NKBA’s Professional Design Competition is Now Open! Submit Your Projects Today >

Become a Member

August 2026

Chapter Officer Update

Thank you to our Partners:

“This month, our 70 Chapters will hold elections for their 2027-28 Chapter Councils. Whether you’re welcoming new leaders or celebrating returning officers, thank you for your commitment to strengthening the NKBA community…“

View Full Message from National →

Important Dates

August 4 – Chapter Presidents monthly Zoom meeting – 4:00 PM ET

August 18 – Chapter Programs + Communications Chairs meeting – 4:00 PM ET

August 19 – Chapter Membership Chairs + Secretary-Treasurers meeting – 4:00 PM ET

August 31 – NKBA Chapter Officer Elections deadline

August 31 – Thirty Under 30 Class of 2027 nominations deadline

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

The NKBA 2027 Bath Trends Survey launches August 15! Watch your inbox for your personalized survey link and make your voice heard.

Once again, all NKBA Chapters with 15 or more completed surveys will be entered into a chapter raffle. Members from qualifying chapters who complete the survey will be eligible to win one of three NKBA Prize Packs featuring fan-favorite L2L swag, including NKBA-branded lip balm, mints, a measuring tape, pens, and notebooks.

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

Complete the survey before the deadline to help provide a clearer view of the kitchen and bath industry today and where it’s headed in the future. You’ll also be supporting your chapter’s chance to win and be entered for some great prizes. Don’t miss your opportunity to participate!

A big thank you to all who participated in the Kitchen Trends Survey. The winners of the raffle were Pam Channels of Southern New England Chapter and Shellita McNicholls of Metro New York. We rely upon our Chapter Officers to participate in NKBA surveys as you are leaders in our industry.

One more call for you to get on the inside track. If you haven’t already, we invite you to join the Kitchen & Bath Pro Hub, NKBA’s dedicated research community. It’s a great place to connect with peers, share insights, help shape the future of NKBA Research—and earn rewards along the way.

The 2Q26 Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) and the 2026 Kitchen & Bath Industry Outlook Update Brief are now available. Together, these reports provide a timely snapshot of current business conditions and the latest outlook for the U.S. kitchen and bath industry. The KBMI highlights second-quarter market performance, business sentiment, and key challenges facing industry professionals, while the Outlook Update Brief revises market projections based on the latest economic, housing, and industry data. Whether you’re planning for the months ahead or looking to better understand current market dynamics, these reports offer valuable insights to help inform your business decisions.

Webinars & Virtual Events

NKBA presents the following August Webinars for this month’s Business theme. Webinars begin at 12:00 PM ET with 0.1 CEU per webinar.

Tuesday, August 4 | Designing the Client Journey: Building Loyalty That Drives Repeat Work and Referrals
Wednesday, August 5 | Must-Have Website Elements to Turn Browsers into Dream Clients
Tuesday, August 11 | How Designers Win in the 2026 Search Era: AI, Google, and Buyer Behavior
Wednesday, August 12 | 10 Consult Questions That Book Clients Without Free Design Work
Tuesday, August 25 | Brand Rescue Lab: From Brand Lifeline to Sales Pipeline

Students & Educators

Each year, NKBA puts the spotlight on our student members and affiliated schools throughout Education Appreciation Week. This year, we’re honoring this special community September 21-25. Please mark your calendars. We encourage chapters to think about ways to celebrate the schools in their regions and to highlight any local student achievements. 

NKBA caps off this great week of celebration with the annual Student Design Symposium, a live, virtual conference, dedicated to career development for student designers. This year’s symposium is scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2026 at 12 PM ET. A registration link will be shared soon. The event is free and open to all design students.

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.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): The 2020 trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States, USMCA, remains in effect for another decade even after the United States announces it will not renew the agreement as it pursues negotiations on updated terms, announces new tariffs on Canada and additional new tariffs on other countries.

U.S. Housing: The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act with key provisions related to addressing housing affordability and streamlining regulatory processes becomes law.

Missouri: Governor Kehoe signs Senate Bill 1233 into law modifying the state’s interior design profession by granting licensed interior designers the ability to practice independently and sign and seal their own documents – but the bill in no way impacts designers who do not wish to become licensed in Missouri.

North Carolina: State takes action to address skilled labor shortage with budget allocation of nearly $60 million in Propel NC, a community college workforce development initiative, and more than $3 million for ApprenticeshipNC.

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, with any specific questions.

Professional Development

Gain CEU credits with NKBA’s Webinars. CEU reporting deadline has been extended to August 9, 2026. Please submit your CEUs before the extended deadline as it will not be extended again. Thank you! Earn and report today!

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

Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer (CKBD):

Congratulations to our newest NKBA Certified member and kudos to their Chapter! 

Brenna Forsyth, CKBD, Ontario/Canada; Jessica Rogers, CKBD, GA/SC Coastal

Specialty Badges:

Elizabeth Bunyard, Valley Remodeling, Remodeling, Arizona

Daren Philips, Cabinet Joint, Cabinetry, Chicago Mid-West

Diane Benbow, Benbow & Associates, Cabinetry, Piedmont Blue Ridge Carolina

Ola Elmaghraby, Laurysen Kitchens LTD, Remodeling Universal Design, Ottawa

Hunter Trueax, Offcut Interiors, Remodeling, Puget Sound

Leigh Penner, CKBD, Two30Nine by Decor, Lighting Remodeling Cabinetry Sales & Marketing Color, Prairie Provinces

Kendal Cavalieri, Kendal Cavalieri Design, Appliance, Central New York

Monika Christal Geppert, designbar interiors, Remodeling, Ottawa

MaryEllen Shaughnessy, Carole Kitchen and Bath Design, Cabinetry, Northern New England

Chapter Officer Specialty Badge Holder:

CJ Bigini, Paradigm Interior Design, Cabinetry, Texas Hill Country, Chapter Officer

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. In addition, each chapter page has a “Join the NKBA” button. If anyone needs a hard copy of the application, please email info@nkba.org. There is an updated 2026 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!