NKBA Thirty Under 30 alum share why the program is valuable. By Loren Kessell
It’s all about the future.
To continue to help the kitchen and bath industry thrive, the community needs to cultivate the next generation of professionals. The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) young professional program, Thirty Under 30, works toward this goal by identifying 30 future industry powerhouses, bringing them to the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), and setting them up for networking with other accomplished members and special programs and events.
Each year at KBIS, the incoming class is tasked with a project. In the past, it has been creating a concept product based on certain requirements. At the past two editions of KBIS, the Thirtys set out to discover the biggest trends on the show floor to honor brands and products with the 30s Choice Awards. It’s a way to foster connections between exhibitors and these accomplished young professionals and familiarize them with the latest technology and product options in the marketplace.
Becoming a Thirty Under 30 alum also means joining a vast network of established professionals, and the learning never stops. Here, four past honorees reflect on some of the many benefits gained from their time at KBIS and the program.
Briana Ryan, New York Experience Center Manager for Fisher & Paykel, was part of the Class of 2018. During that year, the Thirty’s split into teams to create a product using the theme “kitchen of the future.”
“I was particularly proud to represent New York City among such a talented group of kitchen and bath professionals from around the country,” Ryan said. “It was a huge honor, and I have to thank a past manager at Fisher & Paykel, Paula Smith, AKBD, for getting me involved — she was incredibly supportive.”
Ryan also mentioned the bonds developed beyond KBIS that perpetuated the benefits of being part of the program.
“The Thirty Under 30 alumni group is a welcoming and engaging network to be a part of. It’s a great mix of people — manufacturers’ representatives like myself, kitchen and bath designers and small business owners,” Ryan said. “Our conversations are always lively and a lot of fun when we all have the opportunity to get together at KBIS.
“I feel that 2018 was my ‘breakout’ year for honing my presentation skills, starting with our Thirty Under 30 group project,” she added. “Presenting has become my favorite thing to do, and as such, I’ve become a part of the product training team at Fisher & Paykel, delivering programs for retailers and designers on the East Coast.”
David Berens, owner of ReFind Kitchens in San Diego and member of the current 2020 class, found both friendship and professional connections through the program.
“There are so few spaces where, as a working adult, you can bond with a cohort of people from outside your daily routine,” Berens said. “The Thirty Under 30 program provided me with a place and time to build relationships with other passionate people. Good connections breed good work.”
He utilized his newfound connections later while working on gathering cabinetry data.
“The State of California is creating a pilot reuse grant program that targets a few different market sectors where high marginal returns to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions could be achieved,” Berens explained. “One focus area is wood products used in construction and design. Somehow, cabinetry was not quantified in the original GHG model. After talks with the Air Resources Board, I found out there needed to be better data on cabinet weights, so I reached out to a fellow 2020 Thirty. I knew he could provide precise weights for a variety of cabinets his company sells.”
He added, “Within 24 hours, I had a spreadsheet of cabinet sizes and features with corresponding weights, and I extracted a relevant sampling and sent it to the State. I can now expect cabinetry to be included in the metrics used to evaluate applicants for the reuse grant program, of which my company intends to be one.”
Bonnie Schmitz, manager of design trends and innovation for Masco Cabinetry, was also a member of the Class of 2020. She established great bonds with her teammates and joined an ever-growing community.
“Being a Thirty has brought me into a larger community of industry professionals that has been very positive and helpful, and the program brought me recognition in my own organization as well as in the industry,” Schmitz said. “This recognition has given me new opportunities to connect with companies and professionals that I can apply to my current role in a very tangible way.”
She also recalled fond memories from the show.
“One of my favorite memories of KBIS 2020 was actually just sitting on the floor outside the convention center and working with my team on our presentation,” Schmitz said. “It was awesome to work with two talented young professionals and to gain their perspective on innovation in our industry.”
Christina Reed, senior manager of custom display design for Monogram Appliances, was a member of the 2017 class. She found friendships and strengthened her professional career.
“[The program] helped solidify a new path I was trying to pave for my career,” Reed said. “It made me realize that with the knowledge I had from the appliance manufacturing side and the knowledge I was constantly gaining from the designer side, I could help influence change in a company that could benefit everyone. From product development and install solutions to brand storytelling through retail displays, because of the contacts made through this group, I was able to connect with people from all facets of the industry to understand what those changes should be and help make them.”
Are you or someone you know interested in becoming part of the Thirty Under 30 family? Nominations are open through Aug. 4. More information about the program can be found at NKBA.org.
“It’s such a great opportunity because you’re able to surround yourself around these industry experts from every field and have access to endless knowledge and connections,” Reed said. “But, aside from networking, you gain new friendships. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true.”
