Registration Opens for PMI24 Manufacturing Success Conference

The first day will feature the pre-conference PMI Inspiring Leaders Program at the Carter Center, followed by a welcome reception for all PMI24 attendees at the hotel. Attendees can register for this optional program and PMI24 at a discounted bundle rate.

All employees of PMI member companies are invited to participate in the Carter Center program, titled “Strategic Doing—10 Skills for Agile Leadership.” Scott Hutcheson, Ph.D., a senior lecturer and professor of technology leadership and innovation at Purdue University, will share a practice-proven framework that helps leaders form action-oriented collaborations quickly. Participants will learn how to manage complex challenges better, add evidence-based tools to their portfolios, and gain the confidence to use the new tools and insights immediately.

MMA fighter turned humanitarian to deliver Nov. 5 keynote

During the Nov. 5 PMI24 keynote, mixed martial arts fighter turned global humanitarian Justin Wren will share his story of courage and hope along with tools and techniques for navigating adversity, finding purpose, and making a meaningful impact in business and life.

After achieving success in his MMA career and overcoming injuries and an attempted suicide, Wren founded Fight for the Forgotten to provide clean water, education and empowerment to Pygmy communities in Africa. He advocates for indigenous rights and delivers a powerful voice for marginalized communities. Known as “the Big Pygmy”—the name his tribal family in the Congo gave him—Wren has helped drill wells and teach others in the Pygmy communities how to gain access to life-saving clean water.

Nov. 6 PMI Women's Breakfast

The PMI Women’s Breakfast on Nov. 6 will welcome DeRetta Cole Rhodes, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief culture officer of the Atlanta Braves. She will provide insights on the importance of finding a personal voice as a female leader. Dr. Rhodes oversees communications and community affairs for the Braves and the team’s spring training facility operations, as well as for The Battery Atlanta shopping mall near Truist Park, where the Braves play.

Dr. Rhodes has scored several wins in her time with the Braves, expanding the organization’s culture with training programs and employee resource groups and creating an internal diversity, equity and inclusion council. She also managed the organizational changes that became necessary because of the COVID pandemic.

Also on Nov. 6, Katherine Zitsch, water policy expert with the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center, will deliver a keynote on the “Water Wars of the South.” Zitsch brings together leaders from the business, federal, state, local and philanthropic sectors to address Georgia's complex water challenges.

Meeting of the Membership

Bringing the day's business to a close, PMI will conduct its 70th Meeting of the Membership and anniversary celebration. During this meeting, PMI will review accomplishments and goals, name the winners of the PMI President's Award and PMI Ambassador Award, conduct a business meeting, and elect 2025 officers while celebrating PMI's past, present and future.

The meeting will feature experts on water management, sustainable packaging, PFAS remediation, artificial intelligence, energy- and water-efficient buildings, and more. Attendees will learn about exciting innovations and PMI's current initiatives, including Rethink Water, and receive the latest forecast from ITR Economics to guide their decisions through the coming year.

Learn more and register for PMI24 at https://www.safeplumbing.org/pmi24.