As workers emerged from post-pandemic life, NKBA unveiled new events and summits, a new certification program and a new headquarters location.  

By Seth Ellison

After two long years of the pandemic, it seemed like things were starting to return to a ‘new normal’ in 2022. Organizations from around the world were making significant decisions and restructuring to ensure better resilience. During this time of change, NKBA, re-doubled its efforts to serve its members. Providing the highest level of programming, education, events and more, NKBA was committed to leading the kitchen and bath industry forward. 

This year was defined by a sequence of “firsts” for the association, not least of which was the NKBA’s inaugural Women 2 Women Leadership Conference (W2W) at the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, KY. The conference was the brainchild of NKBA’s EVP and CSO, Suzie Williford, a project she had wanted to launch for years, with the goal to offer inspiration, mentoring and networking opportunities to women in the kitchen and bath industry. At the three-day event, Williford was joined by an influential advisory board that included high-level female executives, such as Cheri Phyfer, Group President, Fortune Brands, and Marcia Speer, President of Poggenpohl U.S. Women in the industry were invited to apply, and of the 400 applications, 65 were selected to attend as their organizations’ professional representatives. 

Another first that took place not long after was the Design Summit. Hosted by NKBA and in partnership with Dacor, the event was co-located with Design Chicago, the Midwest’s largest residential design conference, at the Dacor Kitchen Theater in THE MART. NKBA’s EVP and CSO Suzie Williford and Luxe Interiors + Design Editor-in-Chief Pamela Jaccarino hosted the summit, taking a deep dive into the emerging design trends that would impact the kitchen and bath industry over the next few years, based on the NKBA’s highly-anticipated Industry Trends Report. 

Perhaps the most profound shift for 2022 was NKBA’s move from Hackettstown, NJ to its new headquarters in Bethlehem, PA — a dynamic community brimming with restaurants, cultural institutions and universities. The announcement was made by NKBA CEO Bill Darcy during his State of the Association address at KBIS 2022 in Orlando, Florida. He stated that the move was inspired by the adoption of hybrid workplace policies, as well as the need for flexibility and technical acuity. To commemorate the occasion, Darcy led a bike procession to carry the keys all the way from Hackettstown to Bethlehem in November of 2022.

Finally, rounding out the year with more momentous growth was the enhanced NKBA’s certification program. Always one of the pillars of the organization, the longstanding certification program has provided industry professionals with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and experience in the kitchen and bath industry, as well as set themselves apart from the competition. The new and improved certification program was designed to be more in sync with members’ objectives and needs, making it easier to take tests and track progress online through the Learning Management System.