The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) will launch its first ever 30 Under 30 program at the upcoming Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in New Orleans. “We are excited to present our 30 Under 30 young professionals at KBIS 2013,” says Nancy Barnes, NKBA Director of Learning & Development. “They’re more than just the voice of the next generation of kitchen and bath professionals; they are also enthusiastic entrepreneurs, forward-thinking CEOs, and cutting-edge designers – and all are still in their 20s.”
Of the 30 winners, five were Canadian and include:
- Ben Nelson and Darren Lynch of Nexxus Group, Regina, SK;
- Carly Nemteam of Carriage Lane Design-Build Inc., Mississauga, ON;
- John Napolitano of Royal Home Improvements, Etobicoke, ON;
- Fares Elsabbagh of Vancouver General Contractors, Vancouver, BC
In a program called “Introductions to the Industry,” the 30 Under 30 group will make its debut on Friday, April 19, at 10:00 a.m. at NKBA’s booth. 2013 NKBA president John Morgan and 2013 NKBA vice president Carolyn Cheetham will introduce each of the young professionals, who will then kick off “Center Stage,” a compilation of complementary presentations taking place throughout the three-day show.
The group will spend the next two days exploring the KBIS show floor for innovations, trends and new technologies, as well as sustainable business practices and emerging business models. They will be especially interested in defining the Showroom of the Future, the Next Generation of Universal Design, and the overall direction of the kitchen and bath industry. On Sunday, April 21, the group will return to Center Stage to share the results of their explorations and to answer questions from the audience.
