On a journey that took her from apparel retail to remodeling, this sales and design pro is among a handful of NKBA members to earn all eight NKBA Specialty Badges.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
Emily Duffner always thought she would pursue a career in fashion, and she did — but now it’s fashion for kitchens and baths.
The 11-year veteran at Ceramic Tile Sales (CTS) in Bethel Park, PA, who specializes in design and sales, started out designing for an apparel retailer while in college. Ultimately, she rose to a management position. “My goal then was to remain in the fashion industry,” she related. “While I loved working in fashion, the hours were hard, and I was given the opportunity to work part-time at CTS to see if I liked creating with building material instead of clothes.”
She wasn’t totally new to the home industry, however. Her father was in the carpet business, and she worked for him growing up. So, with her familiarity in floor coverings, she got into CTS initially selling tile. The company grew and expanded from tile sales and installation to kitchen and bath design as well.
And as the tile showroom evolved, so did Duffner, who is now senior designer and general manager of operations. She’s also one of just six NKBA members to earn all eight Specialty Badges, and she chatted with NKBA about her career trajectory and professional development.
What is your area of expertise at CTS?
My specific role is design and sales, but it has evolved and changed over 10+ years at CTS. I started as a part-time sales associate, became full-time after six months, and fell in love with design and construction. Since then, I have become a designer not only for CTS but for many kitchen and bathroom operations without an in-house designer. We are unique at CTS in the sense that we deal with homeowners, designers, contractors, and customers of our own. We pride ourselves not only on design but how a product will be installed and what are the best products to use to ensure functionality and longevity. We have our own installation crews that I manage, which helps me understand design and its limitations even more from an installation standpoint. The owner of the company was very supportive and encouraging of me getting my badges. CTS pays for any continuing education in the kitchen and bath field.
What do you like most about your job, and where do you find inspiration?
I like that every day you are meeting and helping new people. You never know what you will be designing or what problems you will have to overcome. I draw most of my inspiration from the customers themselves. Listening and understanding a customer’s wants, feelings, or ideas helps me design a uniquely personalized space. I also gain inspiration from seeing the space that will be redone.
Why did you go for all eight badges? Which were the easiest and the toughest for you to earn, and which is most useful to you?
I decided that if I was going to do one, I should do them all! The easiest badge for me to complete was Remodeling because the questions were things that I deal with on a day-to-day basis. The hardest was Cabinetry because there was a lot of terminology to learn. While it was the most challenging for me, I also learned the most when preparing for that badge.
The most useful for me is a tie between Remodeling and Sales & Marketing. Every day, we go through the processes of the Remodeling badge with the jobs for which we act as the general contractor. But even if people aren’t using CTS as their GC, we still help homeowners understand the processes involved in their projects. Sales & Marketing is what we do anytime someone walks through our front door.
What advice do you have for anyone else thinking about earning all the badges?
It’s never a bad idea to gain or refresh your knowledge. Going through all of the badges taught me some new things, but also reiterated things I already knew. Regardless, I finished the badges knowing more than when I started.
What’s next for you professionally?
I just recently took the next step professionally by accepting the general manager position, but I’m always looking for a new challenge and opportunity. While I am very happy where I currently am, you never know when an opportunity will present itself. I make sure to remind myself to not get in my own way!
Just 34 NKBA | KBIS members have earned six or more Specialty Badges, with an elite six members earning all eight. Current badges include Floor Plans & Specifications, Lighting, Cabinetry, Sales & Marketing, Sustainability, Remodeling, Universal Design, and Color. Badges cost $199 apiece for the study materials and testing, and NKBA periodically offers special promotions that give members discounts. For more information about the badges, visit NKBA.org.
