The exposure afforded by a solid NKBA profile and professional development are key to helping Danielle Burger’s business grow. By Loren Kessell
In an industry where beautiful designs are abundant, establishing brand visibility is important. The NKBA’s new website aims to enhance its members’ online presence to attract more page views — which in turn leads to new clients and more business.
Danielle Burger, CKBD, owner of Kitchen Vitality Design, took time to chat with the NKBA about her experiences and reaping the benefits of membership and a robust profile.
Burger has been a member since 2014, and recently, she was recognized as a Professional Remodeler Forty Under 40 recipient. She is also a judge for NKBA’s Student Design Competition, and she served as the 2017 VP of Professional Development for the NKBA Chicago Midwest Chapter before moving to Charlotte, N.C.
NKBA: What do you consider to be the best benefits of your membership?
DB: The education and certification program is amazing. After completing the prep classes and passing the AKBD and CKBD exams, I feel more prepared in my knowledge and understanding of spaces and drawings (even though I had been working on projects for a decade before). Also, I have been a member of other organizations and have found that NKBA members are so welcoming. They love to share information about business and design with other professionals in the organization. Members are very forthcoming and not competitive. I love the camaraderie of NKBA!
NKBA: Was it easy to complete your profile? Why?
DB: Yes, the new interface is very easy to set up. I’ve done my profiles for LinkedIn, Houzz and Instagram. It was similar and made sense. It’s easy to load pictures and update your profile. It took me less than 15 minutes!
NKBA: Have you had any comments about your profile?
DB: Yes. Someone called me and said she was impressed with my NKBA profile. It didn’t lead to a project because it was outside of the scope of work I offer (she mainly wanted to replace fixtures and do some decor). However, I was happy to chat and lead her in the right direction.
NKBA: How has your chapter benefited you? Did attending meetings help you make professional connections? What have you learned at chapter presentations?
DB: When I joined the Chicago Midwest Chapter, I received so much support and encouragement from the board to get my certification. I started attending more CEU events and learning more about products and meeting new vendors. The networking at meetings is not only fun but so crucial to better business. When I first started attending NKBA meetings, I built business relationships and slowly grew with my team of vendors and installers. I am currently doing the same networking in Charlotte. I really like the ventilation presentations. Learning more helps me communicate the importance of it in kitchens and bathrooms, despite [ventilation] being the most neglected feature by the homeowner.
NKBA: What’s special about KBIS?
DB: I love the energy of KBIS. It’s great to see other professionals excited to show and see new product. I think attending keeps industry leaders ahead of the rest.
