March 2026
Message from the Chapters Team
Dear Chapter Officers,
Thank you for joining us in Orlando for KBIS 2026! Our 70 Chapters brought the energy and enthusiasm and helped NKBA create a KBIS for the ages!
As always, we appreciate your insights and observations. As we begin planning for KBIS 2027, we’d love to hear from you. Please share feedback with us via chapters@nkba.org or in person on our upcoming March Zoom meetings.
This month, we have several very important grants with deadlines approaching.
NKBA encourages all Chapters to apply for a Skilled Labor Fund grant, with funds up to $4,500. Managed by the National Housing Endowment, the Skilled Labor Fund Career Connections VII grant application is open now through Sunday, March 15. Any 2026 activity intended to introduce high school, middle school, or elementary school students to careers in residential trades will be considered.
Our NKBA Chapter Compliance and Initiative Grant applications are due March 31. Please reach out to chapters@nkba.org with questions or if you need assistance filling out these required (Compliance) and optional (Initiative) forms.
As we announced at Leader2Leader, NKBA Student Mentor Program is launching this month. Sponsored by Kohler, the Student Mentor Program will connect chapter professionals and emerging designer students. Please sign up this week by Friday, March 6.
Coming back from Leader2Leader, we are excited to see your creative, content-filled events and programs. Here are just a few for inspiration: Mid Atlantic Book Signing & Breakthroughs; Pittsburgh Tri State Shamrock & Shades; California Capital 2026 Chopped Challenge; Puget Sound Beemer’s Smart Home Tour; and so many KBIS recaps with creative twists, such as Ohio Valley 2026 KBIS Mini Preview.
Congratulations and thank you again to our Chapter Officers for a stellar KBIS! We’re lucky this March (and every month) to work with all of you!
Warmest wishes,
Kelly
Kelly Buchsbaum
Director, Chapters & Professional Development
