August 2023
Chapter Officer Update
“Of course, we can’t talk about our industry without mentioning that registration for KBIS 2024 in Las Vegas opens on September 1. This KBIS will be even bigger, with more activations, special events and new areas to explore … it’s also the show’s 60th Anniversary and we mean to celebrate with all of you in style…”
Important Dates
August 31 Chapter Officers 2024 Forms Due – Chapter Election Results Form
September 1 National Elections Open For Volunteer Committees
September 19 Monthly Presidents’ Call Register Here
September 29 NKBA Hall of Fame Nominations Due Hall of Fame Nomination
Chapters
All new logos for NKBA Chapters and 60th Anniversary Digital Tool Kit are all available under Resources at nkba.org – or click here: NKBA 60th Logos.
Chapter Officer Elections – Thank you for successfully recruiting Chapter Officers for 2024. Please submit forms by August 31, 2023. Chapter Election Results Form.
We invite and encourage you to collaborate with other officers all year. Please join the 2023 SLACK channel here to join other fellow officers. Although this is optional, we encourage you to join and share ideas with other officers.
Chapter Presentations/Programs – NKBA offers ideas and dynamic speaker recommendations. Chapter Presentation Program.
Please continue to submit your Chapter Financial Reports following every chapter meeting. These forms are mandatory and part of chapter compliance – thank you in advance for submitting. Chapter Financial Report.
Please keep web pages current with relevant, up-to-date news and notices, including chapter recap and upcoming events, as well as member spotlights. Please be sure to update your chapter officers’ email addresses on the “About Us” pages. Prior year’s officers need to be manually removed. Upcoming chapter meeting notices, local news, pictures, and local sponsors all contribute to robust web pages that your members will find engaging and useful. If you need any assistance navigating your web pages, please contact us at chapters@nkba.org.
Form 990 was due May 15. Please double-check to make sure your chapter submitted this form to chapters@nkba.org.
Refresh your knowledge on your role! The role recordings are available under Resources.
What are other chapters doing for informative and inspirational meetings? Check out all of our chapters’ websites! Don’t forget about these ideas:
- Task your members or council to tell at least 5 professionals about the NKBA, have them document! (Perhaps a reward can be arranged)
- Give your local NKBA events exposure via your web pages and/or social media sites. This can be priceless to members.
- Keep members excited about their membership – we recommend sharing this video at a meeting or on a post: NKBA Video
- Survey your members, ask them what kind of experiences they would like to be part of in the chapter.
- Refresh and recycle ideas – If a program or event sparked engagement in the past, bring it back!
- Think outside the box (or screen) for something more ideal. Mix up the topics and speakers. Turn learning into a game (everyone loves trivia!). Have year-long competitions and track points. At the end of the year, the member with the most points wins a prize.
- Engage your hosts — they’re members, too, and they will have some great ideas!
- Check out this article on improving meeting attendance. Click here for some helpful tips.
The NKBA Chapter Resources page contains information on all chapter programs and provides links to many of the forms used by each officer position. It can be accessed by using your personal ID# to log in to the NKBA website. Click here (or at Find a Chapter/Chapter Officer Resources).
The Chapters Team is a resource to all chapter officers. If you need assistance with understanding your role or responsibilities, please contact us at chapters@nkba.org.
Marketing
Cannot believe it is already September! The countdown to KBIS is officially on! Don’t forget that for the month of September, KBIS registration is FREE for all members! Don’t miss out on this amazing perk of membership. To learn more about KBIS, please visit NKBA’s KBIS landing page September 1 – it will host the most up-to-date and pertinent information on the show.
In addition to the start of KBIS season, we continue to celebrate 60 years of the NKBA. In September we continue our trip down memory lane, this month celebrating the late 1980’s – the trends, terms, the hair (ha), and accomplishments of the industry, NKBA, and culture in general. Don’t miss the articles on iconic kitchens of the 1980s – yep think 16 Candles, Weird Science and more. Check out the 60th Anniversary page HERE.
Thank you for all of your support in promoting NKBA’s Design + Industry Awards! We are excited to announce that we had a record-breaking number of entries! We cannot wait to share the top ten with you as we count down to KBIS and the awards.
