NKBA Quarterly Newsletter

the Creative Edge

Photo Courtesy of Jean Buchen, CKD, CAPS

4th Quarter 2015

Issue No. 7

ENHANCING MEMBER SUCCESS AND EXCELLENCE WHILE PROMOTING PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES, AND PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION FOR THE KITCHEN & BATH INDUSTRY.

Final Notes from the President

As October approaches, I am reminded that my 2 year term as your president is coming to a close. I am truly thankful and grateful for the opportunity to have served the Susquehanna Valley Chapter in this capacity. I am proud to have served on the board for the past 7 years and wish the new President and board another successful term.

It has been a wonderful learning experience and a chance to work with a fantastic board of directors. I encourage each of you to become involved in your chapter - there are many opportunities available and I can assure you it is worth it!

I am very happy to report that the board has made great improvements over the past 2 years. We have increased chapter membership, increased member benefits by keeping monthly meeting costs low and reimbursed members who wanted to attain their CAPS certification. We've had 2 summer meetings that were extremely well attended and continue to provide interesting speakers for your enjoyment as well as CEU credits. We are implementing our first Product Vendor Night for our Member Vendors in October to showcase their products. We updated the chapter website so it is now current and being kept up to date, made it easier to pay in advance for chapter meetings through our pay on line options with constant contact emails or through the website and we have re-established the quarterly newsletter on a consistent basis thanks to chapter member Danielle Gundrum taking on this responsibility. Those along with our Facebook page and LinkedIn site are consistently keeping you informed of chapter updates and events.

This is your chapter and we encourage your input and ideas for new meetings and speakers you would like to hear or new bus trips or events you would like to attend. I encourage you to attend KBIS and Design and Construction week 2016; it is nonstop with great seminars, products, vendors, information, food, parties and fun. It's worth the investment of your time to attend. Thank you for your continued support of our chapter. The wisest investment you can make is to invest in your own continuous learning and development. You get out of your chapter what you put into your chapter. So I encourage you to attend meetings, keep learning and consider volunteering with your chapter.

It has been my pleasure to serve you!

elizaBeth Marcocci CKD, CAPS

2014-2015 President Susquehanna Valley Chapter of NKBA

Upcoming NKBA Events

October - KITCHEN & BATH MONTH! Join us in celebrating Oktoberfest with our FIRST NKBA Vendor Member Product Night at the Art Institute in York. See Details below.

November- Lighten the Kitchen and Bath After the Sun Goes Down, presented by Doug Walter, AIA from Denver at Fromm Appliances and Lighting in Harrisburg.

Gold Sponsor

NKBA Membership Drive!

Starting September 15th until October 30th, the NKBA is having a membership drive. New members signing up can get their $100.00 application fee waived! You will also enjoy 15 months of membership for 2015 through 2016. Contact Brian Miller at [email protected] to get your application today!

SIGN UP TODAY

October Product Night

NKBA Member Vendors

When: Tuesday, October 13

Where: Ai York Pennsylvania

Time: 5:00-8:00pm

Here is an opportunity for our members to display their products & services and help to educate your peers, students and the design community.

Reserve a table for free (8'- table with tablecloth will be provided upon reservation). Contact one of the following members and sign up today!

Kim Morrison

[email protected]

Beth Ann Triantafyllou

[email protected]

WELCOME! Samantha Wurzbacher

This past year, we were proud to introduce a new position on our executive board. We've included a seat for a student representative to serve as an observer of the "behind-the-scenes" activity of the chapter and as an active participant in board discussions. Last year, Meghan Conklin served as our first student representative and did a wonderful job. This past spring, Meghan graduated from the Art Institute of York, and took a position with Oasis Showrooms by APR Supply Co. Congratulations Meghan!

I'd like to introduce to you the current student representative on our board. Her name is Samantha Wurzbacher-or Sam, as she prefers to be called. Sam moved into the Central PA area only 10 months ago from Maryland where she and her husband owned a custom automotive shop for over 4 years. Sam is currently enrolled in the Art Institute of York where she is going for a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design. She anticipates graduating in September, 2017 and currently holds a 4.0 GPA and maintains a student membership in both NKBA and ASID. When she graduates, Sam sees herself working more in commercial design rather than residential and may pursue a further education in architecture.

All of this keeps her very busy, but in her spare time Sam enjoys riding older, stand-up jet skis and visiting museums in different cities with a good friend...Philly is their next destination!! Look out Philly, here they come! Welcome Sam!

REGISTER TODAY TO ATTEND KBIS 2016!

Member Spotlight:

Showcasing Susquehanna Valley chapter
members and their success!

Name: Jean M. Buchen, CKD, CAPS
Company: KT Highland, Inc.
Years in the Industry: Kitchen and Bath Designer since 1993
Awards/Recognition's: Certified Kitchen Designer; Certified Age-in-Place Specialist; 1994 Honorable Mention for Bathroom design and remodel with Lancaster Home Builders Remodeling Council

NKBA: How did you become interested in the kitchen and bath industry?
Jean: I earned an associate degree in Interior Design in 1974. Following that, I worked in a furniture store and worked for several building companies assisting clients with their selection process. I was always intrigued with cabinet design and layout for kitchens and bathrooms. When my children were young, I left the design field and worked as an office manager and also did some conference planning for a nonprofit, Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). While working at MEDA, I met Elvin and Helen Hurst who owned Kountry Kraft. My discussions with Elvin and Helen brought to the surface my desire to return to the field of Interior Design, especially, kitchen and bath design and custom cabinetry. My girls were in high school and I was able to work the hours that interior design often require. I interviewed with Elvin Hurst and was offered a sales and design position at Kountry Kraft.

NKBA: What motivated you and your husband to start KT Highland?
Jean: While I was working for Kountry Kraft selling and designing cabinets, many of my clients asked for recommendations for a contractor. I had trouble finding remodel contractors who had the attention to detail that I desired. My husband, Tom, had life long experience in the construction industry, particularly new home construction and remodeling. He was working for a large commercial building firm as a general manager of their masonry division. It did not fit his personality like the more personal, intimate projects he had worked with in residential construction. He desired to get back into residential construction. So, after further discussion and processing between the two of us, he started our company, K T Highland, Inc. as I continued to work for Kountry Kraft. As our company grew, and my customers wanted me to help with more than the cabinet design, I left employment with Kountry Kraft and joined Tom full time. I continue to have a great relationship with Kountry Kraft and offer their cabinet lines to my clients.

NKBA: What was your favorite design project and why?
Jean: My two favorite design projects were doing a kitchen and then a master bathroom with Todd Lehman, president of Interiors. I loved the collaboration between Todd, his designer and I as we worked on numerous ideas for his space. My best projects are the ones that are a collaboration between the client, their designer and myself.

NKBA: How long have you been a member of the NKBA and why do you feel it's important to be a member?
Jean: I began attending NKBA meetings in 1993 when I started working for Kountry Kraft. Kountry Kraft has been a member of NKBA for many years. Kitchen and bathrooms are complex spaces and are some of the most expensive rooms in a home. I wanted to have the best knowledge I could as I offered my clients ideas and concepts for their projects. My clients deserved professional expertise for their project, not just pretty pictures and nice color schemes. When we started our own company, we immediately joined the NKBA.

NKBA: What is one piece of design advice that you abide by?
Jean: As a child, I hated the word "practical." My pragmatic father would always say, it can't just be pretty, it must be practical. I would tell him, but it doesn't need to be ugly. Now as an interior designer, I find myself constantly looking at the beautiful spaces I design to see if they are "practical." It must not only look beautiful, but it must function well.