By Nicholas Tamarin
On Monday, February 24th, the lovely Orchid Ballroom at Resorts World in Las Vegas set the stage for the 2025 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show with the NKBA | KBIS’s annual Leader2Leader ceremony. Over 400 attendees to honor the 350 volunteer leaders of 70 chapters were on hand at the prestigious event to honor over 70 volunteer leaders from NKBA | KBIS chapters across the United States and Canada. The ceremony was made possible by the generous support of Platinum Sponsors Cosentino, Fabuwood, Kohler, and Miele, as well as Gold Sponsors Hettich and Kichler Lighting.
L2L also featured the Star Awards, a ceremony that recognizes the officers who excelled in inspiring and leading their members throughout 2024. Additionally, attendees enjoyed a group breakfast and breakout sessions tailored to the five chapter officer positions: President, Program Chair, Membership Chair, Communications Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer.
A Celebration of Leadership and Dedication
Eduardo Cosentino, EVP and CEO of Cosentino Americas, welcomed attendees and expressed his gratitude to the NKBA Chapter Officers for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. “It’s my pleasure to welcome you and kick off Leader2Leader,” he said. “Thank you to our NKBA Chapter Officers from across the United States and Canada for being here–and thank you as well for the great volunteer work that you do throughout the year.” Cosentino also shared his honor in serving as the 2025 NKBA Board of Directors Chair.
Following Cosentino’s remarks, he introduced the NKBA | KBIS Board of Directors, including Vice Chair Kerrie Kelly, Secretary/Treasurer Ken Roberts, and board members Nicola Bertazzoni, Ken Williams, Scott Edmunds, Jill Ehnes, Peri Friedman, and Michael Gross.
Honoring Key Contributors
Deb Webb, EVP of Operations and KBIS for NKBA, took the stage to thank the officers from the 70 chapters across the U.S. and Canada. “You are the leaders and the driving force in our industry,” Webb emphasized. She also acknowledged the sponsors, highlighting their commitment to the K&B industry. Webb then introduced Patty Dominguez, Vice-President of Business Development Americas at Cosentino, who gave a brief presentation on the importance of NKBA | KBIS to the industry and the uniqueness of the Cosentino brand DNA and its signature NKBA | KBIS–sponsored annual C.Next event.
Mark Pursell, President and CEO of the National Housing Endowment, also spoke about the importance of skilled labor initiatives and investing in educating the homebuilding workplace. Bill Darcy, Global President and CEO of NKBA | KBIS joined the stage afterwards to present a check for $50,000 to NHE’s Skilled Labor Fund, underscoring NKBA’s longstanding commitment to addressing workforce challenges.
Exciting Announcements and Presentations
Peri Friedman, COO of Fabuwood, announced the launch of an exclusive NKBA Certified Designer Grant Program in 2025. Fabuwood’s Moses Brach, Head of A&D Partnerships, and Gregg Stebbins, Director of National Accounts, shared more about Fabuwood’s extensive initiatives and partnerships with NKBA chapters.
Scott Edmunds, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Kohler, also gave a presentation, further engaging the audience with industry insights from the elite longtime Wisconsin-based manufacturer.
Recognizing Excellence
Briana Ryan, Director of A&D Development with Miele USA, announced the winners of the L2L Drawing, awarding 20 Chapter Officers with gifts from Miele. The event also honored the 2025 NKBA Chapter Leadership Committee, with members Sadie Anderson, Kimberly Kerl, Rima Nasr, Julie Schuster, and Brianna Weiler being recognized for their contributions.
Investing in Skilled Labor
NKBA emphasized its “laser focus” on skilled labor, a critical issue for the industry. To further this initiative, the organization created the new position of NKBA Skilled Labor Programs Manager and hired Melissa Flynn. Flynn, with a background in Habitat for Humanity, is tasked with expanding workforce development efforts across NKBA’s chapters.
The organization also reported significant progress in chapter-led initiatives. 38 chapters currently support in-school programs, and 11 more have plans in the works. Additionally, the Manhattan and San Diego Chapters were each granted $3,500 from the Skilled Labor Fund.
Chapters & Learning: A Unified Approach
NKBA recently combined its Chapters & Learning divisions to create a more cohesive structure. Veronica Whitehead was brought on board as the new NKBA Certification Manager, joining Learning Programs Manager Kelly Ann Ryan and Learning Systems Manager Bob Novellino. The Chapters team, including Elizabeth Mace, Kristin Shechter, and Kelly Buchsbaum, were also recognized for their dedication to supporting NKBA’s 70 chapters.
Celebrating Certified Professionals
Certification is a key focus for NKBA, and the organization celebrated its Certified Chapter Officers. The Alabama and Iowa Chapters were recognized for having the highest percentage of Certified Officers, while San Diego, California Capital, and Metro New York were lauded for having the most Certified designers at their 2024 meetings.
Introducing the Kitchen & Bath Pro Hub
NKBA unveiled its new online research platform, the Kitchen & Bath Pro Hub, designed to connect industry professionals and facilitate knowledge sharing. Senior Research Manager Kim Sturman presented the platform, highlighting its features, including discussion boards, surveys, quick polls, and a Designer Spotlight. The Pro Hub also includes a rewards program and a mobile app.
L2L Keynote Speaker
AJ Paron inspired the audience with her keynote presentation, “Design Empathy: Building Resiliency with Changing Norms.” Paron is EVP and Design Futurist at SANDOW Design Group, working specifically with Interior Design, Metropolis, and ThinkLab. She is LEED AP and WELL AP.
2025 Chapter Star Awards
After lunch and the afternoon breakout sessions, the long awaited Chapter Star Awards were once again handed out. These highly coveted awards recognize a chapter’s successful events and honor outstanding events and officers for their dedication to the association. The Star Awards, nominated by members and selected by the Chapter Leadership Committee, were judged by last year’s CLC, including Nichole Cooper, Kimberly Kerl, Sandee Mann, Julie Schuster, and Brianna Weiler.
The Best Chapter Events winners were: Central Florida (NKBA | KBIS Spirit Award), Ottawa (Community Initiative Award), Puget Sound (Best Design Competition), Central Ohio (Best Membership Campaign), Georgia (Best Student-Focused Event), Arizona (Best Overall Event), and British Columbia and Prairie Provinces (Best Collaboration Event).
Outstanding Chapter Officers were also recognized: Rima Nasr (Best President), Joyce van den Dungen Bille (Best Programs Chair), Elle H-Millard, CKD (Best Communications Chair), Jim Gurulé (Best Membership Chair), Melissa Clark, CKBD (Best Secretary/Treasurer), and Susan Benedict, CKBD (Best Volunteer/Committee Member). Rima Nasr also received the Chapter Officer of the Year Star Award.
Looking Ahead
NKBA leadership expressed excitement for the future, emphasizing continued growth, education, and support for its chapters and members. The organization encouraged everyone to participate in the Kitchen & Bath Pro Hub and to attend the annual Design Awards. That concluded a Leader2Leader ceremony that once again successfully set the stage for KBIS by celebrating the dedication and leadership within the NKBA community.
