The new mentorship program was announced at KBIS 2022. By Loren Kessell
Suzie Williford, NKBA Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, announced the new NKBA Women’s Networking initiative during KBIS 2022. The KBISNeXT Stage panel featured a group of powerhouse women including:
- Suzie Williford, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer, NKBA
- Cheri Phyfer, President GPG/Fortune Brands
- Sherry Qualls, CEO/Owner White Good MARCOM Agency
- Casandra Matej, CEO Visit Orlando
- Marcia Speer, President, Poggenpohl North America
- Mary Putman, VP Marketing & Brand GE Appliances
The idea for the program stemmed from a one-on-one conversation between Williford and Phyfer, and it inspired NKBA’s EVP & CSO to codify a mentoring initiative for women in the kitchen and bath industry.
“We live and work in a culture where men and women can exhibit the same results and accomplishments and the perception of their effectiveness is different,” Williford said. “We hope this group of advisors will help many women find their voices.”
“I think we can all do hard things and hard jobs if we believe in ourselves,” Phyfer said.
More information about this initiative will be released soon. Stay up to date on KBIS events here.