May 2026 Chapter Officer Update – NKBA

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May 2026

Chapter Officer Update

Thank you to our Partners:

“We were thrilled to have 100% of our chapters apply for a grant – a record year. The Chapters team looks forward to working with you and to hearing more about these events in the coming months…“

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Important Dates

May 5 – President’s monthly Zoom meeting – 4:00 PM EST

May 12 – Programs + Communications Chairs meeting – 4:00 PM EST

May 13 – Membership Chairs + Secretary/Treasurers meeting – 4:00 PM EST

Chapters

NKBA’s Chapters Team is here for you – reach out to us via email or call 610-988-6035.

Kelly Buchsbaum, Director, Chapters & Professional Development

Kristin Shechter, Chapters Engagement Manager

Melissa Flynn, Chapters & Skilled Trades Manager

Elizabeth Mace, Project Manager, Chapters & Professional Development

General info, meeting notices, and roster requests:

chapters@nkba.org

Research

We’re excited to share that the 1Q26 KBMI Report has officially been released as of Wednesday, April 22. If you haven’t had a chance to review it yet, we encourage you to take a look—this latest edition is packed with valuable insights to help inform your strategy and stay ahead of industry trends.

Watch for emails and links during the week of May 13 for the 2027 Kitchen Trends Survey, and participation just got even more rewarding.

Any NKBA chapter that has 15 or more completed responses to the Kitchen Trends Survey will be entered into a raffle, with all the chapter members’ names who entered having an opportunity to win one of three NKBA Prize Packs. Three lucky winners will receive a package of NKBA fan favorite swag from L2L, including NKBA branded lip balms, mints, measuring tapes, pens, notebooks. Reply to our 2027 Kitchen Trends Survey to win!

Plus, every individual who completes the survey is automatically entered into a separate drawing for a chance to win one of five $500 gift cards.

Be sure to check your email for your survey link and complete it as soon as you receive it. It’s a great opportunity to share your perspective, represent your chapter, and help shape the future of the kitchen and bath industry—while earning some fun NKBA perks along the way.

If you haven’t already, we invite you to join the Kitchen & Bath Pro Hub—NKBA’s dedicated research community. It’s a great space to connect with peers, share insights, and be part of ongoing industry conversations.

More to come soon, and thank you for your continued involvement in our research community.

Webinars & Virtual Events

NKBA presents the following May Webinars, generously sponsored by Artika Pro. Webinars begin at 12:00 PM ET with 0.1 CEU per webinar.

Tuesday, May 5 | Layered Light: Crafting Atmosphere Through Design and Technology
Tuesday, May 12 | Decorative Lighting that Works
Wednesday, May 13 | The Numbers Behind Beautiful Spaces: Lighting Made Simple
Tuesday, May 19 | The Artistic Kitchen: Designing with Creative Expression
Wednesday, May 20 | The Inner Glow: Creating Mood, Depth, and Function with Lighting Design
Thursday, May 21 | Today’s Lighting in Multi-Family Buildings

Students & Educators

Last chance to submit applications! The Ellen Cheever Award offers NKBA student members valuable resources at no cost. Recipients receive a 1-year NKBA Knowledge Base subscription, the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines (4th Edition), and the opportunity to earn a Specialty Badge credential. Eligible students must be enrolled at least part-time, have at least one semester remaining, and complete the application with an essay. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2026.

Chapter officers are encouraged to share this opportunity with student members to help them access key industry resources and stand out as they prepare for their careers.

Reminder: The 2025–2026 NKBA | KBIS Student Design Competition is approaching its submission deadline on June 5. Encourage your student members to finalize and submit their projects on time to ensure their work is considered. This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their skills and gain national recognition; don’t let them miss it! Visit the competition webpage for more information.

Government Relations

NKBA actively monitors legislation and public policy developments impacting the kitchen and bath industry, sharing key updates each month through our Government Relations Newsletter. A repository of newsletters, as well as additional resources to self-advocate on issues important to you, can be found on the Government Relations webpage.

