Karen Hockley, CMKBD, CAPS was 1 of the winners of the Innovator Award for 2021 from Kitchen and Bath Design News. (The Innovators, a group of industry professionals who are setting the standard for excellence in the design industry. Nominated by their peers and then reviewed by the KBDN nominating committee the 24 innovators for 2021 are an exemplary group of individuals who are moving the kitchen and bath industry forward).

Young designers often tell Karen Hockley, CMKBD owner or Kitchens by Karen, LLC in Enola, Pa. that they would like to be able to download her knowledge of the kitchen and bath industry. With her writing, blogging and courses, her goal is to do just that. 

In recent years she has spent time creating material, writing and blogging. Presenting weekly courses, including courses on Ergonomics in kitchen design, The Wonderful World of Cabinets, Kitchen Ventilation, Creating Kitchen Design Presentations and Installation Drawings using Canva. How to make Instagram Reels, Closet Design, How to Measure for Refrigerators, Countertop Materials, and Selling for Designers. She is continuously creating new materials and courses. 

There are so many pitfalls for new designers, designer's today need mentors more than ever to guide them and give them a firm grasp of kitchen design and construction. 

Karen gained her knowledge of the kitchen and bath industry by attending every in person NKBA course available. She took classes from industry icons Ellen Cheever, David Newton, and many others. Many of the companies she worked for had extensive knowledge base training for cabinetry, countertops, faucets and bath products and she absorbed it all.