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BSH Opens in DC, Cyncly Site Launch, Energy Star Threatened, Tariff Impacts on K&B, Chapter Updates, and More

Image courtesy of BSH.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

Company News

BSH’ New EDC: BSH Home Appliances, a division of the Bosch Group and parent of Thermador, Bosch, and Gaggenau premium appliance brands, has opened an Experience and Design Center in Washington, DC. The 7,0000 square-foot space in the upscale CityCenterDC complex has a neoclassical ambience, reflecting the city’s architecture, and serves as an immersive showcase for its luxury appliances, offers cooking and training sessions, and design inspiration. This is the 10th BSH EDC in North America, including locations in Beverly Hills and Irvine, CA; Chicago; New York; Miami; Houston; Toronto; Vancouver, and Montreal. Learn more here.

NKBA Design Competition Now Open — Enter Today!

Cyncly’s New Websites: Cyncly, a leading provider of design software solutions, has launched Cyncly Websites, a website platform that helps K&B designers, retailers, and remodelers enhance the shopping and design experience for their clients.The platform helps businesses grow by attracting more customers, improving and protecting online presence, and showcasing their expertise and product offering with features including an AI design tool, a project gallery, lead generation, a product catalog and more. Cyncly was formed in 2022 after Compusoft and 2020 merged in 2021. Discover more here.

Designed by: Rachel Hills. Photo by: Kat Alves

Design Competition Open: The professional NKBA | KBIS 2026 Design Competition is accepting entries through July 25. More than $150,000 in cash prizes are up for grabs, including $25,000 each for Best Overall Kitchen and Best Overall Bath winners. New this year: Winners who are NKBA Certified Designers win a $25,000 bonus. For all details and an entry packet, click here.

Chapter Updates

Aloha in Las Vegas: Join the Southwest Desert Chapter at Inspired Closets, 6445 W Sunset Road in Las Vegas, for “Say Aloha to Summer.” Earn a CEU as you learn “How to Communicate Your Value With Branding,” presented by Home Designer Marketing. You’ll also test drive the newest AR technology in a live demo with Envision to see your client’s dream closet before it’s built. Enjoy Hawaiian sliders and summer cocktails at the event, sponsored by Hydro Shield, on May 28, 5 to 8 pm. It’s free for NKBA members, $15 for non-members. Details here

Bean Bags on the Cape: For its June meeting and membership drive, the Northern New England Chapter is hosting a cornhole tournament on June 10 at Kam Appliances, 6 Aggregate Way in Hyannis, MA, on Cape Cod. The event is sponsored by JennAir and is free to attend. To participate in the tournament, teams of two may register for $25. Info here.

Industry News

New Silica Safety Guidance: The Natural Stone Institute and the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) have released new medical surveillance guidance and announced expanded silica safety research efforts aimed at enhancing workplace safety. Guidance includes information on air respirator selection and use as well as studies evaluating the effectiveness of silica safety best practices through employee air sampling and medical surveillance data. This important update builds on ongoing efforts to improve health and safety practices industry-wide and provides actionable guidance for employers and fabricators. Learn more here.

Energy Star Program in Danger: The Trump Administration is preparing to eliminate two key divisions of the Environmental Protection Agency that are focused on climate change and energy efficiency. These include the Energy Star program, which certifies energy-efficient appliances and helps consumers find products and tax credits to reduce the cost of buying and using household appliances. Since Energy Star began under President George H.W. Bush in 1992, it has helped save consumers more than $500 billion in energy costs and 5 trillion kWh. The White House also proposed eliminating the EPA’s climate change division and climate protection partnership division, both of which sit within the agency’s office of air and radiation. These moves will impact several climate programs, including the greenhouse gas reporting program and EPA’s partnerships on methane emitted from burning fossil fuels. Read more here.

Prices Up, Sales Down for Existing Homes: Sales of existing homes fell 5.9 percent in March from February, and were off 2.4 percent from March 2024, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales fell in all four major U.S. regions. At the same time, the median price for these homes rose 2.7 percent YOY to $403,700, an all-time high for the month of March and the 21st consecutive month of YOY price increases. NAR said elevated mortgage rates are contributing to the sluggish environment, and that housing inventory was up 8.1 percent from February and up almost 20 percent YOY. More details here.

Tariff Update: A lot of products, components, and raw materials used in the kitchen and bath industry are imported, especially from Canada, China, and Mexico, the three largest trading partners of the U.S. And the mercurial nature of tariff negotiations, along with other variables emanating from Washington, mean the situation is far from stable. Sunderesh S. Heragu, Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University, explores factors including increased costs, inflation, interest rates, and the labor shortage, in an in-depth article in KBB.

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Turn a Career Page, Become a NKBA | KBIS Chapter Officer

Applications are now open for the next generation of Association leaders.

By Nicholas Tamarin 

NKBA | KBIS chapter officers directly contribute to and benefit from the growth of the kitchen and bath industry’s leading Association. Officers serve as member advocates and peer representatives to the Association and the industry, as well as a mentor for student members to develop potential and build skills.

NKBA Design Competition Now Open — Enter Today!

Through leadership training, officers also gain the tools and skills necessary to become a stronger manager. This knowledge can be invaluable to your own business and the experience is a great addition to your personal portfolio.

Chapter Meeting Benefits

Being active at the local level builds business through networking and gives members an opportunity to learn successful ideas and exchange business leads. Chapter officer positions provide an excellent opportunity for members to significantly impact the industry, Association, and local communities. By taking on a leadership role within the association, you can influence the direction of your chapter, network with other professionals, and gain invaluable experience.

Self Nomination Form

This election cycle includes the three positions below. All current incumbents of these positions must self-nominate if they wish to be considered for a new term, as there is no automatic continuation of the role.

  • Programs Chair
  • Communications Chair
  • President

The chapter officer self-nomination form can be accessed by clicking here. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of becoming a chapter leader, please click here. All NKBA members, with the exception of students, are eligible to self-nominate for these positions. Note: Self-nominations for chapter officer positions opened on May 15 and will run through July 31. All elections are conducted at the chapter level.

So self-nominate today! And if you have any questions about Chapter Officer Elections, please contact info@nkba.org.

Become a Chapter Leader

As a chapter officer for the NKBA, you directly contribute to and benefit from the growth of the kitchen and bath industry’s leading Association. You serve as a member advocate and a representative of your peers to the Association and the industry, as well as a mentor for student members to develop potential and build skills.

Through leadership training, you gain the tools and skills necessary to become a stronger manager. This knowledge can be invaluable to your own business and the experience is a great addition to your personal portfolio.

Submissions Now Closed

Chapter Officer Benefits

Gain Consumer and Peer Recognition

NKBA chapter officers are recognized as leaders in the industry by both consumers and peers, which is certain to enhance your business or career.

Influence the Association and the Industry

As a chapter officer, you’ll gain influence over NKBA programs. These programs often affect not only the association, but the entire kitchen and bath industry.

Chapter Meeting Benefits

Being active at the local level builds business through networking and gives members an opportunity to learn successful ideas and exchange business leads.

Thank you for your volunteerism and leadership in NKBA. Chapter Officer self-nominations are closed for 2026. If you have any questions, please email chapters@nkba.org.

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Economic Uncertainty, Including Questions About the Impact of Tariffs, is Tempering Predicted K&B Industry Growth

Industry Pros Report Flat Revenue, Muted Consumer Demand in NKBA / John Burns Q1 2025 Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) Report
Designed by: Elma Gardner. Photo by: Kenny Tjay of IFP Media.

By NKBA Editorial Staff

While the kitchen and bath industry had been poised for a modest rebound in 2025, industry professionals are revising and slightly tempering their projection for growth this year, according to key findings in the NKBA / John Burns Q1 2025 Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) report.

The Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) dipped to 55.1 in Q1 2025 from 59.7 in Q4 2024 as consumer demand for kitchen and bath products weakened amid concerns about economic uncertainty and the impact of new tariffs and other policy shifts. Kitchen and bath firms in three of the four segments surveyed downgraded their ratings, reversing the upward trend previously seen across all segments last quarter.

K&B industry revenue growth was flat at +0.2% year over year (YOY) in Q1 2025, reversing the trend from Q4 2024 when sales rose. Industry pros say they expect this trend to continue: in Q1 2025, K&B firms’ 2025 revenue growth expectation averaged +3.1%, down from +3.7% in Q4 2024. However, if, as expected, prices rise by a similar or higher amount this year, flat or even negative unit sales volumes could become a reality.

The Kitchen & Bath Market Index Survey, which is the basis for the KBMI findings, is conducted jointly by the NKBA and John Burns Research and Consulting. The Q1 2025 report is based on findings from 734 members of the NKBA community across four primary industry segments: design; building and remodeling; retail sales; and manufacturing.

Here are some additional insights about the uncertain start to 2025 and the industry’s latest outlook for 2025:

A Significant Rise in Input Costs

K&B retail and distribution firms report that their suppliers raised prices by +5.2% YOY in Q1 2025, reversing previous progress on kitchen and bath product inflation. Markups in Q1 2025 were highest (+7% YOY) for appliances, which have heavy exposure to countries impacted by recent tariff policy shifts.

Many firms had no choice but to raise prices in response. Kitchen and bath builder and remodeler pricing grew to +5.2% on average in Q1 2025. Lead times in Q1 are extending for key products, including cabinets, vanities and major appliances.

Tariff Policy Uncertainty Looms Large

K&B professionals now rate trade issues as their number one concern impacting the industry. Retail segment firms are already reporting an uptick in product costs. The industry expects supply chain disruptions to increase and pricing to continue to drift upward as tariffs reshuffle the international trade balance.