Hall of Fame nominations kicked off on August 15th! National Elections start on September 1st. We want to hear from you! To nominate for the HOF go HERE and for National Elections go HERE.
Lastly, please encourage your members to tune in to our weekly NKBA’s Lives that take place every Thursday at 2 pm EST, and don’t miss our weekly Business + Design Webinars. September has some really great programming.
September 7th @ 2 pm ET: NKBA Live will host a special replay of its recently released Showroom Study Report. This special replay will explore the showroom industry and where it is headed. Challenges and opportunities will be addressed and deeper discussions on this important distribution channel.
September 14th @ 2 pm ET: NKBA will host a dedicated Certified Designers Webinar. Open only to NKBA’s certified designers, we will discuss updates to the program and the business and design benefits of getting certified.
September 21 @2 pm ET: NKBA will host a business webinar entitled: Securing Qualified Job Applicants: The #1 Thing You Can Do, with Rikka Brandon. Learn how subtle mindset shifts and simple process teaks can improve the number of good job applicants – learn how to get the applicants you want.
September 28th @ 2 pm ET: Next Stage Replay: Creating Experiences: Learnings from the Hospitality Industry – Sponsored by Cosentino. Learn from top minds in the hospitality design industry and discover new facets of personalization, health-supporting design, and tech automation in this space.
Events
Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open!
Calling all K+B Game Changers! Know someone who has contributed to the industry in an extraordinary way? One who embodies leadership, innovation, integrity, and creativity of the NKBA and the Kitchen and Bath industry as a whole? Nominations are open for exceptional K&B professionals who have made significant and enduring contributions to the Kitchen & Bath industry and/or to the NKBA.
Nominations opened August 15 and close September 29, 2023.
Learn more about the guidelines here and nominate someone here.
The NKBA is built on a foundation of great leadership, and has thrived for six decades through the efforts of dedicated volunteers at the local and national levels. Nominations for 2024 national leadership positions, including the Board of Directors and on various committees, will be open September 1 – September 29. Click here to see the detailed responsibilities of each committee and decide which role best fits your skill set!
Professional
Development
NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines web page provides a general overview about the revisions found within this publication, as well as two webinar recordings highlighting the history of NKBA’s Planning Guidelines and specific topics and practical applications related to the new publication.
NKBA’s Fourth Edition K&B Planning Guidelines (spiral-bound) is available for purchase on the NKBA store.
In an effort to support Certification Candidates and our NKBA Chapters, National continues to develop a new Committee Member position. NKBA’s Learning Pathway Advisor will provide the necessary guidance for NKBA members to successfully earn their Certification as well as support our Student Members and Student Chapters. We will provide more information as the position continues to develop.
NKBA’s Certification Program – It’s FREE to Apply! The NKBA’s revised Certification Program provides several curriculum tracks for NKBA members in different stages of their professional careers. The Certification Flyer provides candidate eligibility criteria, application checklist and what each candidate receives with purchase. Discover which pathway is right for you and apply for free today by visiting the NKBA’s Certification webpage.
Coming Soon! The NKBA is excited to announce we will be creating two new badge credentials this year. Stay tuned for more information and release dates.
Earn your Specialty Badge Today! Become distinguished from your peers and earn one of NKBA’s eight available badge credentials. Foundational knowledge is key to expanding your toolkit and being well-versed in this ever-changing industry. Participants have one-year to study and complete the exam.
This Specialty Badge flyer provides an overview about the benefits and features of the program. For additional information please visit the NKBA’s Specialty Badge Program webpage.
If you have questions or need assistance, please email badge@nkba.org or call our Member Relations team at (800) 843-6522.
Congratulations to our newest NKBA Specialty Badge earners!
