Hear from a past Thirty Under 30 who continues to make strides in the industry. By Loren Kessell

 

A thirst for innovation, the drive to work hard and keep learning are just a few of the qualities that earned Adi Bansal a place in NKBA’s prestigious Thirty Under 30 Class of 2016.

The Thirty Under 30 program honors exceptional young professionals in the kitchen and bath industry who share a desire to keep growing and inspire others, and who have the potential to be future leaders in the industry.

The honor also comes with a trip to KBIS and ticket package, and opportunities to network and bond with peers, earn industry recognition.

Bansal, general manager for Valley Acrylic Bath Ltd. in Mission, British Columbia,

shared some insights about what makes the program valuable to those working toward industry success. He talked about how the program helped him attain his goals.

 

NKBA: Did you always want to go into the design field? What made you choose kitchens/baths?

AB: I grew up working in the kitchen and bath industry, since my family was in the business. I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to learn from a very young age about both the technical and design aspects of this industry. I love working in this field because I get to see behind-the-scenes how a product is brought to life and incorporated into a variety of designs.

NKBA: What has the Thirty Under 30 award meant to you thus far?

AB: It has been amazing to be part of our own little community! I’ve been able to keep in touch with my fellow Thirty Under 30 participants, so I’m glad I was able to connect with such motivated individuals.

NKBA: What’s one of the moments you’re most proud of so far in your career?

AB: I’m thankful to say that Valley has come a long way, so there’s been several proud moments for me. The most rewarding and memorable is when we exclusively went wholesale. Seeing Valley being sold by the biggest wholesalers in Canada, among other well-known brands that have been around for much longer than we have, is honestly the best feeling

NKBA: What do you think are some key upcoming trends in kitchen and bath design/remodeling?

AB: I definitely think that the COVID-19 pandemic is going to have a huge impact on the way people think of kitchen and bath design. I believe that people will start paying attention to the little details on a larger scale now. Just to name a few, I can see people starting to prefer larger pantry spaces for food stocking, investing in bidets over toilet paper, and having more bathrooms in the home.

NKBA: What are some of your short-term and long-term goals?

AB: Short-term, I want to further educate myself on lean manufacturing. I am hoping to complete some courses that will help me excel in that department. Long-term, I want to continue growing Valley and making it a household name worldwide. It is becoming well-known here in Canada, but I would love to see it further expand in the U.S. and start operations in Europe.

NKBA: What advice would you give to aspiring kitchen and bath professionals, and why would you encourage them to consider the Thirty Under 30 program?

AB: The best piece of advice I can give is to never stop working hard! You have to be a go-getter in order to be successful in this industry. Innovation is also really important, so the more you can differentiate yourself from the competition — the better! Thirty Under 30 is a great way to gain exposure for your company, meet important connections, and build life-long relationships, so I definitely encourage aspiring kitchen and bath professionals to join!

 

Submissions for the 2021 NKBA Thirty Under 30 program are open through Aug. 4. Candidates may be nominated by an industry peer or may nominate themselves. Award recipients receive a free trip to KBIS 2021, a KBIS show floor pass and conference pass, access to NKBA events, media exposure and awareness. For more information visit https://kb.nkba.org/thirty-under-30/.