1.    CONFERENCE POLICIES:

a.    Individuals submitting a proposal can be currently employed within the kitchen & bath industry, a business expert with subject matter relevant to the kitchen & bath industry, or a student pursuing education to further their career in the kitchen & bath industry.

b.    Individuals may submit a maximum of three proposals with different topics.

c.     Professional audio or video recording of sessions at KBIS is not permitted (KBIS reserves the right to audio and/or video record any session).

d.    Voices From The Industry (VFTI) conference speakers will receive a complimentary VIP registration package to KBIS, including a show floor pass, VFTI Full Conference pass, entry to the Opening Keynote, a ticket to the Design Competition Awards & Opening Party and a Bash ticket, all valued at over $500. Co-presenter(s) are welcome, and must be listed on the submission form, however only one complimentary registration is provided per session/workshop.

e.    VFTI Conference speakers will not receive reimbursement for travel expenses or any additional compensation.

f.      Distribution of materials:

• • Promoting brand-specific products or the sale of products is prohibited.
  • The speaker may not actively promote the sale of any such items during the presentation. NO SALE OF ACTUAL BOOKS, DVDS OR AUDIO TAPES SHALL BE PERMITTED BY SPEAKERS AT THE SITE OR IN THE ASSIGNED SESSION ROOM.
  • Please be assured that you are most welcome to mention your name, bio, website, social handles, etc., as part of the presentation. Additionally, you are welcome to have literature (flyers, brochures, handouts, cards, etc.) in the back of the room for attendees to take.

2.    SELECTION CRITERIA

a.    The NKBA will evaluate all proposals on key elements including:

• • Content relevance
  • Practical applications
  • Delivery methods
  • Variety of speakers

b.    No more than two submissions will be selected from employees from the same company.

3.    CONTENT REQUIREMENTS

a.    Proposals will only be accepted through the online submission form.

b.    Please review the requirements carefully and refer to the Submission Planning Worksheet to assist you with your proposal.

○      All sessions must be for informational purposes only.

○      All submissions must fall under one of these tracks or topic areas:

• • • Building & Remodeling
    • Business Management
    • Design
    • Kitchen & Bath Trends
    • Leadership
    • Marketing

○      All submission topics must include a title, description, presentation goals and delivery methods. NKBA reserves the right to edit the title and description for length and content.

○      A session must total 60 minutes; please allow time for Q&A within that timeframe.

○      A workshop must total 90 minutes; please allow time for Q&A within that timeframe.

○      A strong proposal will indicate how the attendee will be able to apply your presentation goals practically on the job.

4.    LETTER OF AGREEMENT

If selected, you will be requested to sign a letter of agreement, outlining firm deadlines.

If selected as a session speaker, there may be a requirement for a pre-recorded version, in addition to the presentation at KBIS. All recordings will be professionally recorded by the NKBA.

Please email all questions and inquiries to VFTI@nkba.org.

Use the following as a guide to successfully meet the requirements when submitting your proposal.

PRESENTATION INFORMATION

Presentation Title

The title should capture attention and give session attendees a clear idea of what the presentation will be about (10-word maximum).

Track

Please choose one of the six categories your presentation falls under.

• Building & Remodeling: Today’s design-build process is more in tune with the changing design and construction needs of homeowners and requires designers and their teams to have a high degree of collaboration between themselves and contractors. Discuss resources, before-and-after, trends, specialized markets, decision making, budgets, codes, processes, additions.
• Business Management: Discover how the strength of an organization and its potential to generate revenues depends greatly on the quality of management and how that has a significant impact on a brands value in the long term. Achieve positive business results by managing your resources. Control risk by aligning finance, organizational structure, and marketing initiatives with your business goals.
• Design: Explore and create aesthetically pleasing and functional kitchens and baths that incorporate all aspects of design to include lighting, plumbing, cabinet installation and more. Design and plan safe and effective kitchens and baths based on the latest industry standards.
• Kitchen & Bath Trends: Embrace future consumer or industry trends, pay attention to demographics, add new tools to your portfolio, and prepare your business for new clients.
• Leadership: Learn more about becoming an effective leader who takes a personal interest in the long-term development of their employees and how individual motivations can further an organization’s goals. Improve employee engagement and define KPI’s.
• Marketing: Market your brand for success by learning about automation, website optimization, targeted content, video, AI, social media and more to align your business for a strong advantage over the competition.

Presentation Format

SESSION (1 hour): Mainly lecture format, presentation/class, Q&A at end or during the session. Submit a pre-recorded version for on-demand viewing after KBIS, and present live in a conference room during KBIS.

WORKSHOP (1.5 hours): Interactive experience, activities – present live in a conference room during KBIS. Create a product or skill-building, develop strategies, goals, or websites. A more hands-on session may be accomplished by splitting into groups, role playing, etc. There are typically more interactive discussions, handouts or additional materials distributed during workshops, and questions are discussed throughout the session.

