May 2025
Message from the Chapters Team
Dear Chapter Officers,
Happy May! We hope you are having a successful spring season! Our big news for the month is Chapter elections. Self-nominations will open in mid-May for President, Programs Chair, and Communications Chair.
One very important change to elections this year: Programs Chair position will be a one-year term in 2026, serving January 1 through December 31, 2026, with a two-year term election for 2027-28. This change will shift Programs Chair elections to an alternate cycle from Presidents. Our Chapter Presidents, Chapter Leadership Committee, and NKBA Chapters team all agree that this is necessary. We will discuss this shift on our monthly Zoom calls this month, or feel free to reach out with questions in the meantime.
Thank you again to our awesome Chapter Officers and to your Recruitment Committees who will help identify candidates throughout the year. NKBA will send an email inviting all active members (except students) to submit a self-nomination form by July 31. The Chapters team is ready to assist with ballots and all other questions as Chapters hold elections in August. Please remember as you consider candidates for the five positions: Chapter Officers are eligible to serve up to four consecutive full calendar years before rotating off council for one year.
VFTI 2026 call for submissions will be out soon with a deadline of June 30. VFTI program speakers will be notified by August 31, 2025 for VFTI at KBIS 2026, to be held in Orlando, February 17-19, 2026. (Mark your calendars for Leader2Leader on February 16!)
NKBA K&B Designer members are invited to apply for an exclusive grant sponsored by Fabuwood – the 2025-2026 Certified Designer Grant Program. Twenty designers will be selected to earn CKBD certification. Applications are open now through May 31. Thank you again to our NKBA Chapters Platinum Sponsor Fabuwood for supporting NKBA K&B designers and making goals a reality!
NKBA Student members are encouraged to apply for the annual NKBA | KBIS Ellen Cheever Award. This exclusive award package includes complimentary access to one of our NKBA Specialty Badge programs, a free copy of the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines, and free access to our Knowledge Base information platform. Students are invited to apply via this link through May 16.
We are thrilled to share the great news that all 2025 Initiative Grants submitted were approved by the Chapter Leadership Committee! Many of the Chapter initiatives for 2025 focused on promoting the importance of certification; engaging students with mentor programs and networking opportunities; and getting involved with our Skilled Labor Workforce program. We continue to be inspired by your initiatives and leadership!
This week, we are excited to be in Orlando at Coverings with our Florida Chapters. Thank you again to Central Florida; South Florida; Florida Treasure Coast; North Florida and other NKBA Chapters and members for celebrating design, spreading the K&B word, and welcoming new prospective NKBA members through your booth at the show! We were delighted to enjoy an NKBA exclusive event with UMI in Orlando. Kudos to our Central Florida Chapter Officers and UMI for hosting this fantastic event!
Another exciting event bringing Chapters together is the Chicago Mid West and Indiana State Chapters’ road trip next week to Kohler, WI. Chapter members will enjoy an exclusive tour and firsthand look at Kohler’s innovative products and cutting-edge technologies. What a great opportunity for two fantastic Chapters to engage and connect!
Congratulations to the Metro New York Chapter and their sold-out fundraising event for PAWS for WAR. Metro New York Chapter attracted media attention and raised over $4,000 that went directly to the organization, whose mission is to bring together veterans, first responders and rescued animals, creating unbreakable bonds that foster healing and mutual understanding. Kudos to Metro New York for this fantastic event – and another one on the horizon, with Casino Night just weeks away!
Cheers again to all 70 NKBA Chapters across the U.S. and Canada – we look forward to working with you in all your initiatives!
Kelly
Kelly Buchsbaum
Director, Chapters & Learning
