3-6, at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago for the PMI25 Manufacturing Success Conference!

Brett Culp headshotDon’t miss award-winning documentary filmmaker Brett Culp’s keynote presentation as he shares leadership and storytelling lessons that will inspire attendees to lead toward a better tomorrow. The founder of the not-for-profit Rising Heroes Project, Culp will present “Superhero Leadership in Uncertain Times and Instant Storytelling.”

Nominate a co-worker for Paul Patton award

Remember to nominate a co-worker who shows outstanding potential for this year's Paul Patton PMI Manufacturing Success Conference Award. The award recipient will receive complimentary registration to PMI25, including the PMI Inspiring Leaders Program.

PMI Inspiring Leaders Program to focus on building mental resilience

On Nov. 3, Stephanie Klein, founder of Mindfire Mastery, will facilitate the PMI Inspiring Leaders Program. Participants in the all-day program will learn how Klein applied her experience dealing with stress in the fast-paced corporate world to pursue a more meaningful second act. She will discuss how to build mental resilience by shifting from burnout to balance to help attendees shine with authentic brilliance and optimize impact, relationships and well-being.

Women of PMI breakfast speaker to share her radical new way of leading[nbsp]

Shelley Paxton headshotDuring the Women of PMI Breakfast on Nov. 5, Shelley Paxton will share how she walked away from her job as chief marketing officer of Harley-Davidson and into her “soulbbatical.” Her presentation will focus on redefining greatness and beating burnout. Her mission is to empower leaders, entrepreneurs and organizations to feel more alive, aligned and energized for greater impact in the world.

The latest on AI, the future of manufacturing, Build America Buy America, and more

Thomas Kurfess, professor and chief manufacturing officer, Georgia Institute of Technology, and chief technology officer, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, will explore “Present and Future Implications for AI in Advanced Manufacturing.” He’ll share insights into next-generation, hyper-connected production operations and business models that favor local and point-of-assembly manufacturing, which will use tools such as ChatGPT. Discover how augmented reality/virtual reality and AI/machine learning will be propagated throughout the manufacturing enterprise via flexible cloud/fog operations, ensuring a state-of-the-art manufacturing economy.

Learn more about the “Strategic Benefits of Build America Buy America Certification” from Jason Hodell, partner, industrial and consumer goods segment leader, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC. He’ll explain the differences between the standard Buy American Act and Build America Buy America, their requirements and criteria, and will cover the certification basics, large revenue opportunities, and how the certification provides manufacturers with a powerful sales and marketing advantage, along with access to federal programs and funding.

Discover the latest on “Measuring Pressure Loss in Modern Plumbing Fittings” with Natascha Milesi Ferretti, supervisory research engineer, National Institute of Standards and Technology. She will discuss the pressing need for updated pressure loss data to allow for approaches that enhance water efficiency and quality, as modern plumbing systems incorporate materials such as CPVC, copper and PEX.

Justin Brown, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Greater Chicago, will discuss “Deep Tunnels, Backwards Rivers and Electrofishing: Chicago’s Water Infrastructure.” He will take attendees on a multimedia tour of the Chicago region’s world-famous water infrastructure, which includes the vast Deep Tunnel system and one of the largest wastewater treatment plants on earth. Find out how and why the Chicago River was reversed over 100 years ago and learn how green infrastructure partnerships are transforming the urban environment today. See the results of this work and the river’s thriving aquatic ecology, revealed by electrofishing.

Lisa Ragain, principal water resources manager, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, will present insights on recent Legionella and water supply research, and ITR Economics’ Lauren Saidel-Baker will present “PMI Market Outlook LIVE: Gearing Up for 2026.”

Providing an update on trade and tariffs will be Brooks Allen, partner, national security and international trade, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher [&] Flom LLP. David Morell, partner, Jones Day, will discuss counterfeit plumbing products while Rob Keith, membership and policy director for Ameripen, will provide extended producer responsibility legislative updates.

Jerry Desmond and Stephanie Salmon, PMI’s advocacy/government affairs consultants, will deliver the latest updates on California and federal advocacy and government affairs issues.

Other speakers will include Jenn Kovacs, senior director, community impact, MiTek, and executive board member and treasurer for the She Built Foundation; and Joel Brammeier, president and chief executive officer, Alliance for the Great Lakes.

We can’t wait to see you at plumbing manufacturing’s premiere event!