Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2017 60 A S S O C I A T I O N N E W S O ne of the primary missions of the National Kitchen & Bath Association is nurturing the next generation of industry professionals, and the organization has been instrumental in promoting education at the post-high-school level — whether at a college, university, trade school or technical institute — for years. The association has helped these institutions prepare thousands of students for careers in the kitchen and bath industry, and set them on the path to certification in kitchen and bath design. This extensive outreach program is evolving with the industry, and is providing a new and enhanced process to better serve the needs of students, educators, schools — and ultimately, the industry's long-term health. The new NKBA Affiliated Schools program will continue to promote the highest standards of education in these disciplines, to bring out the best in aspiring young professionals. Some elements of the program are available now, with the rest phasing in over the next 18 months. Affiliated schools will have access to an official Web presence, including a profile page for the school on the NKBA website plus the NKBA Affiliated School logo for their own website. These schools will also have access to an online community tailored to educators with discussion forums, lesson plan repositories, best-practice guides, curriculum, and other resources. An online forum will be available for networking with other educators who are preparing students for careers in design and related fields. They'll also be able to access an internship portal, attend educator-focused in-person forums and virtual meetings, and have access to mentoring by experienced program coordinators. Financial benefits to participating schools include free NKBA membership for the school and its educators; discounts on NKBA Professional Knowledge publications; professional review of two kitchen and/or bath drawing samples by students annually at no charge, and discounts for KBIS. Students at affiliated schools reap rewards, too. They get free NKBA student membership, a free KBIS Expo pass, access to online internship and mentorship matching centers, professional coaching webinars, and other online programs. Student members are also eligible to enter the NKBA Student Design Competition and other contests, they'll have a Web page to build their student profile and begin showcasing their work, and will receive discounts on NKBA Professional Knowledge publications and student-version software from leading industry providers. To encourage networking at this level, Affiliated Schools may also establish student chapters — NKBA currently supports 35 such chapters. In September, NKBA revealed its partnership with Sub-Zero as the sponsor for the student chapter program across the country. Each chapter is eligible to apply for an annual $500 grant, providing opportunities for students to bring in speakers and host events to share ideas, launch fundraising efforts of their own, subsidize field trips, and network with industry professionals. "We are proud to support this outstanding program, with a focus on up-and-coming designers of the future," said Jack Palazzolo, vice president of marketing for Sub-Zero Group. "It's a great way for students to jumpstart their careers. Sub-Zero and Wolf have estab- lished the strongest and most trusting relationships between a luxury kitchen 'experience' provider and the designers NKBA represents. And as proud sponsors of the NKBA Student Chapters, we bring that to the next generation of kitchen designers." As program sponsor, the company will be able to offer site visits to Sub-Zero and Wolf facilities, and arrange for sponsor presentations. Students will avail themselves of networking opportunities, learn about products, and enhance their skills in product specification. Students at affiliated schools can also jumpstart their careers by participating early in the certification process. The first rung, the Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer (AKBD) certification, is the stepping stone to NKBA's higher degrees of certification (the Certified and Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer, CKBD and CMKBD). Certified designers earn an average of 10 percent more than non-certified designers, according to NKBA research, and the merit is a recognized industry standard of having passed a rigorous course of study and exams, and that certified designers have knowledge of building codes; construction; mechanical and electrical systems, and safety/environmental regulations, and that they can communicate this knowledge correctly via drawings to construction experts. Click on www.nkba.org/Store/NKBAEducation/ExamPrep.aspx for more information on the certification process and how to get started. READY TO GROW NKBA's Affiliated Schools and Student Chapter programs give aspiring designers the tools to start building their careers RO

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