PMI CEO Thinking Forum, West Point, NY

September 18 and 19, 2023

The 2023 PMI CEO Thinking Forum delivered an immersive leadership experience with expert storytelling, role playing, and a trek through a key historic battleground along New York’s Hudson River.

The forum took place on the grounds of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and provided practical tools to achieve high team performance by applying historical lessons to current challenges facing the plumbing manufacturing and allied industries.

For CEOs and those who think like CEOs

Open to PMI member company CEOs or executives, the forum provides a “can’t miss” opportunity to connect face-to-face with industry peers to explore solutions to mutual challenges. It’s a valuable opportunity to connect with peers for one or more executives from each PMI member company.

Past forum participants have praised the program as “highly valuable and a great time investment” because of the way it applies learnings from history to practical challenges. “The forum provides executives with a necessary pause in their hectic schedules for strategic reflection,” said PMI CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole. “It gives them valuable time to focus on personal development and to gain new perspectives. Our West Point venue is the ideal place to do that.”

Lessons grounded in Duty, Honor, Country

At the inspirational venue of the historic Thayer Hotel at West Point, participants learned lessons grounded in the U.S. Army leadership philosophy of “Be, Know, Do” and the West Point values of “Duty, Honor, Country.” PMI member executives met for cocktails, dinner and opening remarks on the evening of Sept. 18.

The next day focused on leading teams to high performance. Major Gen. Douglas Crissman, U.S. Army, Retired, led the program. A member of Thayer Leadership’s elite faculty of emeritus military officers, he served as a coach and mentor to PMI member executives. He shared his experiences and leadership techniques during an interactive leadership development process that helped participants translate knowledge into action.

This day also featured a “staff ride” experience led by Col. Maria Del Pilar McDermott, U.S. Army, Retired, Ph.D. This experience allowed participants to walk where George Washington and his staff prevented the British from seizing the Hudson River. Dinner was served at the hotel’s MacArthur’s restaurant.

At the conclusion of the forum, participants take away high-value information to better lead teams in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world, bring values to life, and motivate teams through an empowered workforce.