Board members approved, Rethink Water initiative launched at 68th Annual Meeting of the Membership Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) announced the election of Sal Gattone as president of the 2023 PMI Board of Directors during PMI’s 68th Annual Meeting of the Membership yesterday. The leader of research and development projects at LIXIL, Gattone succeeds Martin Knieps, senior director Read more
Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI)
Board members approved, Rethink Water initiative launched at 68th Annual Meeting of the Membership
Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) announced the election of Sal Gattone as president of the 2023 PMI Board of Directors during PMI’s 68th Annual Meeting of the Membership yesterday. The leader of research and development projects at LIXIL, Gattone succeeds Martin Knieps, senior director, operational excellence, Viega LLC. Knieps will remain on the board as immediate past president. The meeting was held during the PMI22 Manufacturing Success Conference in Louisville.
In addition to Gattone and Knieps, the other members of the 2023 board will be board vice president Chip Way, Lavelle Industries; board secretary/treasurer Cambria McLeod, Kohler Co.; and at-large directors Kevin Campbell, Moen, Inc.; Daniel Gleiberman, Sloan Valve Co.; Bob Neff, Delta Faucet Co.; and Belinda Wise, Kerox, Ltd.
“I am delighted and honored to lead as the next president of the PMI Board of Directors,” Gattone stated. “We are at a pivotal juncture. Record-breaking temperatures this summer, combined with historic drought conditions, remind us of the urgency with which we need to act to tackle water conservation challenges at every level of government. In collaboration with my colleagues at PMI, we will continue to focus on water efficiency, advising key stakeholders on proactive measures we can implement to advance responsible use of our water resources.”
Board photo caption: l-r: Bob Neff, Delta Faucet Co.; Belinda Wise, Kerox, Ltd.; Daniel Gleiberman, Sloan Valve Co.; 2023 board vice president Chip Way, Lavelle Industries; 2023 board president Sal Gattone, LIXIL; 2023 board secretary/treasurer Cambria McLeod, Kohler Co.; Kevin Campbell, Moen, Inc.; and 2022 board president Martin Knieps.
Gattone thanked Knieps for his contributions as the 2022 PMI board president. He also announced that the 69th Annual Meeting of the Membership will be held as part of the PMI23 Manufacturing Success Conference from Oct. 23-26, 2023, at the Lotte Hotel in Seattle.
In remarks summing up 2022, Knieps recognized PMI member companies that joined during the year – BOCCHI, Speakman and Uponor. He presented the PMI President’s Award to Troy Benavidez, leader, international governmental relations and policy, LIXIL International.
PMI introduces Rethink Water initiative
PMI’s Rethink Water initiative is an effort to assure clean and safe water for future generations by building a coalition of individuals, organizations and policymakers with a shared vision of sustainably managed water.
Knieps introduced a video about the initiative and emphasized the importance of addressing the water shortages caused by climate change and aging infrastructure. Rethink Water is one of an “amazing array of forward-looking initiatives” PMI has planned for 2023 and beyond, he said. Knieps also announced the new Paul Patton PMI Conference Scholarship, named after the late former PMI president, to be awarded each year to provide complimentary attendance to the PMI Manufacturing Success Conference.
During his state of the association report, PMI CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole recognized the contributions of the PMI board, committee leaders, staff, and business support team. He named Kate Olinger, director, industry and regulatory affairs, Uponor, as the recipient of the PMI Ambassador Award, given each year to an employee of a PMI member company.
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About Plumbing Manufacturers International
Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) is the trade association of plumbing product manufacturers that produce more than 90% of the United States’ plumbing products, represent more than 150 iconic brands, and develop safe, reliable and innovative water-efficient plumbing technologies. PMI members contribute more than 464,000 jobs and $85.5 billion in economic impact to America’s economy.
With a vision of safe, responsible plumbing – always, PMI advocates for plumbing product performance contributing to water efficiency and savings, sustainability, public health and safety, and consumer satisfaction. PMI members manufacture water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, showerheads and other products at more than 70 locations across the country and market them online and in more than 24,000 home improvement stores, hardware stores and showrooms in all 50 states. For more information on PMI, contact the organization at 1750 Tysons Blvd., Ste. 1500, McLean, Va., 22102; tel.: 847-481-5500; fax: 847-481-5501. www.safeplumbing.org.
Mechanical Hub Media is proud to be a media sponsor for the Seventh Emerging Water Technology Symposium (EWTS). The EWTS, a biennial symposium co-convened by the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE), the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI), continues to provide critical Read more
Mechanical Hub Media is proud to be a media sponsor for the Seventh Emerging Water Technology Symposium (EWTS). The EWTS, a biennial symposium co-convened by the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE), the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI), continues to provide critical insight into the future of our water-related industries. Join with your colleagues May 10-11 in San Antonio at this must-attend event. The speaker lineup this year is the strongest ever!
Two keynote speakers: Robert Puente, CEO of San Antonio Water Systems, will discuss how San Antonio Water Systems is cultivating a culture of technology to address water scarcity. The second keynote will be provided by Don Johnston, senior operations director, Indonesia, at Water.org.
Attendees will also hear from Sun Gil Kim, program officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Edward Osann, senior policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); C.J. Lagan, Product Testing & Compliance leader at LIXIL; and Clement Cid, PhD, senior research engineer at Linde+Robinson Lab as they discuss the safety and performance requirements, and the likely regulatory framework, for the Reinvent the Toilet project.
Natascha Milesi-Ferretti, mechanical engineer, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will discuss several new research efforts that NIST will be addressing in the premise plumbing area — including a newly installed laboratory to characterize the pressure-flow relationship of plumbing fittings, a facility to study the growth of opportunistic pathogens in hot water systems as a function of temperature, water usage patterns and other factors, and other initiatives.
Learn the latest on keeping building water systems safe! Janet E. Stout, PhD, president and director, Special Pathogens Laboratory, will discuss new approaches for the control and spread of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens such as non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Kurt Steenhook, international representative, and Robert Viches, training specialist for the United Association, detail a compliance pathway for facility managers, contractors, and craftsmen to operationalize an appropriate response to the exposure of metals, chemicals, and bacteria to building occupants.
Dr. Markus Lenger, principal at Clean Blu, Inc., will be back at the EWTS to discuss advancements in the design and monitoring of water reuse systems, and the need for new standards that will result in more affordable and reliable applications that can help to make direct potable reuse a consumer product!
Hear from Academia! Professor Michael Gormley of Herriot Watt University will discuss virus presence, prevalence and fate within building wastewater sanitary systems; Professor Andrew Whelton of Purdue University will provide a presentation on predicting faucet water quality and predicting plumbing system contamination and recovery; and Professor Steve Buchburger of the University of Cincinnati will discuss the application and potential of the Water Demand Calculator.
Both days at the EWTS will include an informative panel discussion with today’s most notable subject matter experts. Day one’s panel will address the Effective Risk Management of Building Water Systems and Pathogen Control and day two’s panel will provide a discussion on the Implications of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Drinking and Wastewater Systems.
Finally, the EWTS will again feature a Young Water Specialists presentation. This year, “Team HydroPuris” will present remotely from Washington, D.C., on their eCybermisson competition project, Enabling Access to Clean Water Using a Portable Water Purification and Testing System. Hearing from the water experts of the future is a fun and great way to conclude the symposium!
There’s so much more! See the full program at www.ewts.org, and register for the EWTS at https://www.aspe.org/2022-ewts-registration/. We hope to see you in San Antonio!