Consumer behavior is being impacted by uncertainty around changing tariff policies. Two-thirds of K&B firms (68%) reported that consumers either held steady on product quality or downgraded to lower-grade products in Q1 2025, reflecting caution in the planning of kitchen and bath renovations.

Insights into Adaptive Strategies

For the first time, the Q1 2025 KBMI report includes insights from K&B firms about how they are coping with their greatest industry concerns, specifically regarding the cost of materials, trade issues and fear of a recession. Their strategies range from seeking out alternative products and suppliers to lowering their profit margins.

“There’s no doubt that uncertainty around tariff policies and other macroeconomic factors is heavily influencing the K&B industry’s more muted outlook for 2025, as well as consumer behavior,” said NKBA I KBIS Global President & CEO Bill Darcy. “As we wait for more answers to come into focus about the extent and longevity of these impacts, we know that our industry will continue to be resilient and find ways to meet these evolving challenges.”

Read more about what K&B industry pros are saying about the challenges and opportunities they see in the months ahead by downloading the NKBA / John Burns Q1 2025 Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) report here.

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The National Kitchen & Bath Association and High Point Market Authority Announce Strategic Alliance Partnership

The industry-leading organizations announce a long-term partnership designed to enhance service to the design community through custom experiences, brand connections and industry education.
Left to right: Tammy Covington, President & CEO of High Point Market Authority and Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA | KBIS.

Bethlehem, PA – (May 14, 2025) –The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA | KBIS), the world’s leading trade association for the kitchen and bath industry and owner of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), today announced a strategic alliance with the High Point Market Authority (HPMA), the official sponsor and organizer of High Point Market, the world’s largest home furnishings trade show held every April and October in High Point, N.C. This partnership marks a convergence of the kitchen and bath sector with the furnishings industry, expanding both organizations’ influence among the design community and growing focus on the whole home. 

“Our partnership with High Point Market Authority represents a powerful alignment between two organizations committed to inspiring, empowering, and supporting the interior design community,” said Bill Darcy, Global President and CEO of NKBA | KBIS. “At NKBA, we’ve seen kitchen and bath design trends expand their influence across the entire home, driving new ideas and inspiration for the broader interiors industry. Through this alliance with High Point Market Authority, we’re excited to share NKBA’s unique brand experiences, educational resources, and foster business-driving connections that add value to the design community as a whole.”

“High Point Market is the platform by which the future of our industry is tested, tried, and solidified. It’s where the principals connect and the changemakers push. It is a biannual convergence of the best and brightest in our industry,” said Tammy Covington, President and CEO of High Point Market Authority. “The conversations that happen here lay the groundwork for the years ahead. There have always been elements of kitchen and bath here in High Point, but this alliance with NKBA will allow us to bring it forward, to highlight it, and to serve the industry in new and exciting ways.”

The NKBA’s first presence at High Point Market was in 2018 when they offered members a day and a half long event blending Market tours with conference-style education. They returned again last October with “The Tent,” which played host to educational programming led by kitchen and bath designers and manufacturers. In partnership with HPMA, the two united in NKBA’s mission to deliver cutting-edge trend analysis, valuable educational resources, and innovative product showcases—all aimed at empowering designers and their businesses to thrive. Most recently at Spring Market, NKBA hosted a panel at The Point with leading designers Michel Smith Boyd and Sharon Sherman discussing emerging trends in kitchen and bath design. As the kitchen opens up to the whole home and bath spaces expand, sharing industry knowledge is critical to supporting designers both well-versed in and new to kitchen and bath design. 

“As the owner of an interdisciplinary design firm, I understand the importance of integrating kitchen and bath into the High Point conversation,” said Christi Barbour, Chair of the High Point Market Authority’s Board of Directors and founder and partner of Barbour Spangle Design. “Designers have long looked to High Point for education, inspiration, and innovative products. Having NKBA here to spotlight the opportunities in the kitchen and bath space—and to connect designers with new brands and partners—is both exciting and a natural evolution of what High Point offers to our design community.”

Kerrie Kelly, Vice Chair of the Board for NKBA and CEO + Creative Director of Kerrie Kelly Studio added, “Designers today are shaping experiences across the entire home, and that holistic view demands collaboration between all facets of the industry. NKBA’s partnership with High Point Market Authority underscores the Association’s commitment to helping designers navigate new opportunities in kitchen, bath, and beyond — bringing inspiration, innovation, and valuable connections to the forefront at every turn.”

By solidifying a long term partnership, NKBA and HPMA combine forces for the overall success of the design industry. Together, they offer unique educational programs, inspire innovation, and deliver on the goal to ensure support for the design community throughout the whole home. As part of the partnership, NKBA will offer its valuable research and expertise to the design community at High Point Market with an expanded presence at Fall Market. 

“We’re proud to bring our partnership with High Point Market Authority to life at the upcoming Fall Market to highlight new and exciting brands through elevated, immersive experiences,” said Heather Shannon, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, NKBA | KBIS. “I look forward to reconnecting with and reaching new designers through our activations that showcase the latest innovations and inspiration for the home, rooted in kitchen and bath, but expanding well beyond.”

To download image, click here.

To download a PDF for this story, click here.

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About NKBA | KBIS

NKBA | KBIS is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS). With 55,000 members in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry, the NKBA has informed, educated and supported the industry since the association was founded in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to inspire, lead and empower the kitchen and bath industry through community, professional certification and learning, and events. For more information, go to NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522). KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

About the High Point Market Authority

The High Point Market Authority is the official sponsor and organizer of the High Point Market in High Point, N.C. Featuring an extensive selection of exhibitors spanning every category, style, and price point, and attracting tens of thousands of visitors from more than 100 countries twice each year, High Point Market is the driving force of the home furnishings industry. Find High Point Market online at highpointmarket.org, and follow on social media using the hashtag #HPMKT.

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Lotte and EKO in Deal, SieMatic’s New Line, Wilsonart’s Busy Month, Officine Gullo Opens in Dallas, Chapter Updates, and More

The new Mondial Style Collection from SieMatic. Courtesy of SieMatic.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

Company News

SieMatic’s New Line: Premium German kitchen maker SieMatic has introduced the Mondial Style Collection of kitchen cabinetry, workspaces, and storage solutions. The line is characterized by its minimalist geometric forms, luxe finishes, and handle-free door systems. Shapes include cubed glass-front cabinets, semi-circular bars, round tables, customized drawer inserts and varying cabinet elevations. Learn more here.

LOTTE Links with EKO: LOTTE Chemical, a manufacturer of high-end engineered quartz surfaces under the Radianz Quartz brand, had entered a deal with EKO Stone to promote, sell, and distribute Radianz across the Midwest U.S. market. LOTTE has facilities all over the world with an office in California. EKO, which manufactures and distributes quartz and natural stone surfaces, is headquartered in the Chicago area. The deal will make Radianz more readily available to the Midwest and cut lead times. Learn more about Radianz here and EKO here.

A Launch and a Purchase for Wilsonart: Engineered surfacing giant Wilsonart has introduced a new series in its Thinscape® Composite Tops collection. Sixteen new designs of the durable composite material are available, including woodgrain, stone, solid, and textile patterns. Ultra-thin (half-inch thick) surfaces are available in multiple sizes and are certified eco-friendly. Wilsonart also acquired Virginia Tile’s woodworking products distribution business. The acquired operations are headquartered in Kansas City, KS, with branches in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, OK; Wichita, KS; and Springfield, MO. These locations distribute decorative surfaces, cabinet accessories and decorative and functional hardware. More detail here.

Courtesy of Officine Gullo.

Officine Gullo Opens in Dallas: Florence, Italy-based luxury Italian appliance and kitchen manufacturer Officine Gullo, an NKBA Global Connect member, has opened a showroom in Dallas. The 4,000 square-foot space on Oak Lawn Avenue was previously an art gallery and it retains the “artistic atmosphere” to showcase each product “like a piece of art,” according to Matteo Gullo, managing director. This is the company’s seventh flagship gallery in the U.S. It has two locations in New York, and galleries in Boston, Miami, Palm Beach, and Los Angeles. KBB has more.

Chapter Updates

Win Big With Metro New York: The Metro New York Chapter is hosting its annual Casino Night on May 22, 6 to 9 pm, at UMI Stone, 3 Dubon Court, Farmingdale, NY. Enjoy blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker tables, catered food and cocktails, and chances to win raffles and giveaways and a three-night stay at a luxury beach resort in Panama. The evening is free for NBKA members, $40 for non-members. Register here.

Sharp Showers With West Michigan: Learn about Schluter with the West Michigan Chapter on May 28, 5 to 7 pm, at the new Floor & Decor showroom at 4250 28th Street SE in Grand Rapids. Casey Bossard from Schluter will demonstrate how to install the Schluter Kerdi system for a great-looking, high-performance shower. Pasta dinner is included with registration, which is $20 for NKBA members, $30 for non-members. Info and registration here.

Industry News

New Home Sales Spike: Sales of new single-family homes jumped 7.4 percent in March over February, and were 6 percent over March 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Part of this can be attributed to the median sales price of a new home falling 1.9 percent in March from February, as mortgage rates held steady in March, with the 30-year rate hovering just under 7 percent. Housing permits also edged up 1.6 percent in March from February, but starts were down 11.4 percent on a monthly basis. More detail here.

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The Impact of Tariffs and Uncertainty on the K&B Sector

Design by Jenni Jacobs. Photo by Regina Mallory Photography.

