Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2020 - 47

KBIS 2020

KBB

SPECIAL

SECTION

Props and Praise
for Parrott

Virginia Tech professor is inducted
into the NKBA Kitchen and Bath
Hall of Fame
Kathleen Rose Parrott, Ph.D, CKE, was honored
for her contributions to the industry and the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) at
the Kitchen + Bath Design & Industry Awards
during January's edition of KBIS.
Allison Lowrie, chairman of the NKBA Board
of Directors, inducted Parrott into the Kitchen
and Bath Hall of Fame. This distinction honors
individuals who have contributed to the growth
and professionalism of the association and the
kitchen and bath industry as a whole.
Whether recognized for their service to the
industry; inventing a new product, manufacturing process or marketing technique; developing
a groundbreaking technology; their service to
the association; or otherwise affecting some aspect of the business, these individuals are gamechangers. Their impact will be felt for years to
come, and this prestigious award acknowledges
their profound influence.
"This year, we have a very special honoree for
induction into the Hall of Fame," said Lowrie,
who is chief marketing officer for ANGI Homeservices, parent of Angi's List and HomeAdvisor.
"Kathleen Parrott has devoted her career to educating our future kitchen, bath and home designers as a professor in Virginia Tech's Department
of Apparel, Housing and Resource Management."

Allison Lowrie inducts

Kathleen Parrott into the
Kitchen + Bath Hall of Fame.
Photo by PWP Studio

VALUING INDUSTRY SUPPORT