Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2022 - 10

nkba note
November/December 2022
A REALLY BIG YEAR
I
'm here to tell you that it's offi cial: NKBA has moved, and our new
headquarters is in downtown Bethlehem, Pa., an emerging " creative
class " city with a rich history.
To commemorate the move, I headed up a 40-mile group bike ride
to carry the keys from our old offi ce in Hackettstown, N.J. - where
we had been for more than 60 years - to our new space in Bethlehem.
After our group of about a dozen bicyclists fi nished the route, I cut the
ribbon to offi cially open NKBA's third-fl oor headquarters at One West
Broad Street to the cheers of local dignitaries, association members and
partners and NKBA staff .
It will be the start, I know, of many such wonderful occasions in a city
that has world-class colleges and universities, a diverse population, the
award-winning Hotel Bethlehem and access to major transportation hubs.
As an alum of Moravian University, also located in Bethlehem, I'm a big
fan of this amazing city and encourage you to come visit.
" It's a big year for us in so many
ways. A new headquarters, a
60th anniversary and a KBIS that
is bigger and more exciting with
a nearly sold-out floor boasting
a roster that includes 80 new
exhibitors. "
Like many companies, NKBA's new 10,000-sq.-ft. " industrial chic " offi ce
was designed with a hybrid work environment in mind, supporting a mix of
in-person and virtual meetings. Th e layout of the space encourages group
collaboration, while also supporting the need for solo work.
It's an exhilarating time for us as we settle into our offi ces and look ahead
to being in Las Vegas for KBIS 2023. It's a big year for us in so many ways.
A new headquarters, a 60th anniversary and a KBIS that is bigger and
more exciting with a nearly sold-out fl oor boasting a roster that includes
80 new exhibitors.
As part of Design & Construction Week® (DCW), KBIS and the
International Builders' Show, owned by long-time DCW partner the
National Association of Homebuilders, this year off ers attendees even
more to see and do with the additions of the National Hardware Show,
10
/ NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2022
Surfaces and, more recently, Las Vegas Market.
What a way to celebrate the 60th anniversary
of NKBA and the 10th anniversary of DCW
in Las Vegas from Jan. 31 - Feb. 2, with more
products, more brands and, yes, more attendees.
Th e estimated 100,000 who will attend DCW
will be able to move easily between shows with
participating badges.
It's going to be quite a week you won't want to
miss. Th ere will be so much that's new and exciting
like the surprise " celebrity guest " at NKBA's
Design & Industry Awards to help us kick off
our 60th. (And I guarantee you it will be a BIG
surprise!) Well-known design infl uencers - a fi rst
for us - will be daily hosts on the KBIS NEXT
Stage, which debuts its latest state-of-the-art
design. Th e new German Pavilion heralds the
expansion of NKBA's Global Connect program,
which has really taken off this year - a year that
also saw me attend IFA Berlin, one of the largest
consumer electronics and home appliance shows
in the world.
It was a great experience for me and one, I'm
willing to bet, you will also have by attending
KBIS 2023. Make sure to register and keep up
to date by regularly checking KBIS.com and
NKBA.org/KBIS, as well as my LinkedIn feed
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/billdarcyjr/).
Here's to a bright and K+B-fi lled future! 
BILL DARCY
CEO,
National Kitchen + Bath
Association
Twitter: @NKBA_CEO
http://www.KBIS.com http://www.NKBA.org/KBIS https://www.linkedin.com/in/billdarcyjr/ http://www.twitter.com/NKBA_CEO
Kitchen & Bath Business November/December 2022

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