As of this writing, the news of significant, new tariffs on products from U.S. trading partners — and their potential impact on the American economy, companies and individual consumers — continues to make headlines. The ultimate outcome of this fundamental reshaping of U.S. trade policy is still to be determined. In the meantime, the K&B industry is contending with yet another element of uncertainty, something that tends to adversely affect short-term growth.

Going into 2025, industry pros expressed cautious optimism about a return to gradual growth for the residential kitchen and bath market following two consecutive years of decline. Our NKBA Kitchen & Bath Market Outlook Report projected that U.S. residential kitchen and bath spending would grow by +0.8% to $235 billion in 2025, up $2 billion from last year. 

I mentioned in my State of the Association address at KBIS that we would be keeping our eye on two big unknowns that represent downside risk to our 2025 forecast. The first is what will happen with the so-called “missing middle,” the large group of homeowners who are chomping at the bit to start mid-range renovations but have held off, in large part, because of stubborn borrowing rates. They remain the key to a full recovery in K&B remodels. 

The second unknown is the impact of tariffs and changes to immigration policy. We are still waiting to see how much these factors will change the cost of K&B materials and labor – and how those increases will alter consumer behavior.

We do have some early indications, based on findings in our latest 1Q25 NKBA Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI) report. In short, uncertainty about tariff policy is heavily influencing the K&B industry’s more muted outlook for 2025 – professionals now rate trade issues as their number one concern impacting the industry.

A few important tariff-related insights:

  • Tariff-related concerns and fears of a recession impaired consumer and business confidence in 1Q, diminishing the industry’s ability to plan. 
  • K&B manufacturers’ orders rose +4.4% YOY in 1Q25, due in part to pre-buying by downstream firms anxious about pending tariff-related price increases.
  • Input costs rose significantly in 1Q, adding to inflationary pressures.
    • K&B retail and distribution firms report that their suppliers raised prices by +5.2% YOY in 1Q25, reversing previous progress on kitchen and bath product inflation.
    • Markups in 1Q25 were highest (+7% YOY) for appliances, which have heavy exposure to countries impacted by recent tariff policy shifts.
    • Many firms had no choice but to raise prices in response. Kitchen and bath builder and remodeler pricing grew to +5.2% on average in 1Q25. 
  • Two-thirds of K&B firms (68%) reported that consumers either held steady on product quality or downgraded to lower-grade products in 1Q25, reflecting caution in the planning of kitchen and bath renovations.

The industry expects supply chain disruptions to increase and pricing to continue to drift upward as tariffs re-shuffle the international trade balance.

While NKBA isn’t a lobbying organization, we do have an important role to play in facilitating dialogue and surfacing data and other insights from our members – both here in North America and in other global markets — about how federal policies are affecting the health of our industry. 

To that end, I encourage you to register for our new webinar – airing May 2 at 12 pm (Eastern Time) – featuring the perspective of Nishu Sood, Principal of Research, at John Burns Research & Consulting, about the major macroeconomic events we are all closely following. Among other insights, Nishu believes the glaring headlines about tariff policy changes may be having an inflated impact, and that there’s reason for some optimism that business and consumer sentiment will ultimately improve based on actual experiences.

Nishu’s presentation will be followed by an overview of key findings from the new 1Q25 NKBA Kitchen and Bath Market Index (KBMI) report about K&B consumer and business sentiment.

It’s a volatile period for our industry, which means that now, more than ever, it’s essential to stay informed and connected.

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5 Questions With… Paula Kennedy

Designed by Paula Kennedy, CMKBD.

By Nicholas Tamarin

One of the most active members of NKBA | KBIS, Paula Kennedy, CMKBD, CLIPP, CACC, is an inspirational speaker, designer, writer, creativity guru, educator, coach, and serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in kitchen and bath design. As the founder of Timeless Kitchen Design, she is a passionate leader with numerous awards, including the NKBA Lifetime Ambassador achievement in 2017.  

Kennedy actively contributes to the industry through speaking engagements, teaching, curriculum development, mentoring, and writing, focusing on creativity, innovation, technology, wellness, and inclusive design. Available through December with on-demand access, Kennedy is the host of the Voices from the Industry session “Hydrotherapy to Hydration: Enhancing Home Wellness with Water Solutions,” which delves into the transformative power of water in residential design, exploring the benefits of including whole-home filtration systems, steam, and hot- and cold-water treatments to understand how to integrate these into home environments for optimal wellness. Kennedy is a graduate of the Art Institute of Seattle with a degree in interior design and has been featured in multiple national publications. She told us about her journey to NKBA Certification.

You didn’t begin your career as a designer, how did it come about?

Design is my second career—after spending years in corporate America at Microsoft, I left feeling burnt out and yearning for a more creative life. As a third-generation entrepreneur and someone surrounded by creatives on both sides of the family, it was almost inevitable that I’d eventually follow a similar path—though I was the first to make a professional career out of creativity. 

Looking back, the signs were always there: I had more fun rearranging Barbie furniture than playing with the dolls, and when we went camping, I’d draw house plans in the dirt. I was the kid who eagerly helped my mom decorate every time we moved, and whose bedroom was always ready for a proud display, complete with a pink gingham canopy bed and tidy matching decor.

How did you get into design?

After leaving Microsoft, I enrolled at the Seattle Art Institute and graduated in 1998 with a focus on residential design. My career started at an established kitchen and bath design/build firm, but it was a product rep from Sub-Zero—who hosted my class at their local showroom—who first introduced me to the world of kitchen and bath design and to the NKBA. 

That same rep invited me to a local NKBA Chapter lunch, and I was hooked! I initially thought kitchen and bath work would be a stepping stone to full-service design, but 27 years later, I’m still in love with it. It’s become my area of deep expertise, and only recently have I begun to expand into furnishings for my clients.

What was the NKBA Certification process like for you?

Certification came through community, perseverance, and a lot of studying. I was fortunate to be part of a vibrant NKBA chapter in Seattle and joined a group of designers who were also preparing for the exam. We gathered in a little study room, sharing knowledge and encouragement. This was back when everything was done via a hardcopy binder—you mailed in your assignments for grading! I still have that binder as a reminder of the journey. A Certified member even hosted a mock exam for us. 

I was on the fast track, completing my education hours and hitting the minimum work experience right in time to sit for the exam. Back then, it was an all-day, in-person experience with both written and practical components. It was intense—but I passed on my first try. I’ll never forget the early mentors who shaped my NKBA journey—Jim Kringle, Mary Jo Peterson, Kathleen Donahue—who modeled what it means to give back to the profession. Since then, I’ve had the joy of facilitating local study groups myself. 

Why did you feel the need to be NKBA Certified?

I’ve always been a lifelong learner—it’s part of who I am. My drive to grow personally and professionally stems from a desire to better serve my clients. With so many designers in the Seattle area, I knew I needed to differentiate myself by deepening my expertise and building my credibility. Certification through NKBA was a clear step toward that goal.

How has NKBA Certification helped you as a designer and business owner?

Becoming certified has empowered me to truly stand in my expertise. It’s a credential my clients recognize and respect, giving them confidence in my ability to lead their projects. Beyond client work, the certification has opened doors for me to teach at two local colleges and to speak nationally through NKBA’s Voices of the Industry at KBIS, as well as for NKBA Chapters across the country. 

It’s been a foundational piece of my career as a speaker, educator, and designer. I’ve had the honor of serving on national NKBA committees and contributing to the latest edition of the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Guidelines. Today, I proudly hold the title of NKBA Subject Matter Expert, and I’m deeply committed to giving back to the next generation of designers. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today—professionally or personally—without the support and growth I’ve found through NKBA.

If you’re interested in learning more about benefits and options, check out our NKBA Certification page.

NKBA Website Privacy Notice

This Privacy Notice (the “Privacy Notice”) relates to  National Kitchen and Bath Association (“we”, “us”, “our” or “NKBA”) and can be found at the website NKBA.org website (the “Site”).  We take your privacy very seriously and we ask that you read this Privacy Notice carefully as it contains important information on:

  • Your rights
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  • Who your information might be shared with.

The end of this Privacy Notice contains additional information for residents of California, Canada and the European Union.

Site Terms of Use and Member By-Laws

Your use of the Site is also subject to the Site’s Terms of Use. If you are a member of the NKBA (“Member”), you are also bound by the NKBA By-lawsStandards of Conduct, and Policy Manual.

Changes to the Site and this Privacy Notice

The Site and these all or any portion of these Term of Use policies are subject to change and your use of the Site following any changes means that you accept the revised policies.  If we amend any of these policies, where required by law, we will post the changes at least 30 days before the amendment takes effect. Therefore, please periodically check this page for changes.  We will also notify Account holders (as “Account” is defined in the Site’s Terms of Use) when these policies change by sending an email to the email address the Account holders used to log into their Account; when required by law, such notice will identify new provisions and changes relative to the previous provisions, the effective date of the change, and the fact that you may terminate your Account or membership in the NKBA in lieu of accepting the changes.

If you need extra help

If you would like help reading or understanding this notice (e.g., it is difficult for you to read or understand this Privacy Notice is in its current font size or format), please contact us.

About Us 

The National Kitchen and Bath Association is a non-profit trade group that promotes professionalism in the kitchen and bath industry.

How you can contact us

Please contact us if you have any questions about this Privacy Notice or the information we hold about you.

If you wish to contact us, please:

  • Send an email to DMCA@NKBA.ORG;
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  • If in U.S., call us toll-free at (800) THE-NKBA.

