June 2025 Chapter Officer Update – NKBA

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June 2025

Chapter Officer Update

Thank you to our Partners:

“Here’s to a successful summer and fantastic start to the second half of the year!
Our focus is on Chapter elections, with self-nominations open through
July 31 for President, Programs, and Communications Chairs.“

View Full Message from National →

Important Dates

June 6 – NKBA Student Design Competition deadline

June 10 – Presidents monthly call – 4 PM EST

June 17 – Programs Chair monthly call – 3 PM EST

June 17 – Communications Chair monthly call – 4 PM EST

June 18 – Membership Chair monthly call – 3 PM EST

June 18 – Secretary/Treasurer monthly call – 4 PM EST

June 30 – VFTI (KBIS 2026) applications due

Chapters

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

Kelly Buchsbaum, Director, Chapters & Learning

kbuchsbaum@nkba.org 

Kristin Shechter, Chapter Engagement Manager

kshechter@nkba.org 

Melissa Flynn, Chapters & Skilled Trades Manager

mflynn@nkba.org

Elizabeth Mace, Chapter Engagement Specialist

emace@nkba.org

General info, meeting notices, and roster requests:

chapters@nkba.org

Research

NKBA is proud to partner with the Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) on a new research initiative exploring how technology integration is transforming residential design —and we want to hear from you.

Invitations to the survey are going out this week! As always, your participation is critical to the success of the research and we hope you’ll lend your voice! This research will focus on how design professionals are incorporating smart home features, connected products, and integrated systems into their projects.

The survey takes just 20 minutes, and as a thank-you, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win one of five $500 gift cards!  If you have any questions please reach out to marketresearch@nkba.org. Also as a reminder – if you are not yet a member of the Kitchen & Bath Pro Hub, you should be! Connect with peers, access exclusive research, and earn rewards — all for free! Register now.

Marketing

Voices from the Industry (VFTI) sessions are now available. Click here to view, and remember to sign in with the same email address as your KBIS registration.

NKBA presents the following Design + Business webinars in June with registration links below. Webinars begin at 12 PM ET with 0.1 CEU per webinar.

June 3 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar
All Hail the Hue: Harnessing Color in Kitchen and Bath Design

June 4 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar 
Ancient Design Principles for the Modern Day

June 10 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Porcelain Slabs – Finding the Right Labor

June 18 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar 
Pre-project Design vs. On-site Management & Changes

Students & Educators

The 2025 Excellence in Education Award is based on student submissions to NKBA’s 2023-2024 Student Design Competition. The award is given to schools with at least three entries, from three separate students, scoring 80 points or better. This year, NKBA is excited to present this award to an unprecedented number of schools. Please join us in congratulating them!

  • University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • Lakeland College, Vermillion, AB, Canada
  • Century College, White Bear Lake, MN
  • Cañada College, Redwood City, CA
  • Bow Valley College, Calgary, AB, Canada
  • Georgian College, Barrie, ON, Canada
  • Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA

The Ellen Cheever Award is presented to students pursuing a course of study related to the kitchen and bath industry. Students apply for this award by submitting information, including their grade point average and an essay highlighting their educational achievements and work outside of the classroom. NKBA is pleased to share the list of winners for 2025, who will each receive a complimentary badge program and resource bundle.

  • Lisa Taylor, Collin College Technical Campus
  • Haley Hanlon, Pinellas Technical College- Clearwater
  • Ellen Stephenson, Virginia Tech

Government Relations

As the leading trade and professional organization in the kitchen and bath industry, NKBA is committed to educating its membership on public policy issues that affect our professional community and protecting members’ rights to practice their profession. As part of this commitment, NKBA monitors relevant legislative and regulatory developments at the state and federal levels and, where appropriate, provides information to members concerning material issues and developments. Most of these updates are sent directly to members each month via the 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 on NKBA.org. 

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 in June via NKBA’s Design Webinars.

CONGRATULATIONS to our newest NKBA Certified and Specialty Badge earners and your Chapters! 

Tyler Williams, Home Depot, Appliance, Mountain States

Christy Laverty, Kitchen and Bath Gallery, Cabinetry, Northern New England

Patricia Grewell, Battelle Designs, Lighting, Northern California

Ashley Barnes, C&K Custom Remodeling, Floor Plans, Columbia River

Frances Katie Lapoint, American Cabinet Suppliers, Cabinetry, Palouse

Jayda Melnic, Two30Nine by Décor, Color Cabinetry Universal, Prairie Provinces

Brock Mclean, Welcome Home Kitchen and Bath, Cabinetry, Alabama

Meghaan Ruhlen, Gerhard’s Kitchen, Bath & Lighting, Remodeling, Wisconsin/Upper Michigan 

Kimberly Wright, Mid South Building, Appliance, Virginia State

Lindsay Rathbun, Briggson Building Co, Remodeling, Susquehanna Valley

Karina Maldonado, Cabinet Joint, Cabinetry, Chicago Mid-West

Member
Relations

Frequently Asked Questions and Member Videos for those most 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.

Please reach out to Gerri Klein (gklein@nkba.org) with any NKBA membership structure questions.

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.

Please encourage your members to communicate any changes directly to info@nkba.org and the team will be happy to help!

NKBA’s Member Relations team is always available to assist our Members and Chapters. Contact Gerri Klein, Sr Manager, Member Relations at 610-988-6030 or email info@nkba.org. Also part of the Member Relations team is Aislinn Galvin-Keil who looks forward to working with our Chapters!