Bob Neff of Delta Faucet Co. has joined the board of directors of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI).

An active PMI member since 2016 and co-chair of PMI’s technical committee since 2019, Neff is the product compliance and regulatory manager at Delta Faucet Co. In this role at Delta, he leads the compliance and regulatory team at Delta in new product development and sustainment.

As the co-chair of PMI’s technical committee, Neff plays a key role among a group of industry technical experts who monitor proposed changes to local, state, national and international plumbing codes and standards, including “green” codes to foster greater sustainability.

“Our group relies on collaboration and feedback from PMI members to guide our activities,” he said. “It’s amazing how much activity there is to keep up with and how quickly things move.”

Having started his career at Delta as a lab technician in 2012, Neff said this personal perspective will complement other board members who come mostly from engineering backgrounds. Lab testing validates whether or not plumbing products meet codes and standards. A self-described millennial, Neff said his point of view will help the board to more thoroughly understand the values and contributions younger workers bring into the workplace.

A graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering technology, Neff said he is looking forward to building bridges between PMI and industry allies. For example, he recalls introducing himself at a town hall event in Indianapolis to Dave Yanchulis, director of the Office of Technical and Information Services at the U.S. Access Board, the federal agency that develops and maintains accessibility guidelines and standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws.

This introduction led to Yanchulis attending the PMI19 Manufacturing Success Conference in St. Pete Beach, Florida, to present at the event and opened the door to PMI members having the opportunity to provide feedback on the ADA Standards’ chapter on plumbing elements and facilities.

“His presentation at the conference was very interesting and helpful,” Neff stated.