A Name You Should Know

Barbara Higgens -- PMI executive director

This month’s “Name You Should Know” is with Barbara C. Higgens, executive director for the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI). Phc News believes she is worth getting to know.

Barbara Higgens professional bio –

• Barbara Higgens is the executive director for (PMI). She also is the chairman of the Council of Manufacturing Associations; board member of the National Association of Manufacturers; Crystal Vision Executive Planning Committee; and Procurement Committee, Worldvision Storehouse of Chicago.
• Married to William J. “Trey” Higgens, III. She has two grown daughters.
• Melissa Higgens-Sommers and Matt made us first-time grandparents on her birthday this year, July 20. Parents and baby Avery live in the Denver area.
• Tracy Higgens lives in Washington, D.C. and working on her graduate degree in speech pathology.

How did you first get involved in the industry?

While I was a director of marketing for a Chicago division of Raytheon Corporation, I was contacted by a search firm for the top job at the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute. I was very happy in my job and added that I wasn’t interested in a job in plumbing to which the recruiter replied, “That’s good, they’d never have hired a woman anyway!”

The rest is history (I am not a feminist, but that short-sighted thinking just irritated me!)

I was the only female out of 18 candidates. The group was whittled down through a series of interviews and when there were four of us, it was announced to the PMI membership that the candidates included a lawyer, someone from the plumbing industry, someone who had experience running trade associations… and a woman.

 

I became interested in the job through the numerous interviews, and understood the issues PMI faced -- as I recently had withdrawn our Raytheon’s membership from its trade association when the executive director listed the major benefit of membership as the “great golf outing.”

PMI had followed the same path over the years, and was losing members because there was not obvious business value for belonging to the group. (In addition, each time I interviewed, it cost me $10 to park. At some point I wanted either the job, or a reimbursement for the parking!)

I understand, from the members’ side, the need for trade associations to deliver real value and I have worked to enhance PMI’s value offering to members and the industry. I’ve also worked hard to raise our visibility and relevance in the industry and around the globe in the nine years I have been at PMI. In addition, by instituting sound business practices, we have put one-year’s operating budget in the bank despite the fact that we have seen tremendous grown but have not raised dues since I joined in 1998. We continue to add regularly to the dues value proposition through seminars, forums and relationships with allied associations here and internationally to broaden our visibility, knowledge base and reach.

Having been a journalism major in college during the Watergate years with the stories of Watergate “plumbers,” it’s ironic that today I work with plumbers of a different type.

If you weren’t doing this, what is it you think you would be doing?

I likely would have continued moving up the ranks at Raytheon. And, I’d like to write a book one day.

What would you consider your major achievements?

The righting of PMI as a sinking ship. The 1998 Board of Directors faced the option to either to disband or revitalize. I am proud that we’re thriving today, and I very much appreciate the board commitment and support.

We have come a long way since 1998 when our position tended to be “Just Say No” to change, new ideas or legislation. In October, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill supported by PMI and authored by Assemblyman Jon Laird, which includes a market transition plan written by PMI to provide a reasonable and workable plan to bring to market high efficiency toilets (HET) and high efficiency urinals (HEU) to California. This was the first time PMI has worked as a group to draft a piece of legislation. (We have a second bill in the works.) We will carry this template to other states and nationwide.

What are some major issues facing contractors today? How can they be rectified?

Increased pressure to use water efficiently. Note that does not mean simply using less water, but rather using water efficiently. Products that use less water but do not perform well are not the answer.

All of us must recognize the changing forces within the industry (imports, purchasing influences, supply chain trends) and how that impacts and changes our roles. It’s not the same old paradigm any more! We can’t cling to old thinking without running the risk of becoming obsolete or irrelevant.

The goal of the PMI is to…?

The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute mission statement:

• To promote the water efficiency, health, safety and quality of plumbing products while maximizing consumer choice and value in a fair and open marketplace.
• To provide a forum for the exchange of information and industry education.
• To represent the members’ interests in the regulatory/legislative processes.

The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute is the voluntary, not-for-profit trade association of manufacturers of plumbing products. For more information on PMI or its semiannual meetings, contact us!

What is the significance of education in the industry and how does PMI work with contractors?

I’m a strong believer in networking and information exchange. We have signed agreements (Memoranda of Understanding) with allied associations (UK, Australia) and with the U.S. Department of Commerce. We have an informal relationship with contractors, which I would like to strengthen. We always invite this group to our seminars, but have had no takers to date.

Through our technical director, Shawn Martin, we participate in industry forums with contractors

What are your personal initiatives for the industry?

To keep growing and expanding PMI’s sphere of effectiveness. We will launch a new PMI “micro-site” as an outreach to legislators and the public to foster a better understanding of the important strides our industry has made; and so that we are better understood as a group. It is unfortunate that manufacturers are sometimes maligned in this country. We need to bring conservation groups and manufactures and others more closely together to work on effective solutions. Manufacturing is often not recognized or given credit for being on the same page with such groups.

Manufacturing is critical to our economic base and success as a world power. I have worked to raise the visibility to the next generation of the wonderful career opportunities presented by manufacturing, and in particular, plumbing manufacturing.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy the symphony (I am on the board of trustees) and I am also a drummer in the Chicago Highlanders Bagpipe Band with my bagpiper husband. (Plumbing and drumming is my life!). Other interests include:

• Entertaining friends in our home at themed dinners
• Cooking
• Wine tasting
• Travel, languages
• Raptor-watching
• Flying with my pilot husband
• Watching old movies
• Active in the Episcopal church (Lay Eucharistic Minister)
  

P.S.: I am a big pro wrestling fan, too. Nothing like classical music and a cage match!

For people visiting the Chicago area, what are some can’t miss things to do?

I am not a big city/Chicago fan, but Lake Michigan is beautiful. Take the architectural boat tour! The museums are great. Steaks are great here, and of course, visitors must have the pizza while visiting! There are great music venues here, too.

Any personal favorite places to eat?

I’m a big fan of both steak and sushi -- and I never met a pizza I didn’t like.

The last time I said -- this was a great day! -- I was doing what?

Having a birthday ride in a classic P-51 Mustang WWII airplane.

The future of the PHCP industry looks like…?

Bright -- but only if the parties keep an eye toward the future and embrace the forces of change.