Quarterly Report - 4th Qtr 2014

Congressional Visits Scorecard (Currently on record, 2014): Delta Faucet Co. (3); Fisher Mfg. (1); Fluidmaster, Inc. (1); HOLDRITE (1); InSinkErator (1); Kohler Co. (1); Lavelle Products (1); Moen Inc. (1); Symmons Industries Inc. (1); TOTO (1); WCM Industries (1)

Executive

  • Record attendance (138 total) at the 2014 Fall Conference (Chicago/O’Hare)
  • Sell-out for exhibiting sponsors in new format (14 booths total)
  • Highest rated segment of the fall conference, the 2nd CEO/Executive Panel with moderator Bill Kurtis, was extensively covered by the media and earned features online and in print
  • Crafted the 2015 Communication Strategy with PR consultant Ray Valek setting the basis for a target approach to all PMI communications with target goals and analytics; presented to the PMI Board and the A/O Committee
  • Issued a video presentation to attendees of the U.K.’s BMA annual meeting from PMI CEO, Barb Higgens
  • Added new manufacturing member, Similor AG as a manufacturing member
  • Established a plan for linking PR and legislative activities with Stephanie Salmon on her DC initiatives including a 2015 Welcome Week on Capitol Hill and a PMI video for Congressional staffers

Advocacy/Outreach:

  • Successful op-ed in Sac-Bee issued to proactively address an Investor Owned Utilities (IOU) proposal in CA on residential lav faucets resulting in Commissioner McAllister’s response; combined with submitted PMI technical comments developed with Marc Edwards (Virginia Tech) and Dr. Paul Sturman (Montana State University); the Commissioner is expected to support CEC Staff’s original recommendation in-line with EPA WaterSense and CALGreen when formal regulation is announced (early 2015)
  • Added 4 new collateral pieces, including dedicated versions of the WaterSense is Common Sense document for policymakers and consumers distributed at the ASPE tradeshow and PMI Conference
  • Issued 3 press releases: PMI picked up in 10 media publications with dedicated articles mentioning PMI and its objectives; 1 directly written by PMI
  • Negotiated conference exhibition space for free ad space for PMI in 5 publications (online and print)
  • Established a contact with WaterSense for promotion at 2015 events and activities
  • Conducted attendee and exhibitor satisfaction surveys following the PMI conference to great review
  • Completed a 1 pint urinal survey to educational facility managers to gauge satisfaction and use

Technical:

  • Worked with Gary Klein to finalize PMI’s report (The Unintended Consequences of Lowering Residential Lavatory Faucet Flow Rates: An Analysis Informed by Measurement) for submission to Commissioner McAllister and CEC Staff
  • Worked with Marc Edwards in drafting a research proposal for lav faucets for PMI Board consideration to determine the effects of flow rate on the growth of opportunistic pathogens in premise plumbing
  • Submitted written comments to the DOE in regards to their current rulemaking process for commercial pre-rinse spray valves
  • Submitted comments for the 2015 IAPMO GPMCS (Green Plumbing & Mechanical Code Supplement)
  • Conducted member visits with T&S Brass, Toto, Duravit, KWC America, Moen, Delta, and BrassCraft

Respectfully submitted, Barbara C. Higgens, PMI CEO/Executive Director