» Save the Date! The 2026 RMI Education Summit will be held October 20-21, 2026 at MHI’s offices in Charlotte. Visit mhi.org/rmi for more information.

Held September 16–17, 2025, at MHI headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, the inaugural RMI Education Summit marked an important milestone in the organization’s ongoing commitment to education, collaboration, and technical excellence across the storage rack industry.

Designed as an in-person, two-day program, the Summit brought together engineers, technical specialists, and industry professionals. The event encouraged focused learning, candid discussion, and meaningful peer interaction beyond traditional meetings or committee sessions, explained Nancy Fateen, President of Seizmic Inc., an MHI member company. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the RMI Education Committee.

“The idea for the RMI Education Summit grew directly from member feedback and was intended to provide value to the members,” Fateen said. “It was something that members had been asking for over quite some time. They wanted a high-level technical educational gathering of the minds.”

To meet that need, the Education Committee structured the Summit around two complementary tracks: technical and non-technical. This format allowed attendees to tailor their experience while benefiting from shared sessions and cross-functional dialogue.

Two Days of Practical, Industry-Driven Education

Across two days, the RMI Education Summit agenda reflected the real-world challenges facing rack designers, manufacturers, installers, and inspectors today. Sessions ranged from deep technical analysis to leadership, ethics, and field best practices. Fateen said the topic choices underscored the idea that rack safety and performance depend on more than calculations alone.

Day One opened with a joint welcome and overview of RMI standards and resources. Concurrent sessions allowed participants to choose between technical deep dives—such as cold-formed steel section analysis and drive-in rack aisle behavior—or business-focused discussions on technical sales and decking applications.

The afternoon emphasized field realities. Sessions addressed installation inspections, project site reviews, and what engineers and project teams should be looking for once rack systems are in place. The day concluded with a wrap-up panel and an evening networking dinner designed to foster informal discussion and peer connection.

Day Two continued the technical momentum with extended sessions on rack calculations, cantilever rack design under ANSI MH16.3, automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) rack design considerations, rack testing fundamentals, anchoring, and load capacity documentation. Parallel non-technical sessions explored topics such as pick modules, pallet rack safety programs, and bridging the gap between design intent and field compliance. An engineering ethics case study—offered during a working lunch—reinforced professional responsibility.

RMI Education Summit Speakers

The RMI Education Summit featured presentations from a diverse group of industry leaders, engineers, and subject matter experts. They included:

Engineers Earned Professional Development Hours

For many attendees, the Summit also provided a practical benefit: the ability to earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) through the technical track.

“We made sure the technical sessions qualified for PDHs,” Fateen said. “That was another added benefit for Summit participants. The technical presentations helped engineers maintain their licenses while learning from industry-specific, real-world content.”

While PDH acceptance varies by state, the Education Committee intentionally aligned sessions with widely recognized professional requirements, including ethics education.

Learning Beyond the Committee Room

While RMI’s semi-annual meetings and engineering committees remain essential to standards development, the Summit offered something different: time and interaction.

“We specifically didn’t livestream the Summit,” said Jonathan Hirst, Vice President and General Manager at North American Storage and Co-Chair of the Education Committee. “Instead, we wanted to create the opportunity for personal interaction. It was important to provide a forum for subject matter experts to present what they know, answer questions, and allow people to hear dialogue.”

This format encouraged questions, discussion, and knowledge sharing. Hirst and Fateen agreed that the Summit’s structure made it particularly valuable for engineers just embarking on their rack design careers.

“It was also a good opportunity for more seasoned professionals seeking a broader understanding of how standards, design, installation, and inspection intersect,” added Hirst.

Beyond individual sessions, the RMI Education Summit reflected a broader, long-term vision for the organization.

“This is part of a larger effort,” Hirst said. “As some of the most experienced technical voices in our industry approach retirement, it’s critical that knowledge doesn’t leave with them. Events like this help support that transfer.”

Additionally, the Summit reinforced RMI’s role as a convener, added Fateen. “We wanted to bring together diverse perspectives from across the rack lifecycle. That includes aspects of design, manufacturing, installation, inspection, and operation,” she noted.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Post-event feedback reinforced the Summit’s value for professionals at all career stages. Attendees consistently cited the opportunity to learn from experienced peers and the breadth of relevant content as key strengths.

Participants also appreciated the parallel session format, which ensured useful takeaways even for non-engineers or those outside traditional pallet rack roles. Further, many expressed their interest in seeing the RMI Education Summit return. Several offered constructive ideas for future enhancements, particularly more time for discussion and collaboration. Comments included:

Fateen said this feedback will help shape future RMI Education Summits. “Our hope is to build on what we started. We want to keep the content fresh, relevant, and driven by what members want to learn and what they want to share,” she explained.

RMI plans to host the next Summit in mid-to-late October 2026. Details will be announced soon.

“If you’re interested in attending, leading a session, or helping shape future topics,” Fateen added, “we want to hear from you.”

RMI Offers Multiple Educational Resources

RMI develops and publishes several American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards covering the design, testing and utilization of industrial storage rack. The group also provides additional resources to support safer rack system design and use. These include presentations, a glossary, case studies, and FAQs. Visit mhi.org/rmi for more information.