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Please familiarize yourself with the following words and phrases as they have particular meanings in the EU Data Protection Laws and are used throughout this Privacy Notice:

Personal Data

Means any information from which a living individual can be identified.

This will include information such as telephone numbers, names, addresses, e-mail addresses, photographs, voice recordings. It will also include expressions of opinion and indications of intentions about people (and their own expressions of opinion/intentions).

It will also cover information which on its own does not identify someone but which would identify them if put together with other information which we have or are likely to have in the future.

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  • Sexual life; and
  • Genetic data or biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying you.

Process or Processing

This covers virtually anything anyone can do with Personal Data, including:

  • Obtaining, recording, retrieving, consulting or holding it;
  • Organizing, adapting or altering it;
  • Disclosing, disseminating or otherwise making it available; and
  • Aligning, blocking, erasing or destroying it.

What Information Do We Collect?

We collect different information about Members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association than we do non-members of the NKBA.  We also collect information from visitors to our Site including visitors who purchase products from our NKBA store (“Site Visitors”), and the information we collect from Site Visitors may depend on whether the visitor is a Member or non-Member.

Personal information provided by you

We collect and Process personal information about you (including contact information such as your name, address, email addresses, mailing addresses and phone numbers (“your Contact Information”) as follows.

  • When you register as a Member, we use your Contact Information to manage your NKBA membership, log you into the Site, tailor and personalize your experience when using the Site, monitor Site usage to improve our membership services, and notify you of changes to the rules and policies of the NKBA (such as changes to this Privacy Policy, the NKBA’s By-Laws, or the Site’s Terms of Use). We also use your Contact Information to contact you with information about upcoming NKBA events, a service that you may opt out of at any time.  Providing the NKBA with your up to date Contact Information is a condition of membership in the NKBA.
  • If you are a Member or specifically requested a subscription to NKBA’s newsletter, we also use your Contact Information to send you our newsletter, which contains articles, announcements (e.g., NKBA-sponsored or related events) and other items that the NKBA believes may be of interest to its Members. If you are subscribed to the newsletter, as a Member or otherwise, you may unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by clicking the relevant unsubscribe link in the email or by contacting us.
  • Members have the right to post Personal Data to a publicly-accessible page on the Site (“Public Profile Information”). When you opt to display your Contact Information or other Personal Data on your publicly-available profile page on the Site, we store that information for the purpose of allowing Members, Site Visitors, or other third party requesters to find it during a search using the Site’s search functionality (or on occasion with NKBA’s manual assistance), view it in search results, and to view it on your publicly-available profile page.
  • When you purchase products in the NKBA store, we use your Contact Information for billing and shipping purposes and to send you direct marketing information if you have consented to us sending you such information.
  • When you visit the Site, the NKBA may use the IP address or Member identification of Site Visitors to store Site navigation information. See the section regarding cookies below for more information.  We do not collect any Special Categories of Personal Data and will only store it if you provide it as part of your Public Profile Information. If you include any Special Categories of Personal Data in your Public Profile Information, other Members and Site Visitors may view it.

Personal information about other individuals

If you give us information on behalf of someone else, you confirm that the other person has appointed you to act on his/her behalf and has agreed that you can.

Why Do We Process Your Data?

We use your Personal Data for the purposes set forth in the section “Personal information provided by you” and the purposes listed in this section. We are allowed to do so on certain legal bases go to section on “How is Processing Your Personal Data Lawful” which provides more detail on how processing your personal data is lawful.

  1. Monitoring and recording communications

We may record communications with you (such as telephone conversations) for the purpose of training and we will advise you on the call if we are recording the call.

  1. Marketing

We may ask you to confirm whether you would like us and other businesses that we specify to send you marketing messages when you tick the relevant boxes when you register as a Member or when you buy products from us in the NKBA store.

If you have consented to receive marketing from us, you can opt out at any time. See ‘Your Rights’ for further information.

  1. Use of cookies and navigation devices

A cookie is a small text file which is placed onto your computer (or other electronic device) when you use the Site. Browsers are typically set to create cookies automatically. You can choose to have your browser notify you when cookies are being written to your computer or accessed, or you can disable cookies entirely. By not using cookies, some of services on the Site may not function properly. To find out more about cookies, visit http://www.aboutcookies.org/.

We use cookies on our Site. We do this to tailor and personalize Member and Site Visitor experience, for authentication and to provide persistent sessions (e.g., keeping Members logged into their account between sessions by storing a hashed code uniquely identifying the Member), and to log technical problems that occur while Site Visitors are using the Site.   We may also use cookies to monitor and store, on an anonymized, aggregated or statistical basis: date and time of visit to Site, pages visited on the Site, IP address, browser type and version number (e.g., Internet Explorer 11, Google Chrome 55), platform type (e.g., Windows, Macintosh), referring sites (including search engines used), geographic location, Internet service provider (ISP), screen size, device type (desktop, tablet), new or returning, device type (e.g., MacBook Pro, Samsung Galaxy), and temporary session preferences (e.g., text size, color theme). If you are a Member then we may deduce your navigational behavior on our Site for the purposes of understanding what our Members are interested in and how we can upgrade our Site to accommodate those interests.

Tracking

Do Not Track (“DNT”) is a privacy preference that users can set in their web browsers. When a user turns on DNT, the browser sends a message to websites requesting that they don’t track the user. NKBA does not monitor any privacy preferences stored in DNT and will not therefore respond to or action any Do Not Track preferences that you may log in DNT. For more information about DNT, visit www.allaboutdnt.org.

If you are a Member we monitor your use of our Site through our third-party service providers, so we can both improve our Site and alert you to tasks that you may not have completed on the Site, for example failing to complete a job post in the Members section of the Site.

Third parties (including social media platforms) may collect personal information about your online activities over time and across different websites, including your use of the Site. This Privacy Policy does not apply to, and we are not responsible for, the practices of third parties that collect your personal information.

When Will We Delete Your Data?

The table below provides details about how long we will process your Personal Data.

Data we processHow long this will be held for
Your Contact Information and Public Profile Information as a Member The life of your Membership plus 3 years unless you are a certified Member in which we case we retain the information that is necessary to prove you attained certification.We do this in case you decide to rejoin NKBA as a certified Member. If you request us to delete your certification information after you cease to be a certified Member then we will do so but if you want to rejoin you will have to go through the whole recertification process again.
If you purchase products from the NKBA store, your name, address and email address3 years from the date of the purchase

How Is Processing Your Personal Data Lawful?

We are allowed to process your personal data for at least the following reasons and legal basis in accordance with EU Data Protection Law:

Consent

You have given consent, such as opting in.  We only send you unsolicited marketing materials if you have consented and opted in.

Contract

It is necessary for the performance of your Membership contract with us, which includes NKBA’s By-lawsStandards of ConductPolicy Manual and the Site’s Terms of Use. If we do not process your Personal Data then we will not be able to fulfill our obligations to you as a member of NKBA.

It is necessary for the performance of your contract for the purchase of products from the NKBA store; if we do not process your personal data we cannot process your purchase and ship the products to you.

Legitimate interest

Processing your Personal Data is also legal if it is based on our ‘legitimate interests’ for example, we analyze Members’ behavior on our Site to adapt the Site to ensure that we are providing information that is relevant for our Membership and we may send you marketing information about our products and services, To do so, we have considered the impact on your interests and rights, and have placed appropriate safeguards to ensure that we do not intentionally intrude on your privacy more than necessary.

Manifestly public personal data

  • The data has been manifestly made public for example special categories of personal data that you place on the publicly accessible page.

Legal claims

  • We are establishing or defending a legal claim.

How We Keep Your Data Secure

We use technical and organizational measures to safeguard your Personal Data.  For example, we use secure connections on our website when you register as a new Member or buy anything from our NKBA store and provide your Contact Information.  This means that we convert your data into data that makes it harder for hackers to access your Personal Data on our Site (excluding the Personal Data you include in your Public Profile Information).

While we endeavor to use reasonable physical, organizational, technical and administrative procedures to protect to safeguard your Personal Data, no data transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be perfectly secure.  For at least this reason, we cannot guarantee the security or integrity of any Personal Data that is transferred from you or to you via the internet. If you have any particular concerns about your information or have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure, please contact us.

Who Will Have Access To Your Personal Data?

We may disclose your personal data to NKBA’s service providers for the purpose of obtaining their assistance with the Site and managing Member-related data.  Key service providers who may access your Personal Data are:

  • Amazon web services (“AWS”) AWS host the Site and provide us with certain technical support services; and
  • Intercom and Mixpanel provide data analysis services to us to help us tailor the Site for our Site Visitors and Members and provide relevant messaging and marketing to our Site Visitors and Members.

The above service providers are data processors which means they process Your Personal Data on our documented instructions only.

We also share your Personal Data with Shopify who process your payment information when you buy something from the NKBA store. We pass your name, address and payment card information to them. They are a data controller of your Personal Data in their own right as a payment process provider. Please see their web site at https://www.shopify.com/legal/privacy for a copy of their privacy notice.

The NKBA is based in and your Personal Data is primarily stored in the United States.  As such, and to the extent it is lawful, your Personal Data may be disclosed to or accessible by United States federal or state law enforcement.

The NKBA may aggregate and/or anonymize the Personal Data it collects and provide the aggregated and/or anonymized data to third parties for analytic or marketing purposes.

Transfers of your information out of the EEA

  • As NKBA’s primary servers are located in the United States, your Personal Data will be transferred to the United States or another country located outside the European Economic Area, for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.  This transfer is necessary in order for us to manage membership in the NKBA.

