Following the recent announcement of its 2024 Board of Directors, NKBA also disclosed the members of its additional national volunteer committees – the Chapter Leadership Committee (CLC), Leadership Recruitment Committee (LRC) and KBIS Exhibitor Committee (KEC). Volunteer committee members each serve 3-year terms, with the terms commencing on January 1, 2024.

CLC Members Updates

The newest Chapter Leadership Committee members are Kimberly Kerl, Owner & Principal Designer, Kustom Home Design; and Brianna Weiler, Vice President | Interior Designer, Kitchens by Charles Weiler. They replace Ellen Lopez, CMKBD, Founder & Creative Director of El Design Studio; and Nancy Young, CKBD, Owner & President of Nancy Young Designs.

Continuing CLC members include Nichole Cooper, Showroom Director of Middleby Residential; Sandee Mann, Sales Executive of Kohler Canada;  and Julie Schuster, Principal of Julie Schuster Design Studio. 

The Chapter Leadership Committee provides a link between the grassroots of the Association, its chapters and National Staff. They are charged with monitoring member needs and requests at the chapter level and conveying these to National staff, while also being tasked with chapter engagement initiatives and other important activations. 

LRC Members Updates

The newest Leadership Recruitment Committee members are Dr. Elmar Stumpf, Owner, Conneum GmbH; and James Brodsky, CEO, Sharp Think. They replace Katie Brockman, Founder & CEO of Katie Brockman & Co.; and David Noe, General Manager of Rev-A-Shelf.

Continuing LRC members include Kevin Dexter, President Dealer at Springs Window Fashions, who was elected 2024 LRC Chair; Jason McGraw, Group VP of CEDIA Expo & KBIS, Emerald; and Basil Larkin, SVP of Sales at Hestan Commercial Corporation. 

The Leadership Recruitment Committee is charged with identifying and screening potential members for the Board of Directors (BOD) and the Chapter Leadership Committee (CLC). They meet after national elections to review all self-nominations received during the election cycle in September. 

KEC Members Updates

The newest member for the KBIS Exhibitor Committee is Nathan Boone, COO, Green Forest Cabinetry. Rolling off the KEC in 2023 was Heather Shannon, Director of Brand Marketing at Perlick and Jason Thompson, Director of Sales at WPPO Wood Fired Ovens. 

Continuing KEC members include Katie Heany, Owner of Kitchen Branding Gifts, who was elected 2024 KEC Chair; Abigail Toal, Event Coordinator at Federal Brace; Amy Switzer, Senior Marketing Communications Manager at Emtek; Jonathan Krieger, VP of Sales & Marketing at Fabuwood Cabinetry; Massimo Ballucchi, VP Kitchen & Bath Business at Cosentino North America, and Jason Fisher, Senior Director of Global Integrated Marketing at Moen & House of Rohl.

The KBIS Exhibitor Committee provides a link between the exhibitors and attendees of KBIS, and National Staff, to ensure that their needs are being appropriately monitored and evaluated. They also advise National Staff on industry trends and make recommendations for appropriate products, programs, and services to meet the needs of the exhibitors and attendees at future KBIS’s. 

NKBA again thanks Ellen Lopez, CMKBD, Nancy Young, CKBD, Katie Brockman, David Noe, Heather Shannon, and Jason Thompson for their dedication and commitment to these important committees over the last several years!

Below is a complete list of NKBA’s three national volunteer committees for 2024.

2024 Chapter Leadership Committee

Nichole Cooper
Showroom Director
Middleby Residential
Irvine, CA

Sandee Mann
Sales Executive – Western Canada Showroom
Kohler Canada
Woodbridge, ON, Canada

Julie Schuster
Principal
Julie Schuster Design Studio
New York, NY

Kimberly Kerl
Owner & Principal Designer
Kustom Home Design
Greenville, SC

Brianna Weiler
Vice President | Interior Designer 
Kitchens by Charles Weiler
Lahaska, PA

2024 Leadership Recruitment Committee

Kevin Dexter, 2024 Chair
President Dealer
Springs Window Fashions                                          
Middleton, WI

Jason McGraw, CTS, CAE
Group Vice President
CEDIA Expo and Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)
Atlanta, GA

Basil Larkin
Senior VP of Sales
Hestan Commercial Corporation
Anaheim, CA

James Brodsky
CEO
Sharp Think
New York, NY

Dr. Elmar Stumpf
Owner
Conneum GmbH
Oberkirch, Germany

Bill Darcy, Ex-Officio
Global President & Chief Executive Officer
National Kitchen & Bath Association
Bethlehem, PA

2024 KBIS Exhibitor Committee

Katie Heany, 2024 Chair 
Owner
Kitchen Branding Gifts
St. Louis, MO

Massimo Ballucchi
VP of Kitchen & Bath Business
Cosentino North America
Miami, FL 

Jonathan Krieger
VP of Sales & Marketing
Fabuwood Cabinetry
Newark, NJ

Amy Switzer
Senior Marketing Communications Manager
Emtek
Irwindale, CA

Abigail Toal
Event Coordinator
Federal Brace
Belmont, NC 

Jason Fisher
Sr. Director of Global Integrated Marketing
Moen & House of Rohl
Olmsted, OH 

Nathan Boone
COO
Green Forest Cabinetry
Chesapeake, VA

An Evening of Milanese Culture and Global Design 

Not everyone can visit Design Week in Milan, so our Columbia River Chapter decided to bring it home to Portland.

