Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame: Background
As the leading trade association for the kitchen and bath industry, NKBA has the unique privilege of recognizing outstanding industry professionals each year. These professionals, whether life-long industry experts or recent additions to our industry, deserve acknowledgement for their significant and/or enduring contributions to the development of the kitchen and bath industry. That is why the NKBA established the Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of Fame in 1989, showcasing our industry’s amazing professionals who are unmatched in their passion, skills, achievements and contributions.
For more than 30 years, the NKBA’s Hall of Fame has honored individuals who not only embody the spirit of our dynamic industry, but also contribute to its growth. To grasp the magnitude of prior inductees’ position and influence in the industry, please review this list outlining their accomplishments. Without these inductees and their contributions, the industry — and, in fact, the lives of homeowners everywhere — would not be the same.
As a member of the NKBA, you have the capability to nominate someone you believe has made a significant difference in our industry. Before submitting your nominee for consideration, please read the criteria below carefully to ensure your nominee meets the Hall of Fame standards. We look forward to reviewing your submission for this prestigious honor. Please note: SELF-NOMINATIONS are NOT ACCEPTED and will not be considered.
Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame: Criteria
While we applaud the countless individuals who have created successful businesses, have had rich rewarding careers or received numerous honors and awards, the Hall of Fame seeks to elevate the most exceptional individuals for this prestigious honor. Such individuals have advanced the interests and image of kitchen and bath design, remodeling, sales, product development and the industry in general through their many remarkable accomplishments. Hall of Fame nominees must have contributed in a significant way to the industry’s growth and professionalism on a national or global scale, while simultaneously having strong involvement in industry organizations, including but not limited to the NKBA.
Specifically, Hall of Fame nominees, whether or not they are currently active, should include one or more of the following pillars:
1. Industry Contributions
- This individual has forever changed the industry:
- By creating or implementing a game-changing product or process; and/or
- By writing influential materials and/or passionately educating future industry leaders; and/or
- Through recognition as a prominent authority and leader in the industry.
- Plays a key role in supporting industry relations by bringing people from all business segments and related sectors together in a cooperative and beneficial way that helps advance the industry.
- Is a visionary with a national and/or global perspective that creates opportunities and identifies avenues of expansion for the kitchen and bath industry.
- Is a steadfast industry advocate to the business community, consumers and/or the general public.
2. Leadership
- Has made significant contributions by serving in leadership positions of national and/or international associations or other industry-related groups.
- Contributes to beneficial change via Board, executive or chapter-level leadership or other important capacities in the NKBA or other industry organizations.
- Demonstrates leadership skills in administrative and policy areas that help advance the industry’s objectives.
- Provides significant support for industry initiatives and programs and promotes awareness of the industry’s many positive contributions to the nation’s economy and quality of life.
- Has an unimpeachable record of integrity.
3. Corporate Citizenship
- Provides leadership in corporate citizenship/social responsibility and has been recognized for leading by example.
- Supports worthy causes that have had positive impacts on industry professionals and/or boosted the industry’s image through the support of these social causes.
- Provides a means or a program to educate industry professionals in sound corporate citizenship as part of his/her overall responsibility to the community.
Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame: Evaluation Guidelines
- To be considered for recommendation, nomination forms must be completed in their entirety; incomplete forms will be disqualified.
- Nominations must include two to three references who can be contacted to verify the information you are providing. References may not be family members.
- Pre-written or duplicated forms drafted or completed by someone other than the individual signing and submitting the nomination are not permissible and will be disqualified.
- Each selection is based on the merit of the nominee, not by the number of nominations or relationship of the person nominating to the Hall of Fame committee, board or other entities associated with NKBA. Self-nominations are not allowed.
- Nomination entries submitted by groups, such as chapters, will be considered as one nomination.
- Only nominations made by NKBA members will be considered; nominations from any members of a nominee’s immediate family will not be accepted.
Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame: Selection Process
Nominations received by the deadline will be processed by NKBA staff and submitted to the Hall of Fame Task Force for consideration of induction. After the Task Force reviews and vets all applications, they will forward their recommendations to the NKBA Board of Directors (BOD). It is then the responsibility of the BOD to either accept or reject the Task Force’s recommendations for induction. Following that decision, letters of congratulations are mailed to the inductees, while an acknowledgement notice is sent to the member(s) who submitted a nomination form. Member(s) who nominated an individual who was not chosen for induction at this time will also be notified of the outcome via email.
Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame: Deadline
Nominations open Aug. 15, 2023, at 9:00 am (Eastern Time) and must be received by the NKBA by 5:00 pm (Eastern Time), Sept. 29, 2023. Forms received after this point will not be considered.
Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame: Appreciation
The NKBA maintains a photo gallery of all Hall of Fames recipients on its nkba.org website. In addition, inductees receive national recognition on NKBA.org; in KBB, The Official Publication of NKBA + KBIS, and at KBIS.
Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame: Questions
Direct any questions to NKBA by email to nominations@nkba.org.