Registration is now open for the PMI25 Manufacturing Success Conference at the Fairmont Hotel in Millennium Park, Chicago. The dates are Nov. 3-6, Participants in Plumbing Manufacturers International’s 71st annual membership meeting can receive a discounted rate.

Brett Culp, award-winning documentary filmmaker, will be the keynote speaker on Nov. 4. Culp is the founder of the not-for-profit Rising Heroes Project, and will present “Superhero Leadership in Uncertain Times and Instant Storytelling.” Culp will share powerful stories about ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary things.

Founder of Mindfire Mastery, Stephanie Klein, will facilitate the PMI Inspiring Leaders Program on Nov. 3. Participants in this program will learn how Klein applied her experience dealing with stress in the fast-paced corporate world to pursue a more meaningful second act. She will discuss how to build mental resilience by shifting from burnout to balance. 

During the Women of PMI Breakfast on Nov. 5, Shelley Paxton will share how she walked away from her job as chief marketing officer of Harley-Davidson and into her “soulbbatical.” Her mission is to empower leaders, entrepreneurs and organizations to feel more alive, aligned and energized for greater impact in the world.

The latest on AI, the future of manufacturing, Build America Buy America, and more

Thomas Kurfess, professor and chief manufacturing officer, Georgia Institute of Technology, and chief technology officer, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, will explore “Present and Future Implications for AI in Advanced Manufacturing.” He will share insights into next-generation, hyper-connected production operations and business models that favor local and point-of-assembly manufacturing, which will use tools such as ChatGPT. 

Jason Hodell, partner, industrial and consumer goods segment leader, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC, will present “Strategic Benefits of Build America Buy America Certification.” He’ll explain the differences between the standard Buy American Act and Build America Buy America, their requirements and criteria, and will cover certification basics, revenue opportunities, and how the certification provides manufacturers with a powerful sales and marketing advantage, along with access to federal programs and funding.

“Measuring Pressure Loss in Modern Plumbing Fittings” will be the title of Natascha Milesi-Ferretti’s presentation. A supervisory research engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, she will discuss the pressing need for updated pressure loss data to allow for approaches that enhance water efficiency and quality, as modern plumbing systems incorporate materials such as CPVC, copper and PEX. 

Justin Brown, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Greater Chicago, will present “Deep Tunnels, Backwards Rivers and Electrofishing: Chicago’s Water Infrastructure.” Brown will take attendees on a multimedia tour of the Chicago region’s world-famous water infrastructure, which includes the vast Deep Tunnel system and one of the largest wastewater treatment plants on earth. He will explain how green infrastructure partnerships are transforming the urban environment today and how electrofishing is revealing a thriving aquatic ecology in the river.

Other speakers:

• Lisa Ragain, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, on recent Legionella and water supply research
• ITR Economics’ Lauren Saidel-Baker will present “PMI Market Outlook LIVE: “Gearing Up for 2026.”
• Brooks Allen, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, on trade and tariffs
• David Morell, Jones Day, on counterfeit plumbing products
• Rob Keith, AMERIPEN, on extended producer responsibility
• Jerry Desmond and Stephanie Salmon, PMI’s advocacy/government affairs consultants, on California and federal legislative and regulatory issues.
• Jenn Kovacs, MiTek and the She Built Foundation
• Joel Brammeier, Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Platinum, gold, silver and event sponsorships highlight products and services

PMI25 sponsorships offer ways for organizations to feature products and services to conference attendees. New this year is a event sponsorship opportunity for one company to lend a helping hand to those in need by sponsoring hygiene kits provided by World Vision, an organization that facilitates donations to programs that benefit children, families and communities in need. A kit-building station will be set up with essential hygiene items and note cards with the sponsor’s logo. World Vision will distribute the assembled kits and note cards to the underserved and those dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters. Learn more about PMI25 sponsorship.