Notice To European Union Residents

Definitions

  • NKBA is a “Data Controller” for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016/679 (“”EU Data Protection Laws”).
  • A “data controller” means any person who determines the purposes for which, and the manner in which, any personal data are processed.
  • A “data processor” means any person who processes data on behalf of the data controller.
  • “Information Commissioner” means the UK Information Commissioner who is responsible for implementing, overseeing and enforcing the EU Data Protection Laws.

If you are a data subject for the purposes of the EU Data Protection Law you have the following rights under that law.

  • The right of access to Personal Data relating to you
  • The right to correct any mistakes in your Personal Data
  • If technically feasible, the right to have a copy of your Personal Data ported to you
  • The right to ask us to stop contacting you with direct marketing
  • Rights in relation to automated decision making
  • The right to restrict or prevent your Personal Data being processed
  • If technically feasible, the right to have your Personal Data ported to another Data Controller (e.g. if you decide to contract with a different organization)
  • The right to erasure
  • The right to withdraw consent

These rights are explained in more detail below, but if you have any comments, concerns or complaints about our use of your personal data, please contact info@nkba.org.  We will respond to any rights that you exercise within a month of receiving your request, unless the request is particularly complex, in which case we will respond within three months. Please note that exceptions apply to some of these rights which we will apply in accordance with the law.

Right to access personal data relating to you

You may ask to see what Personal Data we hold about you and be provided with:

  • A copy;
  • Details of the purpose for which it is being or is to be processed;
  • Details of the recipients or classes of recipients to whom it is or may be disclosed, including if they are overseas and what protections are used for those oversea transfers;
  • The period for which it is held (or the criteria we use to determine how long it is held);
  • Any information available about the source of that data; and
  • Whether we carry out an automated decision-making, or profiling, and where we do information about the logic involved and the envisaged outcome or consequences of that decision or profiling.

Requests for your Personal Data must be made to NKBA via GDPR form in writing and a copy will be retained on your file. If and to the extent the Site provides such functionality, you may also be able to obtain a copy of your information via such functionality.

To help us find the information easily, please give us as much information as possible about the type of information you would like to see.

If, to comply with your request, we would have to disclose information relating to or identifying another person, we may need to obtain the consent of that person if possible. If we cannot obtain consent, we may need to withhold that information or edit the data to remove the identity of that person if possible.

There are certain types of Personal Data which we are not obliged to disclose to you, which include personal data which records our intentions in relation to any negotiations with you where disclosure would be likely to prejudice those negotiations.

Right to correct mistakes in your information

You can require us to correct any mistakes in your Personal Data which we hold free of charge. If you would like us to do this, please:

  • Email, call or write to us as described in the section below regarding “How can you contact us?”
  • Let us have enough information to identify you, such as the email you provided if and when you registered as a Member, and
  • Let us know the information that is incorrect and what it should be replaced with.

If you are a Member, you may also be able to correct the mistake by logging into the Site and navigating to the page that lists your Contact Information or Public Profile Information.   If the information is not correctable via the Site, you may correct it as described above.

Right to ask us to stop contacting you with direct marketing

You can ask us to stop contacting you for direct marketing purposes. If you would like to do this, please see the section on “Right to withdraw consent”

Rights in relation to automated decision taking/making

We do not currently carry out any automated decision making.

Right to prevent processing of personal data.

You may request that we stop processing your Personal Data temporarily if:

  • You do not think that your data is accurate. We will start processing again once we have checked whether or not it is accurate;
  • The processing is unlawful but you do not want us to erase your data;
  • We no longer need the Personal Data for our processing, but you need the data to establish, exercise or defend legal claims; or
  • You have objected to Processing because you believe that your interests should override our legitimate interests.

Right to erasure

You can ask us to erase your Personal Data where:

  • You do not believe that we need your data for the purposes set out in this Privacy Notice;
  • You have given us consent to process your data, you have withdrawn that consent and we cannot otherwise legally process your data;
  • You object to our processing and we do not have any legitimate interests that mean we can continue to process your data; or
  • Your data has been processed unlawfully or has not been erased when it should have been.Copies of your personal data (Data portability)You may ask for an electronic copy of your personal data which we hold electronically and which we process when we have entered into a contract with you. You can also ask us to provide this directly to another party.

Right to withdraw consent

You have the right to withdraw consent you have given us at any point. This is a vital and necessary aspect of consent, and we are aware that you may wish to withdraw consent at any time.  The following table lists the various ways in which you may withdraw your consent.

Purpose for which consent was obtained from you:How you have given your consent:How you can withdraw consent
To receive direct marketing by e mailTick box on the NKBA siteGo to notifications

What will happen if your rights are breached?

Depending on the applicable jurisdiction, you may be entitled to compensation for damage in the event your right of privacy is breached. By way of example, if you are a resident of the EU, you may be entitled to compensation for damage caused by contravention of the Data Protection Laws.

Complaints to the regulator

It is important you read this Privacy Notice – and if you do not think that we have processed your data in accordance with this notice – you should let us know as soon as possible. Similarly, if you are a resident of the European Union you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, in which case information about how to do this is available on the website at www.ico.org.uk.

Notice to California Residents

Under California law, California residents may request a list of all third parties to which we have disclosed certain personal information (as defined by California law) during the preceding year for those third parties’ direct marketing purposes. If you are a California resident and would like to receive such a list, please contact us at the mailing address listed in the “Contact” section of the Site.  For any such request, include the statement “California Privacy Rights” in the body of your request, as well as your name, street address, city, state, and zip code. Please provide enough information for us to determine if this applies to you. You must also attest to the fact that you are a California resident and provide a current California address for our response. Please note that we will not accept requests via the telephone, email, or by facsimile, and we are not responsible for notices that are not labeled or sent properly or that do not have complete information.

Notice to Canadian Residents

In certain Canadian jurisdictions you may have the right to request access to any of your personal information that we hold about you. You may withdraw consent to our further use of your personal information subject to legal and contractual restrictions at any time. To enquire about your right to request access or to withdraw consent please contact NKBA’s privacy officer at privacy@NKBA.org.

NKBA Terms of Use

The following terms (“Terms of Use”), along with any other Policies that may apply to you as a Member of the NKBA or visitor of the NKBA.org website, govern your use of the NKBA.org website, including all content, features, services and web software found or used via the NKBA.org website.

Changes to These Terms of Use

The Site and all or any portion of these Term of Use are subject to change and your use of the Site following any changes means that you accept the revised policies.  If we amend any of the policies, where required by law, we will post the changes at least 30 days before the amendment takes effect. Therefore, please periodically check this page for changes.  We will also notify Account holders when these policies change by sending an email, to the email address they use to log into their Account, that identifies new provisions and changes relative to the previous provisions, the effective date of the change, and the fact that you may terminate your Account (or NKBA membership) in lieu of accepting the changes.

If you have any questions regarding these Terms of Use or our other policies, please feel free to contact us at info@nkba.org.

Definitions

In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in these Term of Use, the following terms have the following meanings for the purposes of these Terms of Use.

“Member” means a member of the NKBA.

“NKBA”, “we”, “us”, “our” and the like, refer collectively and individually to the National Kitchen and Bath Association and its service providers.

“Policies” means these Terms of Use, NKBA’s Privacy Policy and, if you are a Member, NKBA’s By-laws and Standards of Conduct.

“Site” refers to the NKBA.org website, including the content, features, services and web software provided via the Site.

Accounts

In order to access some of the features of the Site, you have to have to create an account (an “Account”) using a temporary password provided to you by NKBA.  By setting up an Account and using Account-related services, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age and able to form legally binding contracts under applicable law.  Accounts are not intended for use by minors.  As of the Effective Date of these policies (listed below), Accounts are only available to Members and subscribers to NKBA’s Knowledge Base.

When you create your Account, you will be required to provide personally-identifiable information, including your name and how we can reach you in connection with NKBA matters (e.g., an email address, mailing address and phone number that you used for communications of a commercial nature). You represent and warrant to NKBA that all information you submit when you create your Account is accurate and complete, and that you will keep such information up to date.  You are solely responsible for the activity that occurs on your Account, whether authorized by you or not, so you must keep your Account information secure, including without limitation your Account ID (which may be an email address), password, and where applicable, payment method(s).  You must notify NKBA immediately of any breach of security or unauthorized use of your Account. NKBA is not liable for any loss you incur due to any unauthorized use of your Account.

NKBA shall have the right to suspend or terminate your Account for any violations of these Terms of Use or other applicable policies, including NKBA’s privacy policy.

Your Content

For the purposes of these policies, “Your Content” means any content (including text, photographs, videos, three-dimensional models, sound files, or any other audio, visual or tactile information) that you or someone on the your behalf submits to the NKBA for the purposes of making the content accessible to visitors of the Site.  If you are a Member, “Your Content” automatically includes any content that is posted on your publicly-accessible page on the Site or consulting/employment opportunities you post to Site using your Account ID and password.

You retain all of your ownership rights in Your Content.

By submitting Your Content to NKBA, you agree to grant and hereby do grant to the NKBA the non-exclusive, royalty-free, world-wide right to use, reproduce, distribute, perform, and display Your Content without any accounting, royalty or any other obligation owed to you, and waive any applicable moral rights in favor of NKBA, its designees and sublicensees, all to the maximum extent permitted by law; provided, however,  these Terms or Use do not grant the NKBA the right to reproduce or distribute Your Content for the purpose of promoting third party products or services without your consent.

