NKBA unveils inaugural Professional of the Year contest

The National Kitchen & Bath Association launched the NKBA U Professional of the Year, a contest recognizing the most driven in the kitchen and bath industry.

The contest is open to both NKBA members and non-members, and applications are being accepted now until August 22 at www.nkba.org/nkbaupro.

“The NKBA U Professional of the Year contest embodies the Association’s spirit for professional development across the entire industry, setting a new industry standard for excellence,” says Bill Darcy, chief executive officer of the association. “NKBA U is a resource not only for kitchen and bath designers, but builders and remodelers, architects, dealers, manufacturers and representatives, as well as retailers. We’ve developed learning paths for multiple disciplines and brought the industry’s best instructors onboard to teach the best content—all through the most engaging and convenient platforms.”

In the spirit of NKBA U’s focus on continuing education, the winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Almeria, Spain to tour the headquarters and factory of Cosentino, the NKBA U Professional of the Year Platinum Sponsor. The runners-up will also receive all-expenses-paid trips for two courtesy of the contest’s Gold Sponsors, including Kohler Co., who will provide a tour of its headquarters and manufacturing facilities.

“This contest embodies the NKBA’s renewed spirit and focus for developing the very best professionals in our industry, and every applicant exemplifies a bigger lesson: Learning never stops,” Darcy says. “The NKBA U Professional of the Year contest recognizes those who share that belief—both for how it benefits them professionally and how it propels our industry forward as a whole.”

NKBA U is the assocation’s online learning and development program providing an innovative approach through eight different competency areas created for industry professionals, from novices to veterans, looking to further develop their design and business skills. Each path provides an individualized, step-by-step approach through innovative, virtual instructor-led training and on-demand webinars available 24/7—all led online by seasoned industry veterans.