The NKBA has developed this guide to help chapters find speakers and topics for their monthly chapter meetings and events. We hope this program will aid you in providing your chapter with exceptional speakers and programs designed to increase your member involvement.

The list contains NKBA recommended speakers, including many who have previously presented their program at KBIS’s Voices From the Industry. The list includes their topic descriptions and bios and is categorized into four general tracks – Business Management, Focus on the Customers, Design & Inspiration and Sales & Marketing. All of the programs are approved for .1 CEU.

The program guidelines are as follows:

• NKBA to allow up to 142 visits per year (two per chapter)
• Speaker fee to be paid by National to individual chosen from list
• Airfare up to $650.00 paid by National – speaker must make plans ahead through Travel Leaders (after contract is signed)
  • Travel Fees – NATIONAL PAYMENTS: If cost is under $650 , speaker may expense ride to and from home airport and return to home. This total payment cannot exceed the $650.
  • Travel Fees – CHAPTER PAYMENTS: Chapter pays transportation at the chapters home area to and from venue/hotel. Chapters do not pay speaker’s home transportation.
• Chapter pays hotel – one night only, and transportation to and from the airport (at destination).
• Second visit for a chapter – NKBA to pay speaker fee only, chapter to pay all other fees
• Chapter to pick a speaker and contact that individual directly to make all arrangements which also includes any audio/visual needs
• Chapter Presentation Program speakers must be NKBA members.

When a date is confirmed:

• Chapter must submit a speaker request form to National.
• National will then send out Speaker Agreement for signatures. (Without signed agreement, payment will not be processed and chapter will be billed).

The NKBA encourages its chapters to seek out sponsors to help defer the cost of chapter meetings and offer its members the opportunity to learn about new products and services available to them. However, since chapter meeting sponsorship is a benefit (the opportunity to advertise products and services to potential buyers), NKBA policy requires that sponsors* of chapter events/activities must be members of the NKBA. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact the NKBA at (800) THE-NKBA (843-6522).

Our best resource for updating the guide is chapter recommendations. Please contact the NKBA if you have been especially pleased with a speaker. Conversely, if you used the guide to find a speaker and your attendees were exceptionally disappointed with the presentation, please let us know at chapters@nkba.org.

* This includes sponsors that are in the kitchen and bath industry; excludes banks, insurance companies, wineries, realtors, etc.

• Speaker Request Form
• Chapter Presentation Program – 2025 Speakers and Topics List by Category
• 2025 Speaker List by Programming Offerings
• Speaker Bios

There are several types of Chapter Funding programs offered by the Association to support Chapters and Subchapters that are in good standing each year.

Chapter Compliance Funding

The sum of $1,200.00 is to be paid to the Chapter/Subchapter to support its educational, professional development and membership recruiting/retention activities. Chapter Compliance Funding is paid for the calendar year and is based on the prior years’ compliance with the requirements to maintain good standing status with the Association. Grant monies will not be paid until all reporting is complete. Each Chapter and Subchapter must comply with the following requirements in order to remain in good standing and be eligible for this chapter grant:

• Posting your Chapter Meetings – All chapter meeting notices must be sent to National for posting on the chapter’s website
• Financial Reports of Chapter/Subchapter meetings must be prepared and sent to National Headquarters within one month of each Chapter meeting setting forth the date, location and purpose of the meeting. National will record and verify the following two requirements from the chapter’s financial reports:
  • Four chapter meetings per year – the chapter must provide at least four chapter meetings per year
  • Four CEUs per year – the chapter must offer at least .4 CEUs per year
• Year-end financial report must be submitted to National Headquarters no later than January 31st of each year.
• Chapter Compliance Form – is due by January 31st and includes:
  • Confirmation of chapter requirements
  • Recruiting Committee names
  • Strategic Plan – goals for the year
• Chapter Officer Training must be completed by March 31st.
• IRS 990N Tax post card or 990EZ must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service by May 15th each year (where applicable). Proof of the “Accepted” filing status shall be provided to National by May 15th. (Accepted status can be obtained from your IRS account within 20 minutes of filing.)

Please mark your calendars with the dates for compliance of each requirement. Non-compliance with any of the above dates will result in disqualification of eligibility for this funding.

Bonus Funding

• Affiliated School Program. Chapters that sign-up a new school for the NKBA Affiliated School program will receive $100.00 for each school (up to a $500.00 maximum payment for 5 schools). Notification must be sent via email to National within one month of the school joining. Bonus checks will be processed as received, however, no funding will be paid after December 15th.
• Student-focused activities. Chapters that plan at least one student-focused activity will receive a bonus of $500.00. A plan for the activity must be documented in the Compliance Grant Form when it is submitted on January 31. After the event, send notification to National within 30 days to advise and include a brief description of the event. Bonus funding checks will be processed as received, however, no funding will be paid after December 15th.

Subchapter Development Funding

The sum of $2,000 paid to a Subchapter that is newly formed by NKBA within a Chapter’s boundaries, together with a payment of $500.00 to the Chapter from which the Subchapter was formed.

Chapter Initiative Grant

Chapters and Subchapters may apply for a Chapter Initiative Grant to support specific activities developed by a Chapter or Subchapter to aid in the fulfillment of its educational, professional development and membership recruiting/retention activities. Grants are requested through an application process submitted to National. The Chapter Leadership Committee will review the applications and approve based upon the established criteria. The amount of funds available each year for grants shall be set forth in the annual budget of the Association; however, the maximum amount to be awarded to any one (1) Chapter or Subchapter each year is $2,500.00. We cannot guarantee that all chapters will be approved for the specific amount requested. Chapters should apply only for the amount needed to achieve successful initiatives listed on the application.

The application (see link below) is to be filled out in its entirety and should give a clear picture of any specific initiatives (one or more) that will be done during the year to increase chapter membership, enhance member benefits or create awareness. This application is the responsibility of your board, as a team, to fill out. This is an optional program and not mandatory that chapters apply for this grant. The deadline to submit the application is January 31st.

Our volunteers work hard for their chapters and the NKBA is excited to be able to recognize the chapters and individual volunteers that have made a difference in 2023! The Grand Prize, the Denise Dick Chapter Officer of the Year, was named in honor of this longtime esteemed member. Denise was a devoted and active member of the Association at the local level with the Texas North Plains Chapter, and on the national level on the Board of Directors.

Please take the time to enter your chapter or an outstanding officer so these special events and extraordinary people can be recognized and rewarded! APPLICATIONS are open October 1 through October 31, 2023.

The winners will be announced, and prizes awarded at the Leader2Leader event (previously Chapter Officer Training) prior to KBIS 2024.

We are excited to recognize outstanding achievements in the following categories;

Chapter Categories: ($1,500 Prize)

*Submissions can be for in-person or virtual events.

• Best Chapter Membership Campaign – an event focused on increasing membership.
• Best Chapter Overall Event – this event is amazing, creative, fun, distinctive, one-of-a-kind.
• Best Chapter Community Initiative – an event to assist a chapter or a local cause/effort.
• Best Chapter Design Competition – an event or gala showcasing the talents of local designers.
• Best Chapter Student-Focused Event – chapter event that is specifically planned for local students.
• Best Chapter NKBA Spirit Award – in support of NKBA initiatives/events (i.e. KBIS Recap, local Thirty Under 30, local Hall of Fame, Celebrate Kitchen and Bath Month, Learning/Certification events).

Officer Categories: ($500 Prize)

• Best Chapter Officer (one per position) – nominate an individual who has been an outstanding asset to the chapter.
• Best Committee Member – nominate an individual who has provided outstanding assistance to chapter leaders.

GRAND PRIZE: ($2,000 Prize)

• Denise Dick Chapter Officer of the Year  – no application necessary – to be chosen from winners.