May 2024
Chapter Officer Update
Sponsored by:
“It is your active participation, leadership and dedication to NKBA | KBIS that keeps our association strong!”
Important Dates
May 13 – Chapter Officer Self-Nominations open (Secretary/Treasurer and Membership Chair)
May 13 – Design Awards 2025 applications open
May 14 – Presidents monthly call – 4 PM EST
May 15 – Compliance Grant – IRS tax filing submission due
May 15 – Programs Chair monthly call – 3 PM EST
May 15 – Communications Chair monthly call – 4 PM EST
May 16 – Membership Chair monthly call – 3 PM EST
May 16 – Secretary/Treasurer monthly call – 4 PM EST
May 20 – Women2Women 2024 event applications open
Chapters
NKBA’s Chapters Team is here for you – reach out to us via email or call 610-988-6035.
Kelly Buchsbaum, Sr. Manager, Chapter Relations
Kristin Shechter, Chapter Engagement Manager
General info, meeting notices: chapters@nkba.org
Research
The NKBA is excited to continue its annual Design Trends Study, with the Kitchen Trends report released first followed by Primary Bath Trends. Check your email for your invitation to participate in Kitchen Trends study, which focuses only on Kitchens takes about 25 minutes to complete. Once you’ve submitted your survey, you will be entered into a drawing for one of five (5) $500 Visa Gift Cards!
The deadline to complete the survey is May 17, 2024. As always, we thank you for your participation in our research.
NKBA | KBIS John Burns Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) is a quarterly gauge of current and future market conditions within the kitchen and bath industry. The report includes key measures used for discerning trends, strengths, and weaknesses within four primary industry segments: Design, Building & Construction, Manufacturing, and Retail.
Kitchen and bath professionals in all four surveyed segments said that their Q1 sales were the same as or better than Q4 2023 and they expect their sales to significantly improve in Q2 2024. Download the full report here.
Marketing
NKBA presents five Design + Business Webinars in May. Here’s the month at-a-glance, with registration links below. Webinars begin at 12 PM ET with 0.1 CEU per webinar.
May 7 – NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Transform How You Live With the Touch of a Button
May 8 – NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Introduction to Integrated Lighting Design
May 14 – NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Dynamic Lighting Flexibility in Kitchens
May 21 – NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Maximize Your Sales System’s Profit Potential
May 29 – NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Events
Mark your calendars for two design industry events this month:
May 16 – 20 | Design Miami / Los Angeles
The debut event will take place at a Holmby Hills estate. Details here.
May 19 – 21 | ICFF
Register here for FREE with code DAPMNKBA.
(And look for the NKBA | KBIS booth and programming on the Main Stage.)
Governance
NKBA National Volunteer Committees Meetings
This month, the NKBA Finance Committee and Board of Directors met for their quarterly meeting. The Finance Committee, responsible for the general oversight of the Association’s finances, discussed the 2023 audit as well as 2024 Q1 investments. The Board of Directors will meet in person in New York City for an update by our Global President & CEO Bill Darcy and an important recap of KBIS 2024.
NKBA is extremely grateful for our national volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to assist our Association and industry with their passion! To view a list of current national volunteers, go here. Interested in applying for a national volunteer position? Be on the lookout for applications opening September 1st.
Students
Educator Webinar: Laying the Foundation for Success: A Panel Discussion with Members of NKBA | KBIS Thirty Under 30 is now available on-demand. Share this link with students and educators. It’s also a great webinar for those that supervise interns or hire new professionals.
Student Design Competition entries are due by June 3, 2024 at 5 PM. Go here to access information and the competition packet.
Professional Development
Submissions open for the NKBA Design & Industry Awards competition on May 13, 2024. Go here for more details.
Gain CEU credits in May through NKBA’s Design + Business Webinars. Here’s the lineup for the month.
Apply to speak at KBIS 2025 as a Voices from the Industry presenter. Go here to submit your proposal by June 16, 2024.
NKBA’s Voices from the Industry (VFTI) on-demand sessions are now available. Each hour of video content is worth 0.1 CEUs. Go here to view.
Congratulations to our newest NKBA Specialty Badge earners!
