By Loren Kessell

Just as a solid house starts on a good footing, the core of NKBA’s foundation is its membership. And, it depends on active members to nurture the next generation to keep the association thriving.

Linda Larisch, CMKBD, a designer for Drury Designs, is one of those members. She joined the association in 1996 and earned NKBA’s top designation — a Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer.

Larisch is a member of the Chicago Midwest chapter, where she served as a vice president of professional development — a position she held for three years — and she established the chapter’s first study group.

“I had a lot of influence in that,” Larisch said. “At least 10 people became certified from the study group, and I still mentor a lot of designers about understanding the industry.”

Larisch chatted with the NKBA about her experiences as a member and a mentor, and how easy it was to fill out her NKBA profile.

(Now through Oct. 1, all members who have or complete their profile page, with all text fields and at least five images uploaded, are entered in NKBA’s “Win the Wynn” contest. Click here for more details.)

NKBA: What do you consider the best benefits of your membership?

LL: We have an amazingly large, diversified chapter, and we work with a lot of different vendors and showrooms. When I first joined, [meetings were] always at the same place. Now, they do a great job spreading out all over the city.

NKBA: Was it easy to complete your profile? Why?

LL: Yes, it was super-easy. I didn’t have any trouble, since it was very logical.

NKBA: How have you benefited from participating in your chapter? What have you learned at chapter presentations?

LL: They have brought in great speakers about sales. Designers do not just create the design — they have to present it and sell it. Some of the speakers teach us how to get out there on social media.

NKBA: What do you love about KBIS?

LL: I love seeing all the new product and innovation. I also love the cooking demonstrations, since cooking is something I enjoy. Interactive displays are my favorite.

NKBA: How do you share your knowledge? Have you ever been a VFTI speaker or considered becoming one?

LL: I have looked into teaching and speaking programs. I’d always be interested in whatever I can do to share with the industry. Previously, I taught the chapter study group, and I write blog posts through Drury Design’s website.

NKBA: How do you mentor aspiring designers? Have you created opportunities on the chapter level?

LL: I’ve stayed up-to-date with technology — you have to stay relevant in the industry. People often see things on HGTV or online, so you have to stay savvy on the latest software and technology to help achieve their visions. Personally, as a mentor, I help the design assistants at Drury achieve this.

NKBA: Why would you encourage other members to complete their NKBA profiles?

LL: I would encourage everyone to fill it out, since it’s a way to [promote] your [presence]. It’s another tool, like LinkedIn or Houzz. You can get your portfolio out there, and the more profile photos you have, the more a Google search brings you to the top. I also encourage people to get their certification, since that’s always relevant!