Danielle Schroeder, Floor Plans & Specifications, Sustainability , Chief Architect Software, Palouse
Laila Ferri johnson, Universal Design, Designed Smart, Puget Sound
Dianna Corsi, Cabinetry, Custom Built Design & Remodeling, West Michigan
Lucy Johnson, Cabinetry, Lucy Johnson Interior Design, Puget Sound
Vlasta Weller, Cabinetry, River’s Edge Cabinetry, Ontario/Canada
DeAnna Murphy, Remodeling, Color, Murphy Interiors, Ontario/Canada
Christopher Henry, Lighting, Gerhards Kitchen & Bath Store, Wisconsin/Upper Michigan
Amanda Colosi Johnson, Cabinetry, McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath, Northern New England
Melinda Meadows, Cabinetry, Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., Alabama
Pamela Berrigan, Color, Home Depot#2611, Northern New England
Hannah Purser, Cabinetry, Carolina
Patricia Jacobson, Cabinetry, Synergy Builders Inc., Chicago MidWest
Samantha Fletcher, Susquehanna Valley
Erin R Hackett, Floor Plans & Specifications, Hackett House Studio, Central Ohio
Dusti Dunn, Cabinetry, Dee David & Co LLC, Virginia State
Julie Whitten, Cabinetry, Whitten Kitchens And Baths, North Florida
Karen Stevens, Cabinetry, Grabill Cabinet Company Inc, Indiana State
Christal Gress, Color, Christal Clear Design, California Capital
September is all about Smart Home Technology and how we can best communicate with our clients. In addition, the Business Webinar Series focuses on Employee Retention. Don’t miss out – register here: https://kb.nkba.org/webinars/
Please note, you must attend 80% of the webinar session to earn .1 CEU per webinar. NKBA Design + Business Webinars in September are generously sponsored by Hettich. Please click here to learn more about our sponsor: https://web.hettich.com/en-us/home
NKBA
Initiatives
Earlier this month, NKBA released the results of its Q2 2023 Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) research. Key takeaways from the report include:
- The kitchen and bath industry slowed in Q2 2023 as higher interest rates and product/material prices deterred many homeowners from spending money on their home. The KBMI Index rating is now 56 out of 100, down from 62 reported in Q1 and at the lowest level since the COVID-led recession in 2020. A rating above 50 still indicates industry growth, however, the growth that the industry experienced in Q2 was driven by price only.
- All four segments are impacted by softening demand, but not to the same degree. Kitchen and bath activity slowed in Q2, especially among retailers and manufacturers, while designers and remodelers fared better due in part to backlogs. The ratings for each segment’s current market conditions are: Manufacturing, 44.7; Retail Sales, 44.8; Building and Construction, 50.9; and Design, 51.5.
- K&B pros expect 4.9 percent full-year sales growth for 2023, based on their expectation of raising prices by approximately 7 percent. This indicates that any growth will be nominal—from price increases alone—while project/order volumes will be flat or negative for 2023. Once again, the sentiment for this measure varies widely by segment. K&B builders/remodelers are most optimistic, reporting high single-digit revenue expectations for 2023 (9.6 percent), while retailers are expecting flat-to-negative growth of -0.4 percent.
- The K&B industry remains fundamentally strong despite the cooldown in demand. Solid industry fundamentals are evidenced by the fact that pros rate their segment as “strong” (65.2 out of 100) and, perhaps more importantly, they continue to pass off rising costs to maintain margins. The majority of KBMI respondents (86 percent) cite flat or higher margins, up from 83 percent in Q1.
- The 2023 outlook is still positive, fueled by pent-up consumer demand for remodeling. Fortunately, current market conditions have not dampened optimism for 2024. Half of all K&B pros are expecting higher revenues next year. Manufacturers are the most optimistic, with 60 percent predicting increased revenue. Retailers, in contrast, remain more concerned, with only 38 percent expecting revenues to rise next year.
Click here to read the Q2 2023 KBMI report.
As NKBA continues with its NextUp initiatives, we wanted to provide the chapters with some resources. The below article was on the NKBA blog and newsletter and lets members know what is being worked on regarding skilled labor. There is also a template at the end of the article that members can use to send to their legislators.
NKBA + You = Addressing the Skilled Labor Shortage in the Kitchen & Bath Industry
A new one-sheeter is also available for chapters to send to their local schools, use at home shows or other events promoting jobs in the skilled trades as well as the NKBA NextUp program. Click here.
