RETAILOBSERVER.COM JULY 2020
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A S S O C I A T I O N N E W S
I
t's all about the future.
To continue to help the kitchen and bath industry thrive, the
community needs to cultivate the next generation of
professionals. The National Kitchen & Bath Association's (NKBA)
young professional program, Thirty Under 30, works toward this
goal by identifying 30 future industry powerhouses, bringing them
to the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), and setting them up
for networking with other accomplished members and special
programs and events.
Each year at KBIS, the incoming class is tasked with a project.
In the past, it has been to create a concept product based on
certain requirements. At the past two editions of KBIS, the
Thirties set out to discover the biggest trends on the show floor
to honor brands and products with the 30s Choice Awards. It's a
way to foster connections between exhibitors and these
accomplished young professionals and familiarize them with the
latest technology and product options in the marketplace.
Becoming a Thirty Under 30 alum also means joining a vast
network of established professionals, and the learning never
stops. Here, four past honorees reflect on some of the many
benefits gained from their time at KBIS and the program.
Briana Ryan, New York Experience Center Manager for Fisher
& Paykel, was part of the Class of 2018. During that year, the
Thirties split into teams to create a product using the theme
"kitchen of the future."
"I was particularly proud to represent New York City among
such a talented group of kitchen and bath professionals from
around the country," Ryan said. "It was a huge honor, and I have
to thank a past manager at Fisher & Paykel, Paula Smith, AKBD,
for getting me involved – she was incredibly supportive."
Ryan also mentioned the bonds developed beyond KBIS that
perpetuated the benefits of being part of the program.
"The Thirty Under 30 alumni group is a welcoming and
WHY BECOME
A "THIRTY"
NKBA Thirty Under 30 alumni share why the program is valuable
BRIANA
RYAN
DAVID
BERENS
BONNIE
SCHMITZ
CHRISTINA
REED
