With 11 first-place national NKBA awards and a historic certification bonus, Shea Pumarejo, CMKBD, shares why persistence and professional development pay off
You could say Shea Pumarejo, CMKBD, has cracked the code on the NKBA Design Competition.
Her secret is simple:
Enter. And keep entering.
Since she began entering in 2012, the San Antonio-based designer has earned 11 first-place national NKBA design awards, including four Best Overall Bath honors, and approximately $180,000 in competition prize money.
Her latest victory was particularly significant. At the 2026 NKBA Design + Industry Awards, Pumarejo became the first recipient of NKBA’s newly introduced $25,000 certification bonus, bringing her winnings for the competition to $55,000.
Despite her impressive record, Pumarejo, a member of NKBA’s Texas South Plains Chapter, insists that designers shouldn’t overthink their submissions.
“Maybe you have a project you just completed before the submission deadline, and you’re not sure it’s competition worthy. Just throw it in there. Two of the times I won the Overall Bath Award, that’s what happened. So you just never know.”
An Unexpected Path to Design
Design is Pumarejo’s third career. After working as a model and later a technical recruiter, she spotted a newspaper advertisement for a design trainee at a high-end furniture retailer.
There, she learned about furnishings, upholstery, sales, and customer service, and met the client who would launch her design career.
He hired her to design his 8,000-square-foot executive offices.
“He told me that if he liked what I did, he’d let me do his house.”
He did. The relationship led to residential and commercial projects throughout Mexico and the United States, with Pumarejo frequently traveling aboard his private jet. Referrals followed, launching a successful design practice.
The Value of Professional Development
Pumarejo credits much of her success to her longstanding NKBA involvement, including industry relationships, local chapter leadership, competition recognition, and professional certification.
During the pandemic, she used an unexpected slowdown to invest in certification for herself and an employee, dedicating workday hours to studying. Her employee earned the CKBD designation, while Pumarejo earned her CMKBD.
That decision delivered an unexpected reward in 2026.
Pumarejo wasn’t aware of NKBA’s new $25,000 certification bonus when she submitted her winning entry. She learned about it afterward, eventually becoming its inaugural recipient.
“I pursued my CMKBD because I believe professional expertise should be backed by education and credentials. I certainly didn’t expect it to earn me another $25,000!” she says.
You Can’t Win If You Don’t Enter
Pumarejo encourages designers not to be discouraged by previous competition results. Judging panels change each year, bringing different perspectives and experiences.
A project that doesn’t resonate with one panel may impress another.
Her advice? Keep entering, continue developing your expertise, and never underestimate the value of professional credentials.
And remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter.
Entries for the 2027 NKBA Design Competition close October 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
