Celebrating the NKBA Hall of Fame Inductees From 1999-1995
by Elisa Fernández-Arias | July 6th, 2023
Celebrating the NKBA Hall of Fame Inductees From 1999-1995
by Elisa Fernández-Arias | July 6, 2023
Between 1995 and 1999, the NKBA Hall of Fame saw a total of ten new inductees. Recreating European trends in the U.S. market, introducing modular bathroom storage, pioneering the “box and door” shipping concept: these Hall of Fame inductees did this and more, helping the K&B industry to make great strides toward becoming the industry it is today.
1999
Joseph Hochberg
In 1976, when he had been in business for 17 years, Joseph Hochberg was one of the first in the K&B industry to recognize an emerging design trend that had been brought into the U.S. by Europeans. He created the trend anew by combining the contemporary European look with a softer style that would be more appealing to U.S. consumers, developing a complete line of curved cabinets and coining the term “curvilinear” to explain his designs.
Bernard Meyers
Realizing that there were no luxury medicine cabinets made in America, Bernard Meyers felt there was a need for better designed, upscale products and began to manufacture upscale bath cabinetry solutions and lighting. In 1968, he started the cabinet company Robern. Robern’s modular approach to bathroom storage, as well as its defogging mirror door, interior electric outlets and vertically stacked mirrored cabinets, were all industry firsts.
1997
Ronald Ringenberg, CKDE
Ronald Ringenberg was an important player in the early development of the Association of Kitchen and Bath Dealers (AIKD), now NKBA. He was a member of the original AIKD committee and was instrumental in starting the CKD program. Ronald was also involved in the original judging of the early CKD Exams, and his involvement was critical in forming the Indiana Chapter of AIKD.
Dr. Donald H. Slocum
The inventor of the first “Solid Surface” product, DuPont’s Corian, Dr. Donald H. Slocum has been called the “Father of the Solid Surface Industry.” His invention of Corian paved the way for the solid surface industry, a product that continues to grow in recognition, use and market volume as an important item in the kitchen, bath and home. Dr. Slocum has over 40 patents.
1996
William Beemer, CKD
In 1957, William Beemer was a representative for Wood-Metal Industries (now Wood-Mode), covering Indiana, Illinois and Michigan and was instrumental in bringing Wood-Mode to the Midwest. It was during this time that he also became involved with the NKBA, forming the Chicago Midwest Chapter. Beemer also served the NKBA on a national level on the Council of Manufacturers’ Representatives.
Joseph F. Fehn, CKD
Joseph F. Fehn established Scioto Kitchen Sales in Ohio in 1961. An active member of the NKBA, he was a founder of the NKBA Central Ohio Chapter and was their first Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD). Additionally, Fehn helped to develop the solid surface market in central Ohio in the 1970s with the introduction of DuPont Corian.
Martha Kerr, CKD, CBD
The first woman to be elected president of the NKBA, Martha Kerr has been dedicated to the advancement of the K&B industry throughout her career. She assisted in the development of the Certified Bathroom Designer program and was the first individual ever to receive that certification. Kerr also worked on the development of the Bathroom Industry Technical Manuals.
1995
Louis Lestorti, Sr.
A pioneer in the areas of cabinet design and production, Louis Lestorti, Sr. began Les-Care Kitchens in 1945. Throughout his career, he implemented several ideas that have become standards in the industry, introducing high-pressure laminate into kitchen cabinetry and establishing frameless construction techniques for domestic cabinetry.
Arthur Shapiro
In 1958, Arthur Shapiro became the first Kitchen Kompact stocking distributor in the U.S. He went on to open three retail operations called Scotch Shops, becoming one of the first wholesale-retail distributors. In the mid-60s, Shapiro became a manufacturer of stock laminated cabinets and pioneered the “box and door” concept of shipping one case with separate door styles, which many manufactures have since adopted.
Percy Spencer
Percy Spencer joined Raytheon in 1925 and eventually headed their Microwave and Power Tube Division for 17 years. In 1947, Raytheon introduced the world’s first microwave oven, the Radarange, which Spencer helped to develop. In 1965, Raytheon acquired Amana. With Spencer’s help, Amana developed and marketed a successful 110-volt, kitchen countertop unit and the microwave revolution began.