ON DEMAND ONLY (1 hour): Mainly lecture format, presentation/class, No Q&A; Submit a pre-recorded version for on-demand viewing after KBIS on NKBA.org.

Audience Experience Level

Please choose Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.

Presentation Description

Give a strong and concise description of your presentation. Include what will be covered in the session, why it is an important topic, and how attendees will benefit from attending. (300-word maximum.)

Learning Objectives

In bullet form, list up to three ways attendees will be able to apply your information practically in the real world. What would the goals of this session be? (100-word maximum.)

Presentation Approach

• Presentation/lecture
• Simulation/role play
• Interactive with audience
• Additional Details: (open ended field)

Examples of methods that best describe how your content will be presented:

• Case Studies: Delivering research conducted on specific situations of relevance to our industry, showing a relationship between two or more independent factors.
• Informational: Knowledge presented by an industry expert.
• Innovation/Trend: Breakthrough approaches and solutions within the kitchen and bath industry.
• Research: Any other form of study that leads to new findings in the field.
• Interactive: Engage attendees with a hands-on learning experience. For example, you might want your attendees to work with building materials, colors, samples, or experience something completely new and innovative.

Process / Presentation Delivery (300 words max):

Describe how your content will be presented. How will you engage the audience? How will participants experience the content? What other methods or techniques would you use to deliver your content? 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• All applications are due no later than June 16, 2023.

• Selected applicants will be notified by July 15, 2023, and will be scheduled to speak at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, 2/27/2024-2/29/2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Advantage of Having CEU Credits Assigned to Your Session:

The NKBA recognizes providers of quality continuing education through its Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Program. NKBA-certified members look to CEU-approved presenters to update or broaden their professional knowledge and skills. In 2024, Voices From The Industry presenters have the opportunity to award 0.1 or 0.15 NKBA CEUs to attendees for attending their presentation. Presenters will attract NKBA certified members who are looking to increase their knowledge and gain CEU credit to maintain their certifications.

Additionally, if you are selected as a VFTI presenter, and hold an NKBA certification, you will earn 0.3 CEU credits per session.

CEU CREDIT

• If your session is chosen, it will be automatically approved for 0.1 or 0.15 NKBA CEU credits. Approval applies to KBIS 2024 only. It cannot be transferred to another venue; credits will be given toward the recorded sessions as well.
• You must make every effort to meet the NKBA standards for a CEU-worthy session; you must provide at least two to three learning objectives, and the session must total 60 minutes or 90 minutes.
• Please remember to allow for 10 to 15 minutes of Q&A time.
• Presentations may also be approved for NAHB and/or NARI CEU credits.

SAMPLE SUBMISSION 1

Presentation Title: Market Analytics to Grow your Design/Build Business

Topic Area/Track: Marketing

Presentation Format:  Session (1 hour)

Audience Experience Level: Intermediate

Presentation Description: Showrooms and Design/Build organizations who use data to identify new and underserved markets win business. In our session, we will show you how to utilize market analytics to isolate targetable areas for remodeling activity at different price points. How to optimize marketing spend and optimize marketing messages to cater to different target markets, will be covered. Set up your showroom to meet the needs/expectations of your target consumer.

Learning Objectives:

• Assist showroom owners to maximize market efforts
• Shape growth plans to meet expectations of surrounding consumers
• Isolate new market segments to increase local market share

Presentation Approach:

Presentation and Interactive

Process/Presentation Delivery:

• PowerPoint slides will be used with a lecture to cover most of the course content.
• Group discussion to see what current strategies are being used by attendees. Then we will build upon that information using the sample market data provided in the session.
• Handouts of the PowerPoint will be distributed so that attendees can take notes on them.

SAMPLE SUBMISSION 2

Presentation Title: Adding Flavor to the Kitchen – Designing Your Kitchen with Color

Topic Area/Track: Design

Presentation Format:  Workshop (1.5 hours)

Audience Experience Level: Intermediate

Presentation Description: Now more than ever Color is finding its place in the Kitchen! This session includes subtle and striking ways to incorporate color in your next Kitchen and the importance of it now in Design. This workshop will explore the history of color in the kitchen (where it’s been and where it’s going), how to incorporate color in fun/creative ways, how to empower your client to use color, what lifestyle trends support specific colors and why, and a simple formula for presenting a colorful moodboard.

Learning Objectives:

• Teach participants an easy formula to make a moodboard, either online or on paper
• Teach fun and creative ways to use color in the kitchen
• Teach where color has been in kitchen design and where it’s trending
• Influence of color in the kitchen

Presentation Approach:

Interactive

Process/Presentation Delivery:

• PowerPoint presentation with videos and an interview embedded in the PowerPoint
• Interactive Q & A with audience
• Hands on workshop and opportunity to create moodboards as part of the presentation with tips, insights and tricks from presenter