To the extent Your Content contains imagery such as photos or videos, the software used to maintain and display Your Content may automatically resize, crop or adjust the color of your Content, and may modify the meta-data or image data itself to identify the NKBA and/or the URL of the Member’s profile page on the Site.

You may remove Your Content from the Site in your sole discretion.  When you remove Your Content, it may take a commercially reasonable amount of time for the deletion to take effect.  NKBA may continue to retain a copy of Your Content for archival purposes until it is no longer required to be retained for NKBA’s reasonable business purposes.  NKBA is not obligated to remove Your Content from other data with which it has been aggregated for analytical purposes and not readily excised.

You represent and warrant that you own all necessary right, title and interest in Your Content.  You also represent and warrant that the reproduction, distribution, display, and performance of Your Content on the Site, and the use of Your Content by NKBA consistent with these policies, by NKBA, its successors, assigns or sublicensees does not violate any applicable law or the rights of any entity (e.g., arising out of statutes, regulations, contracts or common law) including, by way of example only, intellectual property law (e.g., copyright or trade secrets) or the privacy rights of any entity or person.    Lawful or not, your Content must not include any (a) harassing, defamatory, libelous, threatening or demeaning content, (b) content that is discriminatory or offensive based on race, gender, religious belief, disability or sexual orientation, or ethnicity, (c) content promoting damage or injury to any person or property, (b) nudity or obscenities, (c) personally-identifiable information of anyone other than you, or (d) viruses, Trojan horses or the like, or information intended to disrupt operation of the Site or the NKBA, or (e) information that you know or have reason to know is inaccurate, misleading or deceptive.

This policy does not obligate NKBA to display Your Content on the Site.  NKBA may remove any or all of Your Content from the Site at any time without prior notice and in its sole discretion.  Although it is not obligated to do so, NKBA will typically remove a Member’s content after their membership expires.

Our Content

NKBA’s and its vendors’ names and logos displayed on the Site constitute trademarks, trade names, service marks or logos owned by or licensed to NKBA and its vendors and ownership thereof and goodwill associated therewith remains with NKBA, its vendors or their respective licensors, as applicable.

Subject to your compliance with these policies, you may access, view and display the Site on equipment under your sole possession and control.  You may not include or embed any portion of the Site in any advertising, other websites or any other content without NKBA’s permission. You may not modify, adapt, create derivative works based on, distribute, sell, transfer, lease, decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, or remove any proprietary notices or labels from, any portion of the Site, and you must use the Site in accordance with applicable law.

If you submit suggestions for changes to the Site to NKBA, you grant to NKBA an irrevocable, transferable, royalty-free, worldwide and perpetual right to implement and use such suggestions in connection with the Site and waive any applicable moral rights in favor of NKBA.

Links to Other Websites

This Site may include links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by the National Kitchen and Bath Association.  By way of example, Members may post links to other websites on their profile pages.

NKBA does not endorse the products, services, or views expressed in linked websites or warrant the accuracy of any of the information on them, and we cannot control the content on these sites. In addition, these other sites have their own privacy policies and terms of use, which may differ from the privacy policy and terms of use of NKBA.   NKBA is not liable or responsible for any damage or liability you may incur arising out of the use of websites to which the Site links but is not under the ownership or control of the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act

If you are a copyright owner or an agent thereof and believe that any content infringes upon your copyrights, you may submit a notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) by providing our DMCA agent with the following information in writing (see 17 U.S.C 512(c)(3) for further detail):

(a) A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;

(b) Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site;

(c) Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled and information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to locate the material;

(d) Information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to contact you, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail;

(e) A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and

(f) A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

You may direct copyright infringement notifications to our DMCA agent.

If Your Content is removed based on a copyright infringement notification submitted to our DMCA agent, we will notify you promptly using the email address you provided with your Account. If you believe Your Content was improperly removed based on the assertion that it infringes the copyright rights of another, please contact our DMCA agent for instructions on how to submit a counter notification (see 17 U.S.C 512(c)(3) for further detail). A successful counter notification will cause your removed Content to be reposted in 10-14 days.

Please also be advised that if our DMCA agent receives more than one copyright infringement notification as a result of content posted to your Account, and no counter notification is submitted, we will send you a warning using the email address you provided with your Account. If a successful counter notification is still not submitted, any subsequent notification we receive as a result of content posted to your Account may result in termination of your Account.

You may contact our DMCA agent by email at DMCA@NKBA.ORG or by mail at Attention: DMCA Agent, The National Kitchen and Bath Association, 1 West Broad Street, Suite 300, Bethlehem, PA 18018.

Disclaimer

You understand that when using the Site, you will be exposed to content from a variety of sources, and that NKBA is not responsible for the accuracy, usefulness, safety, or intellectual property rights of or relating to such content.

You should always seek the advice of qualified professionals that are knowledgeable about the federal, state, provisional/territorial or local requirements of any construction project or other endeavor you undertake.  The content of the Site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or certified advice of any kind.  Product and service recommendations and any other opinions appearing on a Member’s profile page are the Member’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of NKBA.

Children under 13 or 18

The Site is not intended for children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13.  If you are under 13 years of age, then please do not use the Site.  If you are under age of 18, you should use this website with the involvement of your parent or guardian and you should not submit any personal information to us.

Limitation of Liability

Reliance on any information appearing on the Site, whether provided by NKBA, its Members, Account holders, visitors to the Site or others, is solely at your own risk. In using the Site, you agree that neither NKBA nor any other party will be liable or otherwise responsible for any decision made or action taken or not taken due to your use of information presented through the Site or Services.

THE SITE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”.  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NKBA DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE SITE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL NKBA BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF NKBA HAS BEEN EXPRESSLY ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ANY USE OF THE SITE OR ANY WEBSITE TO WHICH THE SITE LINKS, INCLUDING DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY (A) ERRORS, MISTAKES, OR INACCURACIES OF INFORMATION PROVIDED OR MAINTAINED BY THE SITE, (B) PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER, (C) INTERRUPTION OR CESSATION OF THE SITE’S OPERATION, OR (D) ANY BUGS, VIRUSES, TROJAN HORSES, OR THE LIKE, WHICH MAY BE TRANSMITTED TO OR THROUGH OUR SITE BY ANY THIRD PARTY.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF NKBA FOR ANY DAMAGES EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the limitation or exclusion of liability for direct, incidental or consequential damages. Accordingly, some of the above limitations and disclaimers may not apply to you. To the extent that NKBA may not, as a matter of applicable law, disclaim any implied warranty or limit its liabilities, the scope and duration of such warranty and the extent of NKBA’s liability will be limited to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Indemnity

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless NKBA, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees) arising from: (a) your use of and access to the Site; (b) your violation of any term of these policies; (c) your violation of any third party right, including without limitation any copyright, property, or privacy right; or (d) any claim that Your Content caused damage to a third party. This defense and indemnification obligation will survive termination of these policies, the termination of your membership in the NKBA (if you are a Member) and your cessation of use of the Site.

Applicable Law

The Site is intended to comply with the laws and regulations of the United States and Canada and, as set forth in the Privacy Policy, EU Data Protection Laws.  The Site is intended for use only by residents of the United States, Canada and the European Union. Other countries may have laws and regulatory requirements that differ from those of the United States and Canada, and the EU Data Protection Laws, and the Site is not intended to subject us to such laws, requirements or practices.

To the extent not prohibited by applicable law (e.g., the laws of Quebec or the European Data Protection Laws): these policies are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, as such laws apply to contracts between New Jersey residents entered into and performed entirely in New Jersey, notwithstanding your place of residency or New Jersey conflicts of law provisions; you agree that the Site shall be deemed a passive website that does not give rise to personal jurisdiction over NKBA, either specific or general, in jurisdictions other than New Jersey; and Any claim or dispute between you and NKBA that arises in whole or in part from the Site shall be decided exclusively by a court of competent jurisdiction located in Newark, New Jersey.

If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be invalid or unenforceable, it will be enforced to the extent permissible and, to the extent invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be deemed modified to the most limited extent necessary to be valid and enforceable, in accordance with applicable law, while still as fully as possible carrying out the intent of the original provision, and the remainder of these Terms of Use will remain in full force and effect.

Miscellaneous

These Terms of Use, along with the privacy policy and any other policies that may apply to you as a Member of the NKBA, subscriber to the NKBA Knowledge Base or visitor of the NKBA.org website, constitute the entire agreement between you and NKBA with respect to, and supersedes any previous oral or written communications or documents concerning, the subject matter of these policies. NKBA’s failure to assert any right or provision under these policies shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

These policies, and any rights and licenses granted hereunder, may not be transferred or assigned by you, but may be assigned by NKBA without restriction.

Use of the terms “including”, “for example” and the like in these policies means “including, by way of example and not limitation”.

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If you have any questions or concerns about your information or require assistance in managing your choices, contact NKBA at privacy@NKBA.org.

Effective Date: July 31, 2018

You Can Make a Difference

Volunteering is a passion and the kitchen and bath industry is lucky to have such engaging members who want to give back to their professional community. There are several ways to do this as highlighted below – through volunteering at a National level, chapter level or pursuing additional NKBA volunteer opportunities. Please review each in detail and see which volunteer opportunity works for you!

The panel of K&B industry professionals at Low Impact is a Good Thing: The Latest Initiatives in Low-Carbon Design on KBIS NextSTAGE at KBIS 2024. Image courtesy of Emerald/KBIS.