Hot topics this month include:

U.S. Workforce Development: Education and Workforce Committee Chairman introduces A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026, aimed at updating the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by funding “individual training accounts” (ITAs) to upgrade the skills of the American workforce.   

U.S. Housing: President Trump signs an Executive Order aimed at reducing red tape, streamlining permitting requirements and easing costly environmental regulations in an effort to address housing affordability.

Canadian Energy Efficiency Act: The Energy Efficiency Act has passed a second reading in the Senate and aims to reduce the overall energy consumption of energy-using products and allow consumers to make informed purchasing decisions on items such as household appliances.

Connecticut: Legislature considers House Bill 5222, which proposes amendments to various Connecticut statutes concerning consumer protection including the elimination of continuing education requirements for interior designers. 

We hope you benefit from the value these resources bring to you, your profession, and the kitchen & bath industry. Please reach out directly to Steven Campeau, NKBA’s Senior Manager, Global & Government Relations at scampeau@nkba.org, for any specific questions.

Professional Development

Gain CEU credits with NKBA’s Webinars. CEU reporting deadline is June 30, 2026 – earn and report today!

Please join NKBA in congratulating our newest NKBA CKBD and Specialty Badge earners.

Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer (CKBD):

Congratulations to our newest NKBA Certified members and kudos to their Chapters! Rachael Persky, CKBD, Georgia; Natasa Obradovic, CKBD, Chicago Mid West; Farhad Falahian, CKBD, British Columbia; Gloribell Lebron, CKBD, South Florida; Chelsea Musselman, CKBD, Texas South Plains; and Susan Oh, CKBD, Chicago Mid West.

Specialty Badge:

Raylene Grahinja, Westra Interiors, Cabinetry, Ontario/Canada

Marissa Raposo, Aberjona Kitchen Center, Sustainability, Northern New England

Mesha Williams, id Designs & CO., Sustainability, Central Florida

Andrew McGuirk, Big Sky Kitchen and Bath Design, Cabinetry, California Capital

Daniel Rudd, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Southern Utah, Remodeling, Mountain States

Amanda Gibble, Sunnyfields Kitchen & Bath, Floor Plans & Specifications, Baltimore/Washington

Tina Sasso, Artista Kitchen Designs, Floor Plans & Specifications, Metro New York

Raygen Bearden, Cabinet Joint, Cabinetry, Chicago Mid-West

Donna Mancini, Donna Mancini Interiors & Flooring, Remodeling, North Florida

Junjie Tao, Appliance Color Floor Plans, Metro New York

Tiffany Gill, Creative Cabinets & Faux Finishes, LLC, Floor Plans, Georgia

Kimberlee Sauerhoff, 314 Design Studio LLC, Appliance, Baltimore/Washington

Nicole Pokswinski, Nicole Dalyn Designs, Universal Design, Olympic-West Sound

Robin Brookman, CTS&I Inc, Floor Plans & Specifications, Virginia State

Membership

Frequently Asked Questions and Member Videos for the most frequently asked questions.

New Members are vital to the success of NKBA and our Chapters. Please send prospective members to membership@nkba.org and we will send detailed information on member benefits, membership cost, certification, badges and more.

Membership Types include business, international business, industry partner, individual, and student. The definitions of each type can be found on the NKBA signup page.

NKBA Membership Signup. Please share this link. If anyone needs a hard copy of the application, please email info@nkba.org. There is an updated 2025 membership application with new rates.

Company admins can remove employees who are no longer with the company directly through the company profile on www.nkba.org.

To add new employees, please email info@nkba.org and our Member Relations Team will be happy to assist. We’ll need:

  • First and last names
  • Unique email addresses

Any employees working directly for an NKBA member company can be added at no charge—including Sales Reps who work from a home office.

If you have individuals on your roster without email addresses, please send those names to info@nkba.org as well. We’ll reach out to confirm their status with the company and, if applicable, secure an email address.

Have questions? We’re always glad to help—just reach out to info@nkba.org.

Thank you!