The Pittsburgh Tri State Chapter President is also a burgeoning podcast host.

By Nicholas Tamarin
NKBA | KBIS Pittsburgh Tri State Chapter President Eric Dillman is an interior design professional with a strong foundation in both design and sales within the kitchen and bath industry. The host of The Pro Series with Eric Dillman podcast graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and began his career as a kitchen and bath designer for a home renovation company in Pittsburgh. He later accepted a role at the corporate headquarters of a major national retail brand, where he was responsible for creating construction documents for new stores and remodels across the country—all while continuing part-time with his original kitchen and bath firm.
After three years, Eric returned to his passion for kitchen-focused design by joining a local countertop fabricator as an account manager. In 2023, he was recruited by Triax Marketing and Sales to serve as Territory Manager, covering Western Pennsylvania and Columbus, Ohio. In this role, he represents 11 leading manufacturers, including Blum, Rev-A-Shelf, Omega National Products, Tresco Lighting, Amerock, Element Designs, Northern Contours, Valley Custom Doors, Tenn-Tex, Deerwood, and Doellken. We asked him how it all happened.
What’s your background?
From as early as I can remember, I was fascinated by design and architecture. When I was 8 years old, my parents built a house, and I was completely captivated by the entire process—picking out finishes, visiting the job site, and watching everything come together. I used to sit in our living room drawing the homes being built in the neighborhood and designing houses out of LEGOs. At that point, I was convinced I wanted to be an architect.
How did you get into design? And how did you get into kitchen and bath design specifically?
When it came time to choose a college path, I toured an architecture program and had the opportunity to speak with a student who helped me realize that interior design was actually a better fit for where my passion truly was. I went on to study Interior Design at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where I especially fell in love with residential design—particularly kitchen and bath.
I was fortunate enough to have my very first boss hire me right out of my senior portfolio show. That role launched my career in kitchen and bath design, and I’ve remained connected to the industry in some capacity ever since.
How and why did you get into the NKBA and how has it benefitted your career?
I first got involved with the NKBA in 2022 while working for a countertop fabricator. My employer encouraged me to attend the local chapter’s Design Awards event as a way to start networking within the industry. That one event really opened my eyes to the value of the NKBA community, and since then, I’ve hardly missed a single chapter gathering.
Not long after that first event, the Membership Chair invited me to join a committee helping plan a student-focused event, and from there, things progressed quickly. I went from serving on that committee to stepping into the role of Communications Chair, and I now serve as President of our local chapter.
Being part of the NKBA has been incredibly beneficial for my career. It’s given me access to a strong network of professionals, educational resources, and leadership opportunities that have helped me grow personally and professionally. It’s also given me a platform to give back to the industry that I’ve built my career in.
What’s next for you and what do you see as next for the industry?
I’ll be continuing to grow my territory with Triax Marketing and Sales and be the best possible face for the manufacturers I represent. Building strong client relationships, staying on top of product innovations, and representing our brands with professionalism and energy is something I’m deeply committed to.
Another area I’m passionate about is growing my podcast, The Pro Series with Eric Dillman. It’s been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. I record and edit every episode myself during evenings and weekends, and what started as a side project has turned into one of the best professional tools and hobbies I could have asked for. It’s not only helped me network and build stronger relationships for my full-time role at Triax, but it’s also given my clients and industry peers a unique outlet to showcase themselves—often in ways they’ve never done before.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to interview some amazing leaders in our field like Massimo Ballucchi, Summer Kath, Tamara Day, Ward Schraeder, Paul Grothouse, and many others. The podcast has now surpassed 125,000 downloads, with nearly 200 episodes released—one every week, plus a fun bonus episode on the weekends. I truly believe in the power of storytelling in our industry, and the podcast has become a platform that connects and elevates voices from every corner of design and construction.
Looking ahead, I think the future of our industry lies in visibility and connection. Designers and brands who lean into social media, personal branding, and authentic storytelling will be the ones who stand out. The more we create space to share our work, our stories, and our expertise, the more we elevate the industry as a whole.