Access to subject matter experts is a major benefit of membership in the association’s international business membership program, providing strategic guidance about achieving success in the North American market.
By NKBA Staff
Three industry experts have joined the NKBA Global Connect Advisors team: Laetitia Laurent, William Morley, and Stacy McCarthy, CMKBD, CID. NKBA Global Connect is designed to bring together the international kitchen and bath community with a multi-pronged approach to informing, inspiring, strengthening, and empowering the industry around the world.
NKBA Global Connect Advisors are a valuable member benefit of the program, as they share insights, experiences, and strategic advice critical to entering the North American market or expanding business or recognition in the region. With the addition of these three new advisors, Global Connect members can access experts in timely topics like tariffs and gain a balanced approach from designers who have both domestic and international experiences to help assist companies in their North American journey.
Advisors are available for consultation in their areas of expertise. The range of topics may include understanding business practices in the North American K&B sector, exploring market entry, reducing risk, product design, distribution, finance, insurance, regulations, compliance, and fine-tuning market strategies for success.
NKBA Global Connect members also have access to the association’s exclusive research. This highly regarded proprietary data helps inform decisions about various market segments, the economy, business and design trends, and more.
• William “Bill” Morley, cofounder and senior strategist for HillStaffer, is a trade and government affairs expert. He brings nearly four decades of extensive experience working the halls of Congress to develop winning strategies, craft effective messaging, and engage media and grassroots coalitions on behalf of clients in Europe, Latin America, and North America. Previously, Morley served as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s chief trade lobbyist and, as Vice President for Congressional Affairs, collaborated with pro-trade Democrats and Republicans in Congress to promote international engagement. He led multiple pro-trade ambassador tours across the country. Prior to that, the White House appointed Morley to serve on the advisory Transition Team for Trade and the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office following the 2000 election. A frequent guest on major news outlets, including CNN, CBS, MSNBC, CNBC, NPR, Bloomberg, and others, he began his career in public service as General Counsel and business liaison to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA). Morley is fluent in Spanish and conversational in Portuguese.
• Laetitia Laurent leads Laure Nell Interiors, a luxury interior design firm with studios in Boca Raton, Fla., and Paris. The international award-winning designer and art historian, raised in France and educated at the Sorbonne, brings a distinctly European sensibility to her work, which is rooted in craftsmanship, proportion, and timeless design principles.
Her design language balances elegance with ease, blending contemporary sensibilities with classical references and artisanal materials. Her work has received numerous accolades, including Luxe RED and ASID National Awards, a 2025 Luxe Gold List designation, and selection for the 2025 Kips Bay Palm Beach Show House. Her projects and insights have been featured in Vogue, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and other leading international design publications, and her expert commentary is frequently sought by top shelter media. For Laetitia, design is not simply about what is beautiful, but what is meaningful: creating spaces that reflect the lives, values, and aspirations of those who inhabit them.
• Stacy McCarthy, CMKBD, CID, is an internationally recognized interior designer, educator, and global brand strategist whose work blends luxury design, resilience, and trauma-informed decision-making. Known as “The Emergency Designer,” she specializes in supporting families and their emotional recovery after fire, flood, or life-changing events; redesigning environments that bring stability, dignity, and long-term wellbeing. With roots in the architectural industry and more than two decades of kitchen and bath expertise, Stacy brings a technically grounded and emotionally attuned approach to every project. A respected thought leader, Stacy was named a 2025 Innovator by Kitchen & Bath Design News, recognized for her contributions to resilient design and her leadership within the industry. She also advises international brands on adapting products for the North American luxury market, offering strategic insight that bridges design, culture, and global product development. Stacy is the former President of the NKBA South Florida Chapter, an accredited CEU author, multi-time design competition judge, and a sought-after speaker for chapters and conferences across the country.
About NKBA Global Connect The NKBA Global Connect mission is to connect and grow the kitchen and bath industry around the world through an international membership program. The initiative equips international companies with the support and professional community access they need to thrive in North America by providing market intelligence, brand-positioning guidance, and connections to key North American audiences. By combining NKBA’s expert marketing execution with access to a diverse and influential member network, we help businesses improve visibility, build meaningful relationships, and generate strong market demand, ultimately accelerating their success in the lucrative and competitive $228 billion North American market. Learn more here.
