A Community Comes Together for NKBA NextUp
The NextUp Skilled Trades Speed Networking & Career Connection Event, jointly hosted by the NKBA Florida Treasure Coast Chapter, Palm Beach County Design & Trades Networking Group, and the City of Greenacres, brought together more than 75 students from local high schools and Palm Beach State College for an evening of education, inspiration, and meaningful career connections.
The event was filled with students eager to explore their futures, industry professionals ready to share their experiences, and community leaders united in their support for the next generation of design and construction professionals. The energy felt less like a traditional career event and more like a community pep rally–one where everyone was cheering for the same team: the future workforce.
What made the evening particularly memorable was the remarkable level of community engagement. Local leaders, industry organizations, businesses, and experienced professionals came together with a shared purpose: to introduce young people to the opportunities available throughout the design and construction industry and help them envision a future within it.
From Career Exploration to Real-World Connections
The evening featured Craig Russell and Jen Fiorenza of Cincinnati-based The English Contractor & Remodeling Services, who shared their experiences and insights into building successful careers in construction.
Their presentation explored the breadth of career opportunities available within the industry, highlighting the many pathways that lead to rewarding careers–from skilled craftsmanship and construction management to leadership and business operations.
A highlight of the evening was the Student & Trades Speed Networking Exchange, an interactive experience that moved beyond traditional career presentations and placed students directly across the table from working professionals.
Through a series of short, one-on-one conversations, students had the opportunity to ask questions, explore different career paths, and learn firsthand what it takes to succeed in the industry.
A Community Invested in Its Future
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the event was the collective commitment demonstrated by the surrounding community.
The City of Greenacres, local leadership, educational institutions, industry organizations, and participating professionals helped create an atmosphere of encouragement and opportunity. Their involvement reinforced an important message to the students: their community believes in their potential and is invested in their success.
That spirit of collaboration is central to the NKBA NextUp initiative, which works to introduce young people to career opportunities throughout the kitchen and bath industry while strengthening connections between education and industry. The Greenacres event demonstrated what that mission can look like at the local level.
Building Connections. Building Futures.
As the evening concluded, the excitement and conversations reflected the success of an event built around personal engagement.
For students, it was an opportunity to see the industry through a different lens and recognize the possibilities ahead. For participating professionals, it was a chance to share their knowledge, encourage emerging talent, and contribute directly to the future of their industry.
And for the community, it was a demonstration of what can happen when local leadership, education, and industry work together toward a common goal.