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.
Elizabeth Andrew

Standards of Conduct

For Members

In order to maintain the dignity of our profession, to assure public confidence in our industry, and to render proper service to individuals and the public, it is the duty of the owners, executives, and employees of each member firm of the National Kitchen & Bath Association to:

  • Conduct all work and business affairs with fairness to all concerned, fidelity to clients and suppliers, and devotion to high ideals of personal honor;
  • Accept compensation for a particular service or in particular business dealings from one source only, except with the full knowledge and consent of all interested persons;
  • Make no false or misleading statements to the public, to employers, to employees, or to those with whom we maintain business relationships;
  • Disclose all interest charges, carrying charges, and fees, and to uphold all laws and regulations pertaining to the business and professional activity;
  • Assist the client in understanding and obtaining the full measure of the services and rights expressed or implied in contracts, agreements, or warranties;
  • Conduct all business activity without prejudice as to an individual’s age, gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, handicap, disability that cannot be reasonably accommodated, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, liability for service in the armed forces or other protected trait or class;
  • Refrain from using unfair means to win professional advancement disseminating any malicious information concerning any person or firm; or using improper or questionable methods of soliciting professional work or sales; and
  • Cooperate in advancing the kitchen and bathroom industry by voluntarily exchanging information and experience with fellow members and by contributing to the work of educational groups, schools, and public and trade press, without disclosing confidential matters.

These Standards of Conduct have been adopted to promote and maintain the highest standards of business conduct and professional service among the members of the NKBA. Adherence to these Standards of Conduct is required for membership in the Association and serves to assure public confidence in the integrity and service of its members.

For Certified Members

In order to maintain the dignity of our profession, assure public confidence in our industry, and render proper service to individuals and the public, it is the duty of each certified member to observe this Code of Professional Conduct.

The Certified Member Shall:

  • Observe the highest standards of personal and professional conduct when dealing with clients.
  • Pledge full support in upholding forthright business practices and maintaining a firm opposition to all unethical business practices.
  • Clearly determine and define the entire project, services, and terms of agreement in writing.
  • Continually strive for knowledge of applicable laws, building codes, statutes and ordinances, permit procedures and such rules and practices as required by communities, state/provinces in which he/she operates, and agrees to be bound by their laws and all other regulations controlling the industry.
  • Strive to attain increased knowledge and skill through continuing education in kitchen or bathroom design, construction systems, business management, etc.
  • Compete with others on an honorable and fair basis; not misrepresent services rendered by themselves or others not criticize the works of others, except on the basis of well-founded knowledge and fact.
  • Show evidence or proof of ability to interpret architectural instructions from plans, drawings and specifications made under accepted architectural practices, as standardized by recognized professional groups.
  • Adhere to a strict observance of all laws relative to the conduct of business, and shall not engage in any exploitation of clients, the Association, industry or profession, nor shall the member mislead the public through false advertising.
  • Cooperate in every reasonable way with competitors and the NKBA for the betterment of the industry.
  • Strictly adhere to the rules, laws, procedures and customs as set forth by the Board of Directors.

NKBA certified members shall adhere to this Code of Professional Conduct and shall, at the time of certification and annual renewal, attest to this Code.

May 2025

Message from the Chapters Team

Dear Chapter Officers,

Happy May! We hope you are having a successful spring season! Our big news for the month is Chapter elections. Self-nominations will open in mid-May for President, Programs Chair, and Communications Chair. 

One very important change to elections this year: Programs Chair position will be a one-year term in 2026, serving January 1 through December 31, 2026, with a two-year term election for 2027-28. This change will shift Programs Chair elections to an alternate cycle from Presidents. Our Chapter Presidents, Chapter Leadership Committee, and NKBA Chapters team all agree that this is necessary. We will discuss this shift on our monthly Zoom calls this month, or feel free to reach out with questions in the meantime. 

Thank you again to our awesome Chapter Officers and to your Recruitment Committees who will help identify candidates throughout the year.  NKBA will send an email inviting all active members (except students) to submit a self-nomination form by July 31. The Chapters team is ready to assist with ballots and all other questions as Chapters hold elections in August. Please remember as you consider candidates for the five positions: Chapter Officers are eligible to serve up to four consecutive full calendar years before rotating off council for one year. 

VFTI 2026 call for submissions will be out soon with a deadline of June 30. VFTI program speakers will be notified by August 31, 2025 for VFTI at KBIS 2026, to be held in Orlando, February 17-19, 2026. (Mark your calendars for Leader2Leader on February 16!)

NKBA K&B Designer members are invited to apply for an exclusive grant sponsored by Fabuwood – the 2025-2026 Certified Designer Grant Program. Twenty designers will be selected to earn CKBD certification. Applications are open now through May 31. Thank you again to our NKBA Chapters Platinum Sponsor Fabuwood for supporting NKBA K&B designers and making goals a reality!

NKBA Student members are encouraged to apply for the annual NKBA | KBIS Ellen Cheever Award. This exclusive award package includes complimentary access to one of our NKBA Specialty Badge programs, a free copy of the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines, and free access to our Knowledge Base information platform. Students are invited to apply via this link through May 16

We are thrilled to share the great news that all 2025 Initiative Grants submitted were approved by the Chapter Leadership Committee! Many of the Chapter initiatives for 2025 focused on promoting the importance of certification; engaging students with mentor programs and networking opportunities; and getting involved with our Skilled Labor Workforce program. We continue to be inspired by your initiatives and leadership!

This week, we are excited to be in Orlando at Coverings with our Florida Chapters. Thank you again to Central Florida; South Florida; Florida Treasure Coast; North Florida and other NKBA Chapters and members for celebrating design, spreading the K&B word, and welcoming new prospective NKBA members through your booth at the show! We were delighted to enjoy an NKBA exclusive event with UMI in Orlando. Kudos to our Central Florida Chapter Officers and UMI for hosting this fantastic event! 

Another exciting event bringing Chapters together is the Chicago Mid West and Indiana State Chapters’ road trip next week to Kohler, WI. Chapter members will enjoy an exclusive tour and firsthand look at Kohler’s innovative products and cutting-edge technologies. What a great opportunity for two fantastic Chapters to engage and connect!

Congratulations to the Metro New York Chapter and their sold-out fundraising event for PAWS for WAR. Metro New York Chapter attracted media attention and raised over $4,000 that went directly to the organization, whose mission is to bring together veterans, first responders and rescued animals, creating unbreakable bonds that foster healing and mutual understanding. Kudos to Metro New York for this fantastic event – and another one on the horizon, with Casino Night just weeks away! 

Cheers again to all 70 NKBA Chapters across the U.S. and Canada – we look forward to working with you in all your initiatives!

Kelly

Kelly Buchsbaum

Director, Chapters & Learning

kbuchsbaum@nkba.org 

May 2025

Chapter Officer Update

Thank you to our Partners:

We hope you are having a successful spring season! Our big news for the month is Chapter elections. Self-nominations will open in mid-May for President, Programs Chair, and Communications Chair.

View Full Message from National →

Important Dates

May 13 Presidents monthly call – 4 PM EST

May 20Programs Chair monthly call – 3 PM EST

May 20 – Communications Chair monthly call – 4 PM EST

May 21 – Membership Chair monthly call – 3 PM EST

May 21Secretary/Treasurer monthly call – 4 PM EST

May 31 – Fabuwood Certified Designer Grant Program applications due

Chapters

NKBA’s Chapters Team is here for you – reach out to us via email or call 610-988-6035.

Kelly Buchsbaum, Director, Chapters & Learning

kbuchsbaum@nkba.org 

Kristin Shechter, Chapter Engagement Manager

kshechter@nkba.org 

Elizabeth Mace, Chapter Engagement Specialist

emace@nkba.org

General info, meeting notices, and roster requests:

chapters@nkba.org

Research

Friday, May 2 | 12 PM EDT

The market is shifting — are you ready?  Join NKBA’s Tricia Zach, along with JBREC’s Nishu Sood and Elizabeth La Jeunesse, tomorrow, Friday, May 2, for a one-hour webinar, as they explore the latest economic trends through the lens of the Q1 2025 KBMI. Learn how new tariffs, rising costs, labor shortages, and shifting consumer confidence could impact your business. Don’t miss these insights to power your 2025 planning! Register here.

We’re putting the final touches on the Q1 2025 Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI), packed with the latest data on industry trends, business conditions, and member sentiment.  

The full report will be available to NKBA members on nkba.org/research immediately following the webinar on Friday, May 2. 

Invitations to the 2025 Kitchen Trends Survey were emailed this week! Your participation is critical to the success of one of NKBA’s key design studies. The 2025 Kitchen Trends Report will provide a comprehensive look at the next three years in kitchen design, forecasting styles, colors, products, materials, and finishes. Your insights help shape the future of our industry — we hope you’ll lend your voice!

If you are not yet a member of the Kitchen & Bath Pro Hub, you should be! Connect with peers, access exclusive research, and earn rewards — all for free!
Register now.

Marketing

VFTI sessions are now available on demand. Click here to register.

NKBA presents the following Design + Business Webinars in May with registration links below. Webinars begin at 12 PM ET with 0.1 CEU per webinar.

May 6  | NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Physiology of Lighting

May 7  | NKBA | KBIS Webinar 
Streamlined Lighting

May 14  | NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Mastering the New Kitchen & Bath Guidelines

May 20 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar 
LED and Light Saber

May 28 | NKBA | KBIS Webinar
Introduction to Integrated Lighting Design

Students & Educators

A brand-new on-demand webinar is now available, featuring an exclusive interview with 2024 NKBA | KBIS Educator of the Year, Robin Rigby Fisher, CMKBD. In this engaging conversation, Robin shares her career journey, teaching philosophy, and passion for mentoring the next generation of kitchen and bath professionals. If you enjoy connecting with students, or ever thought about breaking into teaching, this webinar is for you! Click here to watch.

