Barbara C. Higgens

Executive Director
Plumbing Manufacturers Institute

Barbara C. Higgens oversees the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI), the international trade association representing manufacturers of most plumbing fixtures and fittings used in North America. Since joining PMI in April 1998, Barbara has served as a respected spokesperson for the plumbing industry, sharing and advocating the views of PMI members.

She is well versed and knowledgeable about everything from water efficiency to “green” initiatives and lead in plumbing products to fair trade programs. As a homeowner and consumer, Barbara can also put top industry issues into everyday terms for people to understand how plumbing impacts their daily lives – and what they can do to ensure their continued health and safety.

As executive director, Barbara is responsible for the institute’s legislative, lobbying, legal and codes/standards activities, as well as the administration of two annual meetings and membership outreach. With the support of the PMI Board of Directors and members, Barbara has demonstrated her leadership and managerial skills. She revamped the 75-year-old PMI from her kitchen table by hiring a professional in-house staff, establishing an office, developing a strategic plan, restructuring meetings around key industry issues, and significantly enhancing membership value. Since 1998, membership has increased each year while operating expenses have decreased nearly 30 percent.

Barbara is actively involved in numerous industry committees, and her expertise is sought at both the national and local levels. She is a member of the United States Department of Commerce Industry Trade Advisory Committee, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA) Council Board of Directors, and Procurement Committee for World Vision’s Storehouse. She also chairs special interest groups within the Association Forum of Chicago, and regularly attends meetings of CEIR (International Valve Association).

Prior to joining PMI, Barbara was Marketing Director for Switchcraft Inc., a division of Raytheon Company, where she oversaw all product marketing, advertising and trade show activities. She was one of 35 employees selected from a pool of 75,000 to participate in Raytheon’s Advanced Management Program (AMP), an executive MBA program.

Barbara graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism: advertising/marketing. She is active in a number of civic and social organizations, including serving as tenor drummer of the Chicago Highlanders Bagpipe Band (the oldest pipe band in North America). When she’s not talking plumbing or drumming, Barbara resides in Palatine, Ill. with her husband. The couple has two grown daughters.