2025 National Committees
NKBA has several national committees that offer our passionate and dedicated members who want to give back to the association and industry an opportunity to volunteer. To learn more about each committee, and who are currently on these committees, click below!
The Leadership Recruitment Committee identifies and screens potential candidates to fill open positions on the Board of Directors and other committees as directed by the Board. The Leadership Recruitment Committee will then present a recommended slate for vote by the Board.
Basil Larkin, 2025 LRC Chair
Basil Larkin is the Vice President of Sales for Sub-Zero Group West. As a seasoned senior sales executive, he began his career in major appliance sales in the mid-90s after attending the University of Massachusetts. Larkin joined BSH Home Appliances as their zone sales manager for the Southwest, advanced to become sales manager for Bosch Home Appliances, and later went on to hold the roles of vice president of sales for Viking Range Corporation and vice president of sales and marketing for Lynx Professional Grills. Bringing three decades of luxury major appliance market experience, Basil has built a career as an executive focused on sales and marketing management, product development/launch, brand building, and business planning. He has been instrumental in influencing the home appliance industry in both the US and Canadian markets over the past few decades. With close connections within the industry, Basil has also helped lead the design community as past chair of the National Board of Directors for the NKBA and now holds a chair position for 2025 with the Leadership Recruitment Committee for the NKBA.
Dr. Elmar Stumpf
Elmar received a Diploma Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hannover in Germany as well as a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. During his doctorate degree at the University of Hohenheim in Germany he developed a product suitable for specific customers’ needs.
Afterwards he worked for more than 13 years for BSH Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances Group – for more than 6 of these years, in the Chinese subsidiary of the company. His last assignment was leading a regional product division. One of his tasks was the successful introduction of a new product category into the Chinese market. Among others, his responsibilities included marketing and sales topics, elaboration of a suitable product range as well as the set-up of operational units including planning and putting a large factory into operation. During this time he worked extensively with Chinese colleagues as well as with various project partner organizations.
After returning to Germany he was working for nobilia, the European market leader for built-in kitchen for appr. 3 years. In this family-owned company he was responsible for the worldwide company strategy, the innovation, the technical expansion, as well as M&A activities.
In addition to China, he has distinct working experiences in South-East Asia, Latin America, Africa and Oceania where he built-up and established companies with local partner organizations, among others.
He works very closely with diverse industrial associations: for many years he was member of the working group China advisory aboard of the Association for Modern Kitchen (AMK). Moreover, he is the European Lead Consultant of the North American Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and elaborates market studies for different industry associations. He is also the Founding President of the China Network Baden-Württemberg, does management coaching and conducts seminars as well as regular presentations and lectures at universities.
James Brodsky
As founder and CEO of Sharp Think, James keeps the show on the road by ensuring the agency’s ongoing growth and expansion across the country. With his laser-like focus on the advancement of Sharp, Jim maintains critical relationships with clients, media heavyweights, and industry influencers. A graduate from Brown University in 1990, he began his career at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising where he cut his teeth developing numerous ad campaigns for leading packaged goods brands. He eventually moved to the PR side and created award-winning programs in the fashion lifestyle categories before starting Sharp in 2000. Jim steered the agency to specialize in several passion-point categories including: architecture & design; building & construction; home furnishings; consumer lifestyle; arts & culture; and health & wellness. Jim is often asked to share his opinions, predictions, and insights at industry talks, trade shows, forums, and thought leadership events. Jim’s original mission for Sharp (coined after his middle name and his mother’s maiden name) was to promote best-in-class brands and help them engage with qualified and passionate target audiences. It is a mission that still holds true today.
Kristen Elder
Kristen Elder serves as Vice President & General Manager – Consumer Channel for Kitchen & Bath North America, Kohler Co. In this role, she is responsible for Kohler’s direct-to-consumer business, inclusive of Kohler stores, Kohler.com, and omnichannel capabilities and services across channels.
Kristen is an accomplished consumer product sales and marketing executive with proven results in launching and growing top consumer and retail brands, and driving a best-in-class consumer experience.
Previous to joining Kohler in 2025, Kristen was the Vice President of Showrooms, Residential Builder & Digital Commerce at Ferguson Enterprises, responsible for go-to-market strategy across all channels for the building and remodel market and overall performance across 250+ showrooms.
Before joining Ferguson in 2017, Kristen spent 20 years in the retail industry with many notable brands including Sony Electronics, Circuit City and Monark Premium Appliance Co. Kristen has completed professional development leadership courses at Harvard, UNC, and abroad in Tokyo, Japan with Sony.
Veronika Miller
Veronika Miller is CEO and Founder of the Designhounds Influencer Network and managing director of M2 Consulting Group, Veronika’s mission is to help brands define actionable goals and build creative campaigns and programs digitally and in real life that connect and engage influencers, buyers and brands in the interiors and kitchen & bath industries.
After the economic crash in 2009 and with strong backgrounds in both, marketing and interior- and kitchen + bath design, Veronika launched Modenus.com an online marketing and networking platform for residential designers and brands which very quickly became a close media partner to numerous trade shows and trade associations including KBIS and the NKBA.
Over the next decade, the company developed some of the most visible programs in the North American design industry including the Designhounds Influencer Network, The Design Milk X Modenus Talks Lounge, Design Uncut webcast platform and custom campaigns for leading brands including the DXV Design Panel for American Standard.
M2 Connect LLC encompasses three brands: The Designhounds Influencer Network including Designhounds Events and the Designhounds Talks Webcasts; The M2 Consulting Group, a team of industry experts focused on business development for brands and associations that acts as lead on NKBA’s international development program, Global Connect; DesignTrail App (launching in fall 2024), a digital lead management and communication application for buyers and sellers.