NKBA Student Members have the option to enter the kitchen competition, the bath competition, or both, crafting their designs around client requests and provided plans. Winning this prestigious competition enhances industry visibility and provides invaluable publicity and networking opportunities. Entry is FREE and the deadline to enter is June 6, 2025. Visit the competition webpage for more information.

Students are encouraged to apply for the annual NKBA | KBIS Ellen Cheever Award. This exclusive award package includes complimentary access to one of our NKBA Specialty Badge programs, a free copy of the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines, and free access to our Knowledge Base information platform. Students are invited to apply via this link through May 16.

Professional Development

Gain CEU credits in May via NKBA’s Design + Business Webinars.

CONGRATULATIONS to our newest NKBA Certified and Specialty Badge earners! 

Gudrun Enger, Studio Gudrun, Remodeling, Northern California

Jeremy Page, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Utah Valley, Cabinetry, Mountain States

Terrica Dorsett, TD Designs, Sales & Marketing, Central Florida

Christine Kozicki, Fresh Start Design, Remodeling, Wisconsin/Upper Michigan

Kianna Patrick, Gwinnett Technical College, Floor Plans & Specification, Georgia

Hayden Bolin, Tracy’s Custom Home Designs, Floor Plans & Specifications, Texas North Plains

Naomi Venema, Cabinet Joint, Cabinetry, Chicago Mid-West

Gabriel Mendoza Hercules, Mavis Designs LLC, Appliance, Rocky Mountain

David Hanna, Kindly Craftsman, Remodeling, Northern New Jersey

Hayden Bolin, Tracy’s Custom Home Designs, Cabinetry. Texas North Plains

Alexander Gagliardi, Home Depot, Appliance, Georgia

Tyler Williams, Home Depot, Floor Plan & Specifications, Mountain States

Andrew Salerno, Amalfi Home, Floor Plans & Specifications, Mid-Atlantic

Jessica Figueroa, Floor Plans & Specifications, Northern New Jersey

Stephanie Trannel, Red House Remodeling, Sustainability, Iowa

Srephanie Jarol, Cabinets Plus Inc, Remodeling, Chicago Mid-West

Rain Reinbolt, Chief Architect, Color, Palouse

Dave Schwartz, PAS Decorative Sales, Sales & Marketing, Northern New Jersey

Lauren Simone, Studio bSimone, Cabinetry, Manhatten  

Dana Loy, Home Depot, Sustainability, Chicago Mid West,

William Adams, William Adams Design, Remodeling, Northern California

Heather Van Woert, Sticks & Stones, Appliance, New York Tri-State

Allison Greenhaw, Reece Bath + Kitchen, Floor Plans & Specifications. Texas North Plans

Siobhan Elyse, Home Depot, Floor Plans & Specifications, Susquehanna Valley

Ryan Howe, Home Depot, Color, Tennessee

Yulia Ferguson, Home Depot, Cabinetry, Oklahoma

Member
Relations

New Members are vital to the success of NKBA and our Chapters. Please send prospective members to membership@nkba.org and we will send detailed information on member benefits, membership cost, certification, badges and more.

Please reach out to Gerri Klein (gklein@nkba.org) with any NKBA membership structure questions.

NKBA Membership Signup. Please share this link. If anyone needs a hard copy of the application, please email info@nkba.org.

Please encourage your members to communicate any changes directly to info@nkba.org and the team will be happy to help!

NKBA’s Member Relations team is always available to assist our Members and Chapters. Contact Gerri Klein, Sr Manager, Member Relations at 610-988-6030 or email info@nkba.org. Also part of the Member Relations team are: Kevin and Aislinn who look forward to working with our Chapters!

2025 National Committees

NKBA has several national committees that offer our passionate and dedicated members who want to give back to the association and industry an opportunity to volunteer. To learn more about each committee, and who are currently on these committees, click below!

The Leadership Recruitment Committee identifies and screens potential candidates to fill open positions on the Board of Directors and other committees as directed by the Board. The Leadership Recruitment Committee will then present a recommended slate for vote by the Board.

Basil Larkin, 2025 LRC Chair

Basil Larkin is the Vice President of Sales for Sub-Zero Group West.  As a seasoned senior sales executive, he began his career in major appliance sales in the mid-90s after attending the University of Massachusetts. Larkin joined BSH Home Appliances as their zone sales manager for the Southwest, advanced to become sales manager for Bosch Home Appliances, and later went on to hold the roles of vice president of sales for Viking Range Corporation and vice president of sales and marketing for Lynx Professional Grills. Bringing three decades of luxury major appliance market experience, Basil has built a career as an executive focused on sales and marketing management, product development/launch, brand building, and business planning. He has been instrumental in influencing the home appliance industry in both the US and Canadian markets over the past few decades. With close connections within the industry, Basil has also helped lead the design community as past chair of the National Board of Directors for the NKBA and now holds a chair position for 2025 with the Leadership Recruitment Committee for the NKBA. 

Dr. Elmar Stumpf

Elmar received a Diploma Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hannover in Germany as well as a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. During his doctorate degree at the University of Hohenheim in Germany he developed a product suitable for specific customers’ needs.

Afterwards he worked for more than 13 years for BSH Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances Group – for more than 6 of these years, in the Chinese subsidiary of the company. His last assignment was leading a regional product division. One of his tasks was the successful introduction of a new product category into the Chinese market. Among others, his responsibilities included marketing and sales topics, elaboration of a suitable product range as well as the set-up of operational units including planning and putting a large factory into operation. During this time he worked extensively with Chinese colleagues as well as with various project partner organizations.

After returning to Germany he was working for nobilia, the European market leader for built-in kitchen for appr. 3 years. In this family-owned company he was responsible for the worldwide company strategy, the innovation, the technical expansion, as well as M&A activities.

In addition to China, he has distinct working experiences in South-East Asia, Latin America, Africa and Oceania where he built-up and established companies with local partner organizations, among others.

He works very closely with diverse industrial associations: for many years he was member of the working group China advisory aboard of the Association for Modern Kitchen (AMK). Moreover, he is the European Lead Consultant of the North American Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and elaborates market studies for different industry associations. He is also the Founding President of the China Network Baden-Württemberg, does management coaching and conducts seminars as well as regular presentations and lectures at universities.

James Brodsky

As founder and CEO of Sharp Think, James keeps the show on the road by ensuring the agency’s ongoing growth and expansion across the country. With his laser-like focus on the advancement of Sharp, Jim maintains critical relationships with clients, media heavyweights, and industry influencers. A graduate from Brown University in 1990, he began his career at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising where he cut his teeth developing numerous ad campaigns for leading packaged goods brands. He eventually moved to the PR side and created award-winning programs in the fashion lifestyle categories before starting Sharp in 2000. Jim steered the agency to specialize in several passion-point categories including: architecture & design; building & construction; home furnishings; consumer lifestyle; arts & culture; and health & wellness. Jim is often asked to share his opinions, predictions, and insights at industry talks, trade shows, forums, and thought leadership events. Jim’s original mission for Sharp (coined after his middle name and his mother’s maiden name) was to promote best-in-class brands and help them engage with qualified and passionate target audiences. It is a mission that still holds true today.

Kristen Elder

Kristen Elder serves as Vice President & General Manager – Consumer Channel for Kitchen & Bath North America, Kohler Co. In this role, she is responsible for Kohler’s direct-to-consumer business, inclusive of Kohler stores, Kohler.com, and omnichannel capabilities and services across channels.

Kristen is an accomplished consumer product sales and marketing executive with proven results in launching and growing top consumer and retail brands, and driving a best-in-class consumer experience.

Previous to joining Kohler in 2025, Kristen was the Vice President of Showrooms, Residential Builder & Digital Commerce at Ferguson Enterprises, responsible for go-to-market strategy across all channels for the building and remodel market and overall performance across 250+ showrooms.

Before joining Ferguson in 2017, Kristen spent 20 years in the retail industry with many notable brands including Sony Electronics, Circuit City and Monark Premium Appliance Co. Kristen has completed professional development leadership courses at Harvard, UNC, and abroad in Tokyo, Japan with Sony.

Veronika Miller

Veronika Miller is CEO and Founder of the Designhounds Influencer Network and managing director of M2 Consulting Group, Veronika’s mission is to help brands define actionable goals and build creative campaigns and programs digitally and in real life that connect and engage influencers, buyers and brands in the interiors and kitchen & bath industries. 

After the economic crash in 2009 and with strong backgrounds in both, marketing and interior- and kitchen + bath design, Veronika launched Modenus.com an online marketing and networking platform for residential designers and brands which very quickly became a close media partner to numerous trade shows and trade associations including KBIS and the NKBA.

Over the next decade, the company developed some of the most visible programs in the North American design industry including the Designhounds Influencer Network, The Design Milk X Modenus Talks Lounge, Design Uncut webcast platform and custom campaigns for leading brands including the DXV Design Panel for American Standard. 

M2 Connect LLC encompasses three brands: The Designhounds Influencer Network including Designhounds Events and the Designhounds Talks Webcasts;  The M2 Consulting Group, a team of industry experts focused on business development for brands and associations that acts as lead on NKBA’s international development program, Global Connect; DesignTrail App (launching in fall 2024), a digital lead management and communication application for buyers and sellers.