As NKBA continues to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the governance department is working with the Associations Past Presidents/Chairman and Hall of Fame inductees to participate in this historic milestone. Over the last few weeks NKBA has chatted with Hall of Fame Inductee Paco Cosentino and posted about the impressive HOF inductees from 1995-1999.
Nominations for the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Fall of Fame open on August 15th and we are excited to review all the anticipated submissions! If you know of someone who you believe is worthy of consideration for induction, please submit them here. The applications close on September 29, so be sure to check back then to start the submission process! For an overview of prior inductees, please check out the impressive list of K&B industry professionals!
Member
Relations
New Membership Is Vital to the NKBA
Please send all prospective member inquiries to noelle@nkba.org and our team will send detailed information on member benefits, membership cost, certification, badges and more. Click here for our Member Benefits Brochure.
The NKBA recently updated our membership applications so that we can streamline the application process as well as gather valuable information. Please make sure you are providing potential NKBA members with the correct version of our member applications. If you need a copy, please send a request to info@nkba.org.
Exciting addition to your member profile! Login to NKBA.org to retrieve your individual member number. We recommend that all NKBA chapter officers take some time to update their member profiles.
If you are a company owner, your company member number will be under your Organization’s Profile. While you are in your member profile, it’s a great time to add photos, your bio, social media links and more. The Member Relations team has a one-page instruction document available for distribution. Please reach out to us at info@nkba.org, and we will send you a copy of the instructions. You can also schedule some time with one of our member relations’ professionals to walk through the process.
Please encourage your members to send any roster, employment, company name changes, etc. to info@nkba.org and the Member Relations Team will be happy to help!
Additionally, we receive inquiries from members asking for chapter officer contact information. In response to these inquiries, we refer members to the About Us link on the chapter’s webpage. Please ensure that this information is complete and up to date.
The Member Relations team is here to assist you with updating your Chapter websites. If you need assistance adding or modifying an event, picture, sponsor etc… Please do not hesitate to email us at info@nkba.org or call us at 800-843-6522. We are always glad to lend a hand.
The NKBA has a revised version of the new membership applications that include updated pricing and additional segments to better identify the services our members provide. Please reach out to the member services department if you need a copy of the new applications and please discard any old versions.
Member Companies should take advantage of another wonderful NKBA member benefit, posting job openings on NKBA.org job portal! This benefit is available to all active members and is included with your membership. Reach out to us for details, (800) 843-6522 or info@nkba.org.
Students
The 2023-2024 Student Design Competition is live! Visit https://kb.nkba.org/students/student-design-competition/ to view the new competition packet. Submissions for our next competition are due on June 3, 2024.
Educators will be invited to a virtual meeting scheduled for September 22, 2023 at 12 PM ET. The primary focus of this meeting will be the Student Design Competition. The 2022-2023 winners will be announced and the new competition scenario will be discussed.
Two virtual sessions will be offered via Zoom on September 15, 2023. The purpose of these sessions will be to discuss the Student Chapter Leadership Guide and to share ideas for general student chapter engagement. Students will be made aware of these events via their Fall 2023 NKBA Student Newsletter.
Please contact Kelly Ann Ryan at kryan@nkba.org for any information regarding the Student Design Competition, or these upcoming virtual events for educators and students.
NKBA Chapter Relations Department Contact List
1-800-843-6522
Chapters@nkba.org
(Chapter Officer Inquiries on Responsibilities)
info@nkba.org
(Membership Inquiries)
Kelly Buchsbaum, 201-972-0182
Sr Manager, Chapter Relations – kbuchsbaum@nkba.org
Julie Figiel, 610-871-8181 x121
Mgr, Chapter Relations, Chapter Growth Advocate
Courtney Keeler, 610-988-6032
Chapter Relations Specialist
Gerri Klein, 610-871-8181 x104
Sr. Mgr Member Relations and Chapters
Alan Dove,
Senior Director Member Relations
Chapter Leadership Committee – Click Here. Also located on the Resources page of the website.
Did you miss the previous issue of the Chapter Officer Update, or do you have suggestions for future issues? If so, email chapters@nkba.org .