Latifah Baker, Lowe’s, Color, Lighting and Universal Design, Susquehanna Valley
Julia Nwanegwo, Lowe’s, Color, Piedmont Blue Ridge Carolina
Carol Lee, Lowe’s, Color, Carolina
Danielle Fagundes, Lowe’s, Universal Design, Olympic West Sound
Christina Miller, Lowe’s, Color, Carolina
Kevin Wang, WoodConcept Cabinetry, Sales & Marketing, Northern New Jersey
Debbie Pugh, Lowe’s, Color and Floor Plans and Specifications, Central New York
Joseph Vasques, J and J Enterprises of South Jersey LLC, Cabinetry, Mid Atlantic
Mackenzie Boerner, Kitchen Designs with Mackenzie, Sustainability, Susquehanna Valley
Amanda Witherow, McLellan Contracting, Sales & Marketing, Susquehanna Valley
Tara Diffenbaugh, Lowe’s, Remodeling, Baltimore/Washington
Bridget Erickson, J & RS, Color and Floor Plans and Specifications , Minnesota State
Anne Guyette, Elevate Interior Design LLC, Cabinetry, Southern California
Marion Lehnen, Coastal Creation Kitchen and Bath, Cabinetry, Northern New England
Jun Jun Law-as, Northland Interiors, Cabinetry, Northern New England
Keegen Law-as, Northland Interiors, Sales & Marketing and Remodeling, Northern New England
Corrin Waller, Lowe’s, Color, Southwest Desert
Elizabeth Benefiel, 314 Design Studio, Cabinetry, Baltimore/Washington
Jen Bradley, Lowe’s, Lighting, Carolina
Brian Holder, Lowe’s, Color and Sustainability, Eastern Carolinas
Heather Weir, Lowe’s, Color, Mid Atlantic
Nicole Dane, Lowe’s, Color, Virginia State
Heather Clark, Lowe’s, Color, Carolina
Jeffrey Shafier, Lowe’s, Color, Chicago Mid West
Melissa King, Lowe’s, Color, Carolina
Deanna Gibbs, Lowe’s, Color and Remodeling, Carolina
Taylor Roberts, Lowe’s, Remodeling, Carolina
Parker Lee, Kitchen Tune-Up, Cabinetry, San Joachin Valley
Cynthia Semple, Lowe’s, Color, Big Sky
Amy Stegman, Lowe’s, Lighting, Nebraska/Kansas
Lee Maxwell Willocks, LMW Designs, Color, Rocky Mountain
Chris Szymski, Dreammaker Bath & Kitchen of Springfield, Floor Plans and Specifications, Missouri/Southern Illinois
Carmen Mueller, Lakeland College, Lighting, Prairie Provinces
Kendrick Williams, American Woodmark, Sustainability, Baltimore/Washington
Peggy Straley, Peggy Straley Design, Cabinetry, Northern California
Kierra Clark, Lowe’s, Lighting, Baltimore/Washington
Dawn Spell, Lowe’s, Color, Missouri/Southern Illinois
Dale Spiewak, Lowe’s, Color, Chicago/Mid-West
Leesa Drost-Kays, Lowe’s, Sustainability, Tennessee
Alyssa Treadway, Lowe’s, Sustainability, Missouri/Southern Illinois
Jessica Kittel, Lowe’s, Sustainability, Oklahoma
Stephen Horan, Jonathan Arnold Inc, Lighting, Metro New York
Member
Relations
New Members are vital to the success of NKBA and our Chapters. Please send prospective members to noelle@nkba.org and we will send detailed information on member benefits, membership cost, certification, badges and more.
NKBA Membership Signup. Please share this link. If anyone needs a hard copy of the application, please email info@nkba.org.
Member Companies are invited to post 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 at info@nkba.org.
NKBA’s Member Relations team is always available to assist our Members and Chapters. Contact Gerri Klein, Sr Manager, Member Relations at 610-871-8181 x104 or email info@nkba.org. Also part of the Member Relations team are: Kevin, Elizabeth, Andreia, and Aislinn who look forward to working with our Chapters!
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
Kristin Shechter, Chapter Engagement Manager
kshechter@nkba.org | 610-988-6035
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 .