PMI names Joel Smith president; approves board members and committee co-chairs

Plumbing Manufacturers International 2020 Board of Directors (Left to Right): Michael Martinez, Delta Faucet Co.; Sal Gattone, LIXIL; 2020 Board President Joel Smith, Kohler Co.; Board Vice President Todd Teter, House Of Rohl; 2019 Board President Nate Kogler, Bradley Corp.; Fernando Fernandez, TOTO USA; Board Secretary/Treasurer Martin Knieps, Viega LLC; and Daniel Gleiberman, Sloan Valve Co.

Plumbing Manufacturers International announced the election of Joel Smith as president of the 2020 PMI board of directors. The director of faucets product engineering at Kohler Co., Smith succeeds Nate Kogler, director of product management at Bradley Corp. Kogler will continue to serve on the board as immediate past president.

Todd Teter, senior vice president and general manager, House of Rohl, was elected vice president, and Martin Knieps, director, technical marketing, for Viega LLC, will serve as secretary/treasurer.

Smith said he was honored and excited about 2020. While telling members at last week’s PMI19 Conference to be ready for a continual string of surprises and a rapid pace of change, he stated that PMI was “uniquely positioned” to adapt to new issues and challenges such consumer privacy, trade and tariffs and fulfilling members’ educational needs.

“We’re always on and thinking ahead,” he said. “We’re only scratching the surface of PMI’s potential.”

Smith presented a commemorative crystal gavel and Florida flag to Kogler in appreciation of his service as 2019 board president. The flag flew over the Florida state capitol on the first day of the PMI19 Conference. Kogler acknowledged his fellow board members and members who made his time as president so rewarding.

PMI CEO/Executive President Kerry Stackpole delivered a State of PMI Address that gave tribute to PMI members for their faithfulness in fulfilling the vision of “safe, responsible plumbing – always.” He acknowledged PMI staff members for their excellent work. He also recognized Kohler Co.’s Shabbir Rawalpindiwala with the PMI Ambassador Award.

Other members of the 2020 board include: Michael Martinez, product compliance manager, Delta Faucet Co.; Sal Gattone, vice president, engineering, LIXIL; Daniel Gleiberman, manager, product compliance and government affairs, Sloan Valve Co.; and Fernando Fernandez, director codes and standards, TOTO USA.

The 2020 committee co-chairs include: Lowell Lampen, Kohler Co., and Troy Benavidez, LIXIL, for the Advocacy/Government Affairs committee; C.J. Lagan, LIXIL, and Bob Neff, Delta Faucet Co., for the Technical committee; Elton Perkins, Fluidmaster, and Liz Renfro, Delta Faucet Co., for the Commerce committee; and Cambria McLeod, Kohler Co., and Will Wang, Fluidmaster, for the Water Efficiency and Sustainability Issue committee.