Hall of Fame Nominations – NKBA

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NKBA | KBIS

Hall of Fame Nominations

Open for Submissions September 8!

Paolo Bertazzoni, 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee

If you know someone who has made a transformational impact on the kitchen, bath, and home industry, we want to hear from you.

Submissions will be open from September 8, 2025 until October 15, 2025.

Current Hall of Fame inductees include, among dozens of others:

  1. Gunnar Baldwin – Inventor of the low-flush toilet
  2. Fu-Tung Cheng – Pioneer in the use of concrete in kitchens and baths
  3. Louis Jenn – Inventor of the first downdraft range
  4. Percy Spencer – Inventor of the microwave oven
  5. Jean Mignault – Developer of early CAD software for kitchen and bath design

We encourage you to honor those who have shaped our industry by sharing their stories. Before submitting your nominee for consideration, please read the criteria below carefully to ensure your nominee meets the Hall of Fame standards. We look forward to reviewing your submission for this prestigious honor. Self-nominations are not accepted and will not be considered. Deadline to nominate is October 15, 2025. 

Please note: This application requires thoughtful and thorough responses. The Hall of Fame represents the highest level of achievement in our industry, and the review committee will evaluate only the materials provided — no outside research will be conducted, so please take the time to supply your nominee with a stellar submission.  

While we celebrate the many individuals who have built successful businesses, enjoyed distinguished careers, and earned numerous accolades, induction into the Hall of Fame is reserved for those who exemplify the highest level of achievement and impact. This prestigious honor recognizes individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the kitchen and bath design, remodeling, sales, product development, and broader home industry.

Hall of Fame honorees are visionaries who have elevated the industry’s image and interests through outstanding accomplishments. Nominees must demonstrate a lasting, transformative influence on the industry’s growth, innovation, and professionalism on a national or global scale.

Nominees, regardless of their current status in the industry, should meet the majority of the following criteria:

  • A minimum of 10 years of experience in the kitchen/bath or whole-home industry
  • Demonstrated, enduring impact on the industry through design excellence, product innovation, or both
  • Widely recognized as an authority and leader in the industry
  • A strong advocate for the industry to the business community, consumers, and/or the general public
  • Developer of forward-thinking concepts and market-leading innovations that enhance functionality and aesthetic appeal
  • A leader in corporate citizenship or social responsibility, with a proven track record of leading by example
  • Supporter of charitable causes that have positively influenced industry professionals and elevated the industry’s public image

To be considered for recommendation, all nomination forms must be completed in full and include specific, detailed information supporting the nominee’s candidacy for this distinguished honor. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Each nomination must include two non-family references who can verify the submitted information. Pre-written or duplicated nominations completed by anyone other than the individual submitting and signing the form will be disqualified.

Selections are based strictly on the merit of the nominee. The number of nominations submitted or any relationship between the nominator and members of the Hall of Fame committee, board, or affiliated NKBA entities will not influence the selection process. Self-nominations are not permitted. Group nominations, such as those submitted by chapters, will be counted as a single submission.

This is an industry-wide recognition. Nominations may be submitted by and for any individual within the kitchen, bath, or home industry, regardless of NKBA membership status.

All nominations received by the published deadline will be reviewed by NKBA staff for completeness and eligibility. Qualified submissions will then be forwarded to the Hall of Fame Task Force for evaluation. The Task Force is responsible for thoroughly reviewing and vetting all applications before presenting its recommendations to the NKBA Board of Directors.

The Board will then review the Task Force’s recommendations and make the final decision regarding inductees. Once selections are confirmed, official letters of congratulations will be sent to the inductees. Individuals who submitted a nomination will receive formal notification of the outcome. Those whose nominees are not selected for induction at this time will be informed of the decision via email.

Nominations open September 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) and must be received by the NKBA by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), October 15, 2025.  Forms received after this date will not be considered.

An approved nominee will be formally inducted into the NKBA Hall of Fame during the annual KBIS event. Inductees receive national recognition through multiple channels, including the NKBA | KBIS website (NKBA.org), Kitchen & Bath Business (KBB) Magazine, the official publication of NKBA | KBIS, and on-site at KBIS. Additional promotional exposure includes features across NKBA’s social media platforms and blog content. Each inductee is also honored with a dedicated placement in the Hall of Fame photo gallery, prominently displayed on NKBA.org.

Questions should be directed to NKBA | KBIS by email: nominations@nkba.org.