President's Letter
Dear Members,

Happy Summer! I think it has finally arrived! ...and can you believe as you are reading this, that we are halfway through 2022? It seems the months are flying by.

Your Puget Sound Council has been extremely busy planning exciting monthly events that we believe will be valuable to enhancing your business in all sorts of ways. I am most excited to attend our upcoming Design Awards Gala at the W in Bellevue on August 12th

If you have purchased your Certification Bundle and are in the process of applying, we can help guide you to success. Please reach out to Hannah Tiffany, CKBD if you are interested in attending our kick-off Study Group September 13th.

Our Student Outreach Chair, Laila Ferri Johnson, is coordinating a Mentoring Day for Students on September 12th. There are so many avenues in the Kitchen and Bath field; we want to be able to give students an opportunity to learn what might fit best. Whether you are a designer, a product representative or a showroom manager, plan to mentor a Student for a day on September 12th. Let a passionate learner see what your day entails (I laugh thinking about sharing lunch in the car with a protein bar).

Partnering with IDS once again, we have an all-new exciting format being planned for our Autumn Product Showcase. Specifics will follow on what I know will prove to be a lively and educational adventure with prizes for our participants! Our devoted Programs Chair, Sarah Cardinal, and her committee are always thinking up fresh and fun ideas.

Did I say we were busy!? And I haven't even mentioned our "Big Speaker Chapter Meeting" at Abbrio October 20th featuring the renowned kitchen and bath wellness design consultant and author Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS. As a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach, she will bring a wealth of ideas to optimize the home for health, fitness and happiness. And of course, her best-selling book will be available to attendees.

The Puget Sound Chapter has always been proud of or our robust participation and enthusiasm to help each other be successful. We have lots of planning to do for 2023 and if you're a veteran NKBA member, this is your opportunity to strengthen our chapter with your ideas. If you’re new to the design world or new to NKBA and want to jump in, we encourage you to join us for the best possible way to connect with your colleagues and vendors and learn from our industry leaders! Please feel free to reach out to me and let me know your interest.

On behalf of all our Council, we thank you for being a part of our Chapter. I look forward to seeing you all at our Gala on August 12th!

Judith Wright Sentz, CKBD, CLIPP
Judith Wright Design
President, NKBA Puget Sound Chapter 2022/23
Gala 2022
 
You are invited to reserve Your Spot
August 12th
5:30 - 9 pm
 
W Hotel
10455 NE 5th Place
Bellevue, WA 98004
Gala Chair
Gala Co-Chair
Volunteer Member Spotlights
The Judging is Complete

We have successfully navigated our first year with Award Force which accepted and collated designer entries, remote judging results and member voting on the People's Choice Award.

Many kudos to Mariah for all her technical research and work to configure the software and support the chapter through this big leap in technology.

Award Force has been a huge feat for the Chapter and it is here to stay!

Maria Hebenthal
Sherwin-Willams


Committee Members are hard at work for all of us and making our Chapter proud to have them as contributing members!
The NEW Awards
are Awaiting

The Design Gala committee decided it was time to change the format of our Design Awards!

We so much appreciate Briana's extensive search for our stunning new awards for 2022.

On the evening of August 12th, these new awards will finally make their debut!

We wish the best to all the designers entering this year and may one of these spectacular awards be yours!

Briana Brooke Benton, AKBD
B Brooke Interiors
Member volunteers provide uncounted hours of creative and energetic work for us.
It is what has historically made and continues to make our Chapter work so well and
be able to provide so many wonderful opportunities for all.
Look for more Volunteer Spotlights in the upcoming extra special Gala Newsletter Edition.
More Exciting Design Gala News !
Claudia Brown, Publisher
Meet Claudia at the Gala

Yes, we are so honored to have Claudia attending our Gala at the W Hotel

Portrait Magazine of Seattle
will be publishing an editorial
featuring winners!

Another first for our Chapter - Thanks to the diligent efforts of Jen Kowalski, CKBD
New Sponsors Join in Supporting Us
Stratus Surfaces is a
Chapter Sponsor and is also sponsoring the Design Award for "Other Room".
Canyon Creek Cabinet Company is sponsoring the Gifts for this year's Design Gala. They are also the sole sponsor for our Student Outreach Committee.


TOTO is sponsoring
the Bar at this year's
Design Gala.
Many thanks to Sydney Cooley, Laila Ferri Johnson and Megan McDevitt Parker
for securing these new sponsorships!
New Chapter Members
We Are Glad You Joined!

The NKBA is the world's
leading trade association
for the kitchen and bath industry
providing tools, research, certification,
and events to
thousands of professionals.


2023 - 2024 Chapter Officer Self-Nominations

As a chapter officer for the NKBA, you directly contribute to and benefit from the growth of the kitchen and bath industry’s leading Association. You serve as a member advocate and a representative of your peers to the Association and the industry, as well as a mentor for student members to develop potential and build skills.

Through leadership training, you gain the tools and skills necessary to become a stronger manager. This knowledge can be invaluable to your own business and the experience is a great addition to your personal portfolio.
You Can Make a Difference

Open Chapter Officer Positions for this election cycle are

All offices are voluntary positions which are one 2-year term with the option to self-nominate for a second 2-year term.

Learn more about these positions and how to self-nominate.




Per National the Self-Nominations deadline is extended and CLOSES on July 22nd
Student Mentorship Day
is
September 12th
Mentorship Day


Seize the opportunity
to register to spend a day with an NKBA Puget Sound professional




Volunteer to show a design student what your typical day is like
Send your Questions to Laila Ferri Johnson: Student Outreach Committee

Sponsored by:

CKBD 2022 Study Group
This is a free CKBD certification study group for 2022 CKBD testing
It covers the current CKBD Bundle (which will be updated/reformed in 2023)
Deadline for taking the existing exam from the current Bundle is Dec 12, 2022
RSVP by Sept 1st for Study Group participation


Study Group Leaders

Paula Kennedy, CMKBD
Hannah Tiffany, CKBD
Candace Nordquist, CMKBD
Judith Wright Sentz, CKBD


Study Group Dates

Sept 13th..........10am - noon @ Abbrio in person
Oct 4th............ 10am - noon via Zoom
Oct 25th...........10am - noon via Zoom
~ 2022 Chapter Council ~
~ 2022 Industry Sponsors ~
Grateful Thanks To