KBB - November/December 2014 - 38

KBIS SPECIAL SECTION

The NKBA Announces
2015 30 Under 30
Award Recipients
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has chosen its
30 Under 30 recipients for the third-annual 30 Under 30 award. Through
this program, these individuals will be able to apply themselves to new
opportunities for growth and development in support of the industry.
The group of young professionals will travel the show ﬂoor and report
on key industry trends.
In the "Introductions to the Industry" program, the 2015 30 Under 30
group will make its debut on January 20, at 10:15 a.m. at Center Stage,
NKBA Booth #N2163 and be introduced to the industry professionals at
KBIS. During the show, they will work in 10 groups of three to conduct
research on design trends, such as sustainability, aging in place and
multi-generational, as well as such business trends as global inﬂuences,
products and systems. In a presentation on Jan. 21 at Center Stage,
the 30 Under 30 group will present their research on critical kitchen
and bath industry trends and answer questions regarding issues
professionals face in their businesses.
The candidates selected for 2015 program include: Emily
Alt, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen; Melissa Austin, AKBD, Afﬁnity
Stoneworks/Afﬁnity Kitchen and Bath; Jamie Banﬁeld, Jamie
Banﬁeld Design; Jonathan Barfell, Jenn-Air; Krista Benton, AKBD,
CabinetWerks a div. of Orren Pickell Building; Danielle Bohn, AKBD,
Creative Kitchen Designs, Inc.; Stephanie Brick, Associate AIA,
LEED GA, Nicely Done Kitchens & Baths; Deena Castello, Cabochon
Surfaces & Fixtures; Michelle Eglington, Euro-Line Appliances West,
Inc.; Monty Elsabbagh, Canadian General Contractors Group; Kara
Feinberg, Allied Kitchen and Bath; Megan Greve, Edmond Kitchen
& Bath, LLC; Katharine Hatcher, Southern Kitchens; Jag Khangura,
Kitply Industries; Jennifer Murphy, Associates in Building + Design;
Jessica Petrino, Yale Appliance and Lighting; Kerri Plazza, Cabinets
Extraordinaire; Chelsey Preuss, Minnesota Cabinets, Inc.; Leanne
Richard, The Home Depot; Amanda Rivera, Moen Incorporated;
Katie Roberts, Amerock; Victoria Ross, Cosentino; Diana Runyon,
Select Kitchen and Bath; Nikki Sayers, Huntwood Cabinets; Damara
Scheeler, North Star Remodeling; Megan Siason, Marrokal Design &
Remodeling; Tyl Thomas, Panda Kitchen & Bath Expo; Alexandria
Van Nuys, Lane Homes & Remodeling; Brynne Welper, The Home
Depot; Elizabeth Wesley, Lifestyle Kitchen Studio.
K+BB spoke to a select few of the group to get a more in-depth
look at why they made the cut and what they hope to gain from
the program.

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Jamie Banﬁeld, Jamie Banﬁeld Design,
Surrey, B.C.
Jamie Banﬁeld is truly inspired by the natural
beauty that surrounds him in western Canada and
how important it is to be sustainable in every aspect
of his life. His father instilled in him these values at a
young age, as he worked with reclaimed materials
to create new and beautiful pieces for their home. Banﬁeld says his
team shares this passion, and it is a driving force in everything they do
- being careful to select craftspeople and suppliers who share those
values and offer products that are made with local materials.
"By sourcing within British Columbia, our home base, it gives our clients
a sense of pride in knowing that the products are locally made and that
we are all doing our part to contribute to the economy," he added. "For
those clients who don't immediately share our values of being green,
we believe this offers an opportunity for education. A number of people
believe being environmentally conscious is more costly, but we show
them that it can actually save them time and money."
Banﬁeld and his team recently completed a project in an older
home where the client wanted to tear out the existing hardwood
ﬂooring and replace it with hardwood ﬂooring in another color. Instead
of replacing the entire ﬂooring, they removed the damaged pieces,
spliced in the new hardware as needed and re-stained the existing
wood to suite their client's taste.
"The ﬂoors came out looking brand new," he said, "and we saved
our client on budget and labor while extending the life of the existing
and new repurposed ﬂooring."
Another sustainable tactic Banﬁeld uses is to look at homes and
see which elements can be repurposed within the space, which could
mean something as simple as adding new elements to light ﬁxtures or
repainting. As part of the 30 Under 30 program, he is excited to meet
the other winners, learn how they work and about what problems they
come across and ways in which to solve them.
"My expertise in the kitchen and bath design realm will be an
asset," he added, "but I do believe that it is my passion, love of design
and business and my out-of-the-box creative thinking that can add
value to the industry."

Krista Benton, AKBD, CabinetWerks, a division
of Orren Pickell Building, Northﬁeld, Ill.
Being able to design for people of all ages
and abilities is extremely important to Krista
Benton, who has received her Certiﬁed Aging in
Place Specialist designation from the National
Association of Homebuilders.
"When I was receiving my designation, I was working in a kitchen
and bath showroom that primarily catered to the Baby Boomer
demographic who were looking to ﬁnd ways to stay in their current
homes for as long as possible," she said. "This made me truly think
about the importance of long-term design and ways to make spaces

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KBB - November/December 2014

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