Quarterly Report - 4th Qtr 2016

PMI FEDERAL ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

  • Barbara C. Higgens and Stephanie Salmon met with the top lobbyists for American Water Works Association (AWWA) in Washington, D.C., regarding top priority issues for the new Congress and Trump administration, including water infrastructure and financing.
  • PMI drafting letter to be submitted to Trump transition team during the first week of January highlighting importance of plumbing industry and need for focus/resources for water infrastructure.
  • PMI drafting welcome letter to the new 115th Congress that highlights the association’s priorities. The letter will be distributed to every congressional office by mid-January.

PMI CALIFORNIA ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

  • California Politics – a Preview to 2017 - The Nov. 8 presidential election confirmed California’s status as a bastion of the Democratic Party, with elected California officeholders in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and California Senate and Assembly positioned and preparing to defend key policy issues in anticipation of the threats posed by the Republican Party victories at the national level.
  • Recycled Water Standards – PMI continued its advocacy on draft regulations that would require new residential and commercial developments to have recycled water systems beginning in 2018 if certain conditions are met. Three state legislators and other stakeholders have joined PMI’s request that the application of the regulations to indoor construction be delayed until scientific studies are completed.
  • Legislation – new legislation has begun to be introduced as the two-year 2017-2018 legislative session convenes.
    • One new measure - Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin De León [D-Los Angeles] introduced yesterday Senate Bill 5 that proposes new state bonds for a new water program that could include competitive grants for programs that promote the efficient use and conservation of water supplies, the use of recycled water, and the provision of safe and reliable drinking water supplies.

TECHNICAL

  • PMI has initiated a low flow and pathogen growth study with Dr. Paul Sturman (Montana State University).
  • PMI and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) initiated a study to determine the number of non-efficient water closets (greater than 1.6 gpf) that remain within residential dwellings in 5 key states.
  • PMI Technical Director Matt Sigler attended the following events:
    • International Energy Conversation Code (IECC) Hearings in Kansas City, Mo. – Successfully lobbied against code proposals that would have changed lavatory faucets flow rates to EPA WaterSense levels in the mandatory IECC.
    • American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, NV – Strengthened alliances with ASSE and IAPMO, and assessed PMI’s need to be involved in the development of ASSE standards.
    • International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Z358.1 Eyewash and Shower Working Group Meeting in Alexandria, Va. – Assessed PMI’s need to be involved in the development of the ISEA Z358.1 standard.
  • Submitted comments to the:
    • Federal Trade Commission in regards to the removal of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) product markings from showerheads, faucets, water closets and urinals.
    • California Building Standards Commission in regards to the implementation of CA AB 2282 which will mandate recycled water piping in both residential and commercial occupancies.

PMI OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION

  • Developed a monetary value to members estimate of $277,000 for PMI media outreach during the first nine months of 2016. This estimate includes the coverage of the PMI Flint Relief Effort, which earned reports by NPR, People, CBS News, Michigan local media, and about 70 more trade, business and consumer media outlets.
  • Formed and gained volunteers for four outreach and communication work groups: value of PMI membership, amplifying PMI efforts through its members, engaging with youth to grow the industry, and expanding and diversifying PMI relationships. The work groups on value and amplification will start first.
  • Recorded a series of videos in which members attest to the value PMI provides to their companies and themselves as professionals for use in prospecting and outreach.
  • Wrote and distributed news release about PMI/AWE study. Achieved 12,730 views on Business Wire, 51 link clicks and 405 multimedia views. The release also received 263 social media mentions, with the potential of reaching over 100,000 people.
  • Researched and contracted media monitoring services to enhance media outreach intelligence and value.
  • Social media results remained strong – an increased emphasis on LinkedIn has been especially fruitful, with engagement, amplification and applause measures all up over the previous quarter.

PMI MEMBER VISITS

During the last quarter of 2016, Barbara C. Higgens paid “member satisfaction visits” to 8 PMI members: Dornbracht Americas, Inc.; Duravit USA, Inc.; Fisher Manufacturing Company; Hansgrohe, Inc.; Pfister; T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Inc.; Water Pik, Inc.; and WCM Industries, Inc.

INDUSTRY NETWORKING

Barbara C. Higgens attended the following industry events during the fourth quarter of 2016 to strengthen alliances and assess synergies:

  • Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) Conference, October 3-4, in the United Kingdom with Masco's John Finch. Yvonne Orgill, BMA chief executive, celebrated her 30th year with the organization.
  • American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) Convention & Expo, Oct. 28-Nov. 2, in Phoenix, Ariz., with PMI Board of Directors (BOD) President Paul Patton and BOD Secretary-Treasurer Scott McDonald.
  • American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Infrastructure Conference & Exposition, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, in Phoenix, Ariz., in October with PMI BOD Secretary-Treasurer Scott McDonald and PMI's Federal Legislative Advocate Stephanie Salmon, who facilitated a government affairs strategy session.

EVENTS

PMI Conference

"Proactively Engaging Influencers," the 2016 PMI Conference, Oct. 24-27, in Rosemont, Ill., set new records with 32 of 35 member companies present and 85 individual member attendees. Total attendance was 139.

Upcoming Events

January 11, 2017: PMI Strategic Advisory Council (SAC)

April 4-5, 2017: Executive Forum and Fly-In, Washington D.C.

June 13-14, 2017: Executive Forum and Fly-In, Sacramento, California

GOVERNANCE

PMI Executive Panel Elected and 2017 Board Appointed

  • President: Pete Jahrling, Sloan Valve Company
  • Vice President: Scott McDonald, Fluidmaster, Inc.
  • Secretary-Treasurer: Nate Kogler, Bradley Corporation
  • Immediate Past President: Paul Patton, Delta Faucet Company
  • Michael Miller, LSP Products
  • Todd Teter, Moen, Inc.
  • Joel Smith, Kohler Company
  • Chip Way, Lavelle Industries

2017 Committee Chairs

  • Allied Committee: Terry Burger, NSF International
  • Advocacy/Government Affairs Committee: Jay Burnett, Delta Faucet Company (Returning) and Martin Knieps, Viega LLC
  • Fair Trade Issue Committee: Carol Baricovich, InSinkErator, and Eric Theisen, T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Inc.:
  • Outreach/Communications Committee: Mary Ahlbrand, Delta Faucet Company, and Amy Scherer, Speakman Company
  • Technical Committee: John Finch, Masco (Returning) and C.J. Lagan, American Standard Brands
  • Water Efficiency and Sustainability Issue Committee: Danny Gleiberman, Sloan Valve Company (Returning) and Jeff Zeman, Kohler Company (Returning)

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