Achievements and anniversaries were honored at the highly anticipated annual invitation-only affair.
By Nicholas Tamarin
The NKBA hosted its annual Certified Designer Lunch lovefest on the first day of KBIS 2025, bringing together the industry’s leading design experts for an afternoon of familiar bonhomie that provided a unique opportunity for networking and idea sharing. This invitation-only event, held in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, also served to celebrate the accomplishments of the Kitchen & Bath industry’s leading design experts.
The room was filled with the highest-level Kitchen & Bath certifications, including Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designers (CMKBD) and Certified Kitchen & Bath Designers (CKBD). In addition, attendees included all certification categories offered since the NKBA certification program launched in 1968, including CKD-CBD, CKD, and AKBDs. The Certified Designers were welcomed to the annual event by Kelly Buchsbaum, NKBA Director, Chapters & Learning, who, in turn, introduced Veronica Whitehead, NKBA’s recently returned Certification Manager. “We’re going to elevate certification,” Whitehead stated.
A special spotlight was given to the newest NKBA Certified Designers, including Kailee Klevan, CMKBD, and new CKBDs Omar Zaater, Andrea Melkowski, Candis Warren-Ashurst, Adrean Stephenson, Stephanie Capretto, Leah Turner, Jensen Prout, Christine Apple Schmidt, and Lindsay Osborne. Special guests Robin Rigby Fisher, CMKBD–who received the inaugural NKBA Educator of the Year Award the previous evening at NKBA | KBIS Design Industry Award–and Alena Capra, CMKBD, were in attendance. “This is the highlight of our year,” Buchsbaum added. “You are the experts and you’re keeping us all inspired and our industry moving forward.”
The lunch then featured keynote speaker Scott Deming, an international branding expert and author. A frequent contributor to Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc., and Newsweek, Deming shared insights from his 30 years of corporate experience, focusing on leadership, sales, brand building, and creating memorable customer experiences. His presentation drew from his work across the globe for companies such as AT&T, Price Waterhouse Coopers, McDonald’s, General Motors, Royal Caribbean, Verizon, 3M, Chipotle, Frito-Lay, AstraZeneca, United Technologies, and Mutual of Omaha. Highlights of his discussion centered on the need to differentiate yourself in the marketplace so as not be viewed as a commodity.
“I’m talking about brand distinction–creating a brand, your brand, that’s so powerful that you get a visceral response,” Deming said. “If you cannot describe what you do for a living with enough personality, you won’t make it. People can’t relate, they’re only hearing statistics, they can’t emotionally connect with you, and trust you, then they can’t work with you–and then they can’t recommend you.” Deming continued, “And here’s how to kill a brand: inconsistency. How do you eliminate inconsistency?: Communicate with clarity. And communications fail when we make assumptions, and we make assumptions when we don’t ask questions. The biggest attribute of a leader is humility. So say let’s make sure I explained this clearly. Align your reality with their reality.” Deming then quoted Steve Jobs, “Start with the customer experience and work backwards from there.”
As in years past, the NKBA Certified Designer Lunch at KBIS 2025 served as a platform to celebrate the industry’s best, foster connections, and inspire continued excellence in kitchen and bath design. “Come see me in the NKBA booth in South Hall tomorrow,” Whitehead concluded, “if you have any questions about certification.”
