Getting to Know KBIS Exhibitor Committee Member Kathleen (Katie) Heaney. By Steven Campeau

The KBIS Exhibitor Committee provides a link between the exhibitors and the NKBA National to ensure that their needs are being appropriately monitored and evaluated. It advises NKBA National on industry trends and makes recommendations for appropriate products, programs and services to meet the needs of the exhibitors and attendees. This important national volunteer committee is composed of up to 10 individuals who represent their KBIS exhibiting companies and serve three-year terms. The national election cycle, happening September 1 to September 30, will include up to four open positions for the KEC. If interested in applying during the election cycle, go here starting September 1.  Today we’re featuring Katie Heaney, Independent Area Director, Cutco Closing Gifts.

How did you get your start in the kitchen and bath industry and/or NKBA?

I have been working with Cutco since 2000, and in 2011, I had the opportunity to join the local HBA in Saint Louis as a sponsor and affiliate. I built wonderful relationships with people from many different aspects of the industry. We started participating in the KBIS event in 2013 and have been involved every year since.The relationships we’ve built with the NKBA have been inspiring and crucial to our growth. 

What National Committee are you currently on and why did you want to volunteer for it? 

I serve on the KBIS Exhibitor Committee. I wanted to volunteer for it to attend community events, meetings and conferences to promote the goals of the NKBA, to participate in strategic planning to help NKBA be successful for many years to come and to help find ways to improve KBIS for both attendees and exhibitors.

What is your favorite part of being an NKBA member and/or national volunteer?

Being part of NKBA and the kitchen and bath industry has been crucial to building an incredible business and lifestyle for my family, team and organization.  Serving on the KBIS committee is a privilege and honor that allows me to contribute back to the industry that has provided so much to my company and team.  It also helps me learn the trends and trajectories of the industry as a whole, which I can then bring to my own clients and events to help them grow their business.

Do you have a current trend or product that members just have to know more about?

I love to cook and have made my career selling the most used tool in the kitchen–knives. So my favorite current trend is the rise in popularity of the workstation sink.  The workstation includes inserts and accessories for chopping, straining, drying and other functions. Anything that makes cooking easier and more fun is a win for me. The galley kitchen is one of the coolest ones I’ve seen in the last few years. 

What inspires you about the kitchen and bath industry and/or in your life?

The entrepreneurial spirit of the business owners I have met and built relationships with over the years have inspired me to grow in my business.  These owners have persisted in a very challenging industry to serve their clients by making their homes and lives better and their homes more beautiful.  I’m constantly inspired by what my clients do to improve their community and the lives of those around them.  They are entrepreneurs who are tireless in finding better systems for their employees and customers.  They challenge me to keep learning and growing so that I can keep earning their business.

Additional Questions:

Where is your favorite vacation spot and does that influence your home decor? 

I have backpacked through a few different parts of Southeast Asia, and those trips have inspired my home decor.  I love to cook and am inspired by local food of different cultures, so that influence is present in my own kitchen. 

What are you most looking forward to this year, personally or professionally? (or both!)

I am most looking forward to leading and growing my team, and learning and teaching better follow up systems so that my team members are serving their clients at the highest level.  I am so excited to reconnect with my clients at different events to see how they are innovating and changing to navigate the unique challenges in the kitchen and bath industry.  

Personally, I am looking forward to continuing to coach basketball for my kids’ teams.  It is an exciting challenge to work with children in sports!

What topic or area are you most passionate about in the kitchen and bath industry?

I am most passionate about helping my clients stay in touch with their past customers and building long-term relationships and a referral generating system.  I’m excited to keep working with them to find ways to increase their referral business and ability to generate five star reviews.  Happy customers lead to a great life! 

About Katie Heaney

Katie is a Hall of Fame distributor for Cutco Cutlery and is in her twentieth year with the company. She provides high-level gifting plans for remodelers, homebuilders, and real estate professionals to build relationships and acquire new clients. She began her career with Cutco as a receptionist at age 16 and paid her way through St. Louis University selling Cutco knives. In 2007 she pioneered a closing gift program for real estate agents in St. Louis, Missouri, and in 2011 expanded her gifting niche to home builders and kitchen remodeling companies. She is a registered dietitian and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from St. Louis University. She loves living in St. Louis, MO with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 9.