KBB - October 2014 - 8

SHOW DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Celebrating Innovation
One of the great pleasures of my job is that I have the opportunity
and privilege to speak with some incredibly talented professionals
from our industry on a daily basis. Whether with a manufacturer or
designer, dealer or architect, I am constantly impressed with the level
of talent in the marketplace today. Your passion for great design is
what drives us.
Just recently I was encouraged by a long-time customer to reach
out to the faculty at the Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design
regarding the FutureHAUS design project. The goal of this research is
to create high-density urban architecture that can be mass-produced
in a factory, much like an airplane. A cornerstone of this project is
the FutureHAUS Kitchen. After speaking with the lead faculty, I was
absolutely blown away by their vision to create a well-designed, highly
efficient and very functional connected kitchen as a part of the whole
home experience.
Of course the concept of the future kitchen or even the
connected kitchen is nothing new. In fact, many of the materials,
products and technologies used for this project are readily available
in the marketplace today. The technology alone is not what was so
impressive. What really caught my attention was how these students
(yes students) have brought the various design disciplines together
into a well-thought-out finished product. The faculty at Virginia
Tech believe these highly innovative design elements and building
processes will significantly change the way we approach urban
development in the future.
However, innovation in design is not just limited to projects like
this. In fact, I would contest that major innovations are taking place
throughout our industry in product development, sustainable building
practices and ultimately how we engage with the consumer. Our goal
is to highlight these innovations and offer you suggestions on how to
leverage these new products and techniques in your own business.
That said, you can rest assured that this issue will not disappoint.
To get a sneak peak at everything innovative you will see at KBIS,
please read the Countdown to Design & Construction Week special
section beginning on page 41. Don't forget that registration and
housing are now open at www.kbis.com, so be sure to register early
for the best rates. Your 2015 KBIS badge will offer you access to all of
Design & Construction Week, which has expanded to include the Las
Vegas Winter Market and International Surface Event, in addition to
the International Builders' Show and International Wall Coverings Expo.
Don't forget to join the conversation and get involved on all of
our social channels. We would love to connect with you on Twitter at
#KBIS2015 or join our weekly Google+ chats every Thursday at 1 p.m. n

Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) 2015
January 20-22, 2015
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas
www.kbis.com
1145 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 355
Alpharetta, GA 30009

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Joe Randall
joe.randall@emeraldexpo.com
VP KITCHEN AND BATH GROUP
Brian Pagel
(770) 291-5438
brian.pagel@emeraldexpo.com
SALES MANAGER
Amy Hornby
(770) 291-5434
april.hayslip@emeraldexpo.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Maria Hill
(770) 291-5419
maria.hill@emeraldexpo.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Diana Gallagher
(770) 291-5436
diana.gallagher@emeraldexpo.com
MARKETING MANAGER
Rebecca Corbett
(770) 291-5459
rebecca.corbett@emeraldexpo.com
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Lane Vento, CMP
(770) 291-5538
lane.vento@emeraldexpo.com

President
John A. Petrie, CMKBD
President-Elect
Maria Stapperfenne, CKD, CBD
Vice President
Ric Coggins
Treasurer
Denise M. Dick, CMKBD
Secretary
Debra H. Robinson
Immediate Past President
John K. Morgan
Chief Executive Officer
Bill Darcy
Senior Director of Finance
Stephen Graziano
General Counsel and Director of Legislative Affairs
Edward S. Nagorsky
Director of Business Development and Member Relations:
Suzie Williford

Brian Pagel
Vice President, Kitchen and Bath Group
brian.pagel@emeraldexpo.com

8

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K BB

October 2014 / www.kbbonline.com / The Official Sponsor of KBIS www.kbis.com

Director of Learning
Nancy Barnes
http://www.kbis.com http://www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com
KBB - October 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - October 2014
