January 2025
Chapter Officer Update
Thank you to our Partners:
“We look forward to a fantastic year with all of you, beginning with KBIS next month. The countdown is on – but in January, it’s all about 2025 goals.”
Important Dates
January 14 – Presidents monthly call – 4 PM EST
January 21 – Programs Chair monthly call – 3 PM EST
January 21 – Communications Chair monthly call – 4 PM EST
January 22 – Membership Chair monthly call – 3 PM EST
January 22 – Secretary/Treasurer monthly call – 4 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 & Learning
Kristin Shechter, Chapter Engagement Manager
Elizabeth Mace, Chapter Engagement Specialist
General info, meeting notices, and roster requests:
Research
The NKBA’s Skilled Labor Workforce Report will be released on January 8 on our site, nkba.org/research. This study examines labor challenges affecting the kitchen and bath industry, focusing on businesses’ hiring needs and expectations. The report highlights a significant shortage of skilled workers in both design and trades, which is delaying projects and increasing costs. It also identifies the hardest-to-fill positions, as well as key recruitment and retention strategies.
In case you missed it, the NKBA | KBIS 2025 Kitchen Trends Summit was held Dec 17. Check out the report and view our first-ever “Behind the Design” video series featuring Nar Bustamante of NKBA’s California Capital Chapter.
Marketing
NKBA presents the following Design + Business Webinars in January with registration links below. Webinars begin at 12 PM ET with 0.1 CEU per webinar.
| January 15 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar A Decade of Kitchen and Bath Design with Houzz January 21 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar Top Marketing Trends That Will Dominate in 2025 January 22 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar The Best of Both Worlds: Combining Two Hottest Trends January 28 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar 2025 Global Color & Design Trends January 29 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar The Runway to Room Evolution |
Governance
NKBA recently announced its 2025 Board of Directors, with terms beginning January 1, 2025. Eduardo Cosentino, EVP Cosentino Group and CEO Cosentino Americas, was elected Board Chair. Kerrie Kelly, CEO and Creative Director, Kerrie Kelly Studio, was elected Vice Chair. Ken Roberts, President, Atlas Roofing Corporation, will serve as Secretary/Treasurer. In addition, Board members include Nicola Bertazzoni, COO, Bertazzoni Group; Ken Williams, President, Caesarstone Canada; Scott Edmunds, Sr. Vice President of Marketing, Kohler; Jill Ehnes, President, Delta Faucet Company; Peri Friedman, COO, Fabuwood; and Michael Gross, Senior VP, Whirlpool. Edmunds, Ehnes, and Gross have been elected to serve four-year terms and Friedman has been elected to serve a three-year term.
Students & Educators
New Date! February 26, 2025
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Las Vegas Convention Center N227
Students and educators are invited to enjoy a selection of coffee and refreshments while participating in a valuable educational experience. Invitations will be emailed to all student and educator KBIS registrants this month.
March 21, 2025
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT
Spread the word to your students and educators! The Student Design Symposium is a virtual, interactive event hosted by the NKBA Northern California Chapter. For just $15, students can register for this dynamic conference, which will feature a keynote speaker address by Nureed Saeed, 2023 KBB Person of the Year. The event will also include breakout sessions, networking, prizes and more. Educators can register for free, email kryan@nkba.org for a promo code and more information.
Professional Development
CEU Credits – Gain CEU credits in January via NKBA’s Design + Business Webinars.
CONGRATULATIONS to our newest NKBA Specialty Badge earners!
Jeffrey Shapier, Remodeling, Chicago Mid-West
Fabio Eduardo Da Silva, consTRUSTY Carpentry LLC, Remodeling, Northern New England
Mitch Detig, Airoom, Color, Chicago Mid-West
Daniela Lopez, DALOP Designs, Cabinetry, North Florida
Chloe Habecker, Homestead Designs, Cabinetry, Indiana State
Emma Standing, Douglah Designs Inc, Cabinetry, Northern California
Rachael Carney, ACM Designs, Remodeling, Ottawa
Jack Wells, Normandy Design Build Remodeling, Cabinetry
Katie Seward, Katie Seward Design, Appliance, Minnesota State
Jeffrey Shafier, Lowe’s, Sustainability, Chicago Mid-West
Alicia Isfjord, Millstone Cabinetry Co., Cabinetry, Prairie Provinces
Alborz Motamed, Deslaurier Custom Cabinets Inc, Cabinetry, Ottawa
Christy Bautista, The Home Improvements Group, Universal California Capital
Sarah Parks, Total Living Concepts, Cabinetry, Ontario/Canada
Jessica Flemming, Douglah Designs, Cabinetry, Northern California
Mitch Detig, Airoom, LLC, Lighting Universal Design, Chicago Mid-West
Megan Peisert, Lowe’s, Sustainability, Carolina
Thomas Cottrell, Neil Kelly Company, Universal, Columbia River
Emily Duffy, Angelo Associates, Color, Pittsburg Tri-State
Kendrick Williams, American Woodmark, Remodeling, Baltimore/Washington
Michael Wells, Wells Design Build LLC, Remodeling, Eastern Carolina
JessicaTeal, Reece Kitchen + Bath, Universal, Oklahoma
Tyler Williams, Home Depot, Sales & Marketing, Mountain States
Rain Reinbolt, Chief Architect Software, Cabinetry, Palouse
Chloe Habecker, Homestead Designs, Color, Indiana State
Andrea Dattilo, iDeare, Sustainability, Central Florida
Member
Relations
New Members are vital to the success of NKBA and our Chapters. Please send prospective members to noelle@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.
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 are: Kevin and Aislinn who look forward to working with our Chapters!
NKBA Chapter Relations Department Contact List
1-800-843-6522
Chapters@nkba.org
(Chapter Officer Inquiries on Responsibilities)
info@nkba.org
(Membership Inquiries)
Kelly Buchsbaum, 201-972-0182
Director, Chapters & Learning – kbuchsbaum@nkba.org
Kristin Shechter, 610-988-6035
Chapter Engagement Manager – kshechter@nkba.org
Elizabeth Mace, 610-988-6029
Chapter Engagement Specialist – emace@nkba.org
Gerri Klein, 610-871-8181 x104
Sr. Mgr Member Relations and Chapters
Chapter Leadership Committee – Click Here. Also located on the Resources page of the website.
Did you miss the previous issue of the Chapter Officer Update, or do you have suggestions for future issues? If so, email chapters@nkba.org .
