Organizers of the 2015 Plumbing Manufacturers International Annual Conference said this year’s edition of the event, held at San Antonio’s Hotel Contessa Oct. 26-29, was “one of our best attended,” with 130 total attendees.

“Between our member companies and guest sponsors, there were 16 event and exhibition sponsors, resulting in a sell-out for exhibit space,” said PMI Communications Manager Dawn Robinson. “PMI’s expanded sponsorship program allows for additional networking at booth spaces throughout the event.”

The event kicked off Oct. 26 with a board of directors meeting and concurrent exhibits and networking opportunities followed by a welcome reception for all attendees. The program continued with committee reports and seminars.

Highlights of the event included the election of a new crop of officers for 2016. They are: Paul Patton, Delta Faucet Co., president; Pete Jahrlingfrom Sloan Valve Co., vice president; Scott McDonaldfrom Fluidmaster, treasurer; and 2015 president Fernando Fernandezfrom TOTO USA becomes president emeritus.

In other action, Emmy-winning television personality and author Ross Shafer, the Oct. 28 keynote speaker, told attendees that it’s not who you know that makes a person successful. “It’s who knows you,” he said. “We’re in a constant state of evolution. Serve the end-user. The end-user doesn’t blame you for water shortages. They blame bad government.”

He said all businesses pretty much face the same challenges. One way to freshen thinking and use figurative peripheral vision about your industry is to visit conference centers and hotels on weekends, check the activities list for the day and “accidently” attend meetings or seminars from other industries.

The 2016 PMI conference is set for the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, Ill., Oct. 24-27, 2016.