By Donna Heiderstadt
They have talent, a passion for design and a keen entrepreneurial spirit — and they’re all well on their way to making their mark in the kitchen-and-bath industry. The NKBA once again celebrated a deserving group of young designers, executives, and entrepreneurs as it introduced the Thirty Under 30 Class of 2025 at KBIS in Las Vegas.
Now in its 13th year, the program recognizes and elevates rising industry stars, acknowledging their workplace achievements, community leadership, commitment to excellence and continuing professional development. Each new member has consistently demonstrated a flair for creativity, a sharp eye for business and a true passion for pursuing growth within the kitchen-and-bath industry. In this class, six are young entrepreneurs running their own businesses and several are second- or third-generation executives at family-run companies. Others are employed by leading kitchen-and-bath brands and many are actively involved with their local NKBA chapters in the U.S. and Canada, which this year ranged from the Eastern Carolinas Chapter to the British Columbia Chapter.
An Official Welcome
Members of the Thirty Under 30 Class of 2025 were chosen by a selection committee comprised of Thirty Under 30 alumni. They were officially inducted during a February 25 ceremony at KBIS 2025 at NEXTStage in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall, joining the 360 alumni of previous classes in representing excellence in the kitchen-and-bath industry.
At the ceremony, the Class of 2025 was welcomed by John McClain, CEO and Creative Director of Orlando, FL-based John McClain Design and Design Success Academy. He then introduced the emcee, Angela Rath, NKBA’s Director of Domestic Accounts, who praised the Class of 2025 as “emerging leaders in the kitchen-and-bath industry.” She was joined by representatives of Thirty Under 30’s corporate sponsors, Marla Krippendorf of Kohler and Jeremy Crites of Signature Kitchen Suite, in welcoming each individual inductee to the stage.
Upon receiving their award, the newest Thirty Under 30 members were individually congratulated by McClain, who served as the day’s host at NEXTStage, which is sponsored this year by JennAir, Native Trails, and Signature Kitchen Suite.
The 2025 inductees will face their first task as a group as they fan out throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center to select the annual 30s Choice Awards, which highlight the “best of” products and innovations at KBIS 2025 in several categories. Their selections will be announced post-KBIS on the NKBA website.
Thirty Under 30 Inductees — Class of 2025
Here are the hard-working young talents who were formally introduced during KBIS. Visit NKBA’s Thirty Under 30 Class of 2025 page for full profiles of this year’s inductees:
- Bryce Agulto, Brand Manager, ZLINE Kitchen & Bath — Sierra Nevada Chapter
- Nuran Aliakbar, Senior In-House Designer, Abacas Cabinetry — Rocky Mountain Chapter
- Kacie Atkinson, Lead Designer, Nar Design Group — California Capital Chapter
- Courtney Auten, Lead Designer, Autograph Kitchens — Carolina Chapter
- Caitlin Boland, Showroom Consultant, Ferguson Enterprises — Virginia State Chapter
- Bethany Broussard, Lead Designer & Cabinet Specialist, Crystal Remodeling — Columbia River Chapter
- Eric Dillman, Territory Manager, Triax Marketing & Sales, and Designer at Eric Dillman Designs — Pittsburgh Tri State Chapter
- Heath Fesenmeyer, CKBD, Engineering Manager, Don’s Custom Cabinets & Countertops — Rocky Mountain Chapter
- Conor Firkins, Regional Sales, Tile Wholesalers of Rochester — Central New York Chapter
- Carol Fung, Intermediate Interior Designer, Ashley de Boer Interiors — British Columbia Chapter
- Seth Hunt, New Construction Trade Representative, Pella Windows & Doors Dallas — Texas North Plains Chapter
- Sara Krupa, Category Manager – Water Quality, Moen — Ohio State Chapter
- Mansi Makadia, Marketing & Design Director, Estheteak — Ontario/Canada Chapter
- Scott Massey, Founder & CEO, Anu™ — Indiana Chapter
- Ashley Mock, Design & Product Development, Highmark Builders — Minnesota Chapter
- Payton Patterson, Owner & Lead Designer, Payton’s Place Designs Inc. — Prairie Provinces Chapter
- MacKenzie Rediger, Architectural & Design Representative, Stone Showcase, Inc. — Georgia Chapter
- Zoe Roberson, Owner, Wallflower Remodeling — Eastern Carolinas Chapter
- Lucas Rosa, Showroom Manager & Lead Designer, BauTeam Chicago — Chicago Midwest Chapter
- Russell Sang, Project Manager – Design and Construction, Hudson Valley Property Group — Manhattan Chapter
- Elijah Schochet, Sales, AJMadison — South Florida Chapter
- Megan Schoenwetter, Lead Interior Designer, Marling Lumber — Wisconsin/Upper Michigan Chapter
- Michaela Sedlak, Interior Designer, Marks-Woods Construction — Baltimore/Washington Chapter
- Mickayla Smith, Kitchen & Bath Design Specialist, Inspire Design Center — Ohio Valley Chapter
- Victoria Thayer, Showroom Manager & Designer, Pedini NW Seattle — Puget Sound Chapter
- Amanda Tong, Interior Designer, Flatwater Finishes — British Columbia Chapter
- Kay Trulaske, Brand Manager and Manhattan Sales Representative, True Residential — Manhattan Chapter
- Taylor Walker, Senior Kitchen & Bath Designer, Greenbrook Design — Carolinas Chapter
- Nick Weaver, Founding Partner & Chief Operating Officer, HomeBase Solutions — Tennessee Chapter
- Emma Winn, Design Assistant, C Change Design — Columbia River Chapter
