Six NKBA members have earned all nine Specialty Badges, enhancing their industry knowledge and business reputations.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
Show what you know!
Communication is a powerful tool kitchen and bath professionals can use to build their businesses, increase clientele, and enhance their careers. NKBA Specialty Badges are an ideal way for industry pros to showcase their knowledge, expertise, and professional execution in various K&B-related disciplines. The program, which launched with five specialties at KBIS 2019, has grown to become a leading industry medallion and testament to expertise in nine specific areas.
While NKBA certification has long been recognized across the K&B world as a standard of design excellence, it is available exclusively to the designer community. Designers earn their Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer (CKBD) credential and may level up to Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (CMKBD).
The badges were developed by NKBA and subject matter experts as a micro-credentialing program for all categories of membership — designers as well as remodelers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, sales and marketing professionals, consultants and any other industry-related pro. The badges provide personalized learning and allow NKBA members to gain specific knowledge of a particular trade or skill.
Currently, the nine NKBA Specialty Badges include Floor Plans & Specifications, Lighting, Cabinetry, Sales & Marketing, Sustainability, Remodeling, Universal Design, Color, and Appliances. The first Specialty Badge costs $199 with subsequent Badges available for $149 each. Badge packages include all study materials and testing, and NKBA periodically offers special promotions for additional member discounts. For more information about the badges, visit NKBA.org/badges.
Just six NKBA members have earned all nine Specialty Badges. They concur that preparing for the badges deepened their understanding and broadened their areas of expertise. Here, they discuss what inspired them on their journey and what the credentials have meant to their careers.
Derick Vaden
Vice President / Lead Designer
Company: CTS&I Inc., Roanoke, Virginia
NKBA Chapter: Virginia State Chapter
“While I hold a BS in design and a master’s in marketing, neither of those degrees were a path to gaining certification through the NKBA in the kitchen and bath field. With over 20 years of experience in the residential luxury custom home sector, my greatest strength is knowledge. By obtaining all nine badges, I hope to broaden the depth of knowledge I have in the field and be able to offer the best solutions for my clients. Earning all the badges was a way to gain valuable knowledge in the industry and to gain some insight into areas that I may have not been very familiar with.”
Megan Kyper
Kitchen & Bath Designer
Company: The Home Depot, Johnstown, PA
NKBA Chapter: Pittsburgh Tri State
“Our industry changes constantly. I had heard of the NKBA back in college, but didn’t fully explore what they were about. Once I started at The Home Depot, one of my training courses mentioned the NKBA and the badge program, so I looked into it. It seemed like a great step in refreshing my mind on some industry topics. It’s great that you can do them on your own time and expand your knowledge for a fraction of the cost of college courses. And if you’re looking to take the CKBD exam but have been out of studying and coursework for a while, what better way to use the badge program than as a steppingstone?”
Danielle Schroeder
Sales & Marketing
Company: Chief Architect, Coeur d’Alene, ID
NKBA Chapter: Palouse Chapter
“The badges have allowed me to take my NKBA membership to the next level, enhanced my credibility and I can demonstrate my expertise to customers and colleagues. Knowledge and skills are not static but evolve over time. The Specialty Badge program has allowed me to stay curious, seek out new information and adapt to changes within the kitchen and bath industry. Additional education is essential for staying relevant. It ensures that I am up to date with the latest trends, technologies and best practices, enabling me to effectively meet the demands of my profession.”
Kendrick Williams, CKBD
Designer, Design Services
Company: American Woodmark Corp., Winchester, VA (corporate headquarters; remote from Tulsa, OK).
NKBA Chapter: Baltimore/Washington Chapter
“The badges represent recognition of effort and study to continue to grow and learn about what K&B designers do. I often refer to the study material to help explain a choice or design strategy, or to just refresh my own knowledge. I want to be considered a resource where others could come and learn about all the different options and facets of kitchen and bath design, and I really love how the NKBA sets its members up for success. I was surprised about how much fun I had learning and studying for the badges. Seeing the business of kitchen and bath design embedded in the study material was interesting and inspiring.”
Tyler Williams
Kitchen Designer
Company: The Home Depot, Provo, UT
NKBA Chapter: Mountain States
“I wanted to earn all the badges to expand my knowledge, to be more versatile, and to create more developed and thorough projects. The most important benefit is being able to sell a more complete project by having a clearer understanding of the individual components of a kitchen and how they coincide. This not only benefits me but also each of my clients. A kitchen is an intricate puzzle with several components, and even the smallest one can make a huge difference. It’s amazing what you can see when your eyes are opened to more considerations and the potential transformation.”
Stephen Horan
Manager
Company: Jonathan Arnold Inc., Oceanside, NY
NKBA Chapter: NY Metro
“It was a very satisfying experience and I’m glad I did it — it’s a personal quest. The easiest badge for me to earn was Floorplans & Specifications, because my background is in drafting. The most difficult was Sales & Marketing, as I have no experience in this area and it was all very new to me but also very interesting. The Appliance Specialist badge has helped me to understand all the latest advances in appliances and their applications, in particular, induction cooktops and speed ovens. If you follow the process, study the NKBA Knowledge Base materials, and you are confident in your abilities, you will successfully complete the badge.”
