As I write this to you today, many of our Manhattan chapter, including officers, are just back from Las Vegas. We were there for KBIS 2023, the annual National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, this time located at the new and improved Las Vegas Convention Center. The city was jumping, there were a total of five different trade shows happening around the Las Vegas Strip: the International Builders Show (IBS), NAHB, the National Association of Home Builders, The Hardware Show, and the International Stone Expo.

Word from our CEO, Bill Darcy, is that over 200,000 attendees crossed our threshold. And it was a great event! NKBA Manhattan arranged t days of showfloor tours of our sponsors, where we featured every one of their booths.

In addition, our January chapter meeting was held at the magnificent Savant Smart Home overlooking the Strip in the distance. I had the honor of swearing in all of our officers and then learning all about the process of dreaming, creating, and building this amazing home. We also provided a simulcast for members here in New York! The next afternoon, chapter members also made an excursion to the New American Home. In addition to all of this, the overarching theme of NKBA’s 60th anniversary festivities just added another level of celebration to our “back in person” annual show, while we remembered “all things 1963”. The opening gala and awards night (with entertainment by Kool & the Gang), the closing Sheryl Crow concert, the Voices of the Industry presentations, the Thirty Under 30 ceremonies (where we can boast three honorees!), with the amazing show in between all of these—it makes the head spin to just list it all!

For everyone that didn’t make it, we’ll be having our annual KBIS Recap meeting on February 23rd at Häfele. Be certain to mark your calendars and be there! NKBA Manhattan has so much more happening in 2023. If you haven’t joined us yet, what’s holding you back? We’d love to see you at Häfele and welcome you on board.

Julie Schuster, President, Manhattan Chapter