57 people showed up for “One Week in Milan” hosted at the Z Collection luxury tile showroom founded by NKBA member Zee Coleman.

Located in Portland’s NW district where tile showrooms abound, Z Collection stands out because of its large, wide-open space. “It’s such a perfect event venue,” said Chapter Communications Chair Bethany Broussard.

Guests mingled while sipping aperitivos and enjoying caprese sandwiches before sitting down to a presentation by freelance design journalist and creative director, Damon Johnstun. 

Damon, who has been reporting on Milan Design Week for two decades, spent over an hour diving into his “best in show” from Milan–including the Rosa Levanto red marble that is currently sweeping Italy.

“Damon’s taste was everything from 70’s Scandinavian to Japanese minimalist,” said Bethany. “My favorite part was seeing the reactions to his picks. Sometimes he’d be talking about a piece of furniture, and you could see some designers agree with him, and others turning to each other and shaking their heads ‘no way’!”

The event doubled as a membership drive. NKBA members who brought non-members received a Milan-inspired tote bag with Italian wine, a wine cork, pasta, pesto, cocktail napkins, and a chocolate sampler. 

Networking, education, and shell-cracking good times

If anyone knows how to do a good lobster bake, it’s our friends at the NKBA Maine Chapter.

The invitation for the 3rd annual bake encouraged members to “come out of their shell and taste the ocean with NKBA Maine”… and that they did–50 people showed up at Bangor Wholesale Laminates. This year’s event drew 50 attendees who also feasted on clam steamers, brisket, and pulled pork–all provided by Jeff’s Catering.

The first hour included a cash bar and the chance to mingle with fellow guests, then Jason Blais of Reve-a-shelf gave his presentation, Reorganizing the Way You Think About Kitchen Design, which included practical tips on lighting, shelving inserts, and budgeting considerations. 

The lobster bake is a “North tier designers” event for the Maine Chapter. 

“We have a big state,” said Programs Chair Dave Lamb. “People are often unable to drive two hours and back for an event or have to stay overnight, so we rotate North and South locations as much as we can.”

Share Your Expertise and Gain Invaluable Exposure

The NKBA webinar program is a fantastic opportunity to share your expertise with thousands of fellow industry professionals. All webinars start at 12:00pm ET, are one hour in length, and feature live Q&A.

As one of our speakers, you and your webinar will be promoted across NKBA platforms including the NKBA website, social media channels, NKBA Newsfeed, and Chapter News. 

You will also receive audience feedback and evaluation after your webinar, along with a list of session registrants and attendees that opt into third-party communications. Plus, presenters who are NKBA members are eligible to receive .3 CEUs. for participation.

All speakers are required to pre-record their presentation in advance. NKBA will assist with recording and editing unless otherwise approved by the NKBA team.

There are dozens of 2027 Themes & Topics to choose from, including:

• Business Planning
• Client Relationships
• Global and International Design
• Natural Materials
• Skilled Labor & Trades
• Smart Home Technology
• Whole Home Design

Submissions are due by Monday, August 31st. For proposal guidelines and to submit your 2027 webinar proposal, click here. 

All Hands On Deck at the Beloved Annual Community Event

Our Southern Ohio/Kentucky Chapter returned to the Ronald McDonald House Cincinnati in July for their annual summer community event. 

The RMH provides housing for families receiving care at Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati–creating a home away from home during very difficult circumstances. 

SOKY volunteers prepped, cooked, and served lunch to 296 families and staff over the course of four hours.

The charity has a limit of ten volunteers, so the event fills up quickly–and SOKY is serious about making sure the event is properly staffed, with alternates in reserve in case someone can’t make it.

Chefs at RMH select the menu ahead of time. Once the volunteers arrive, they take part in an orientation that includes how to appropriately interact with guests. 

“You don’t want to tell someone to have a great day, because that person might not be having a good day,” said Programs Chair Lisa Prewitt. “It definitely puts whatever you have going on in life in perspective.” 

RMH serves three meals a day, so they run entirely on volunteers. For NKBA chapters looking to get involved, Lisa urges contacting their local RMH.

“We are busy the whole time, and we have so much fun,” said Lisa. “Members who come to this find so much joy in it, they immediately ask us to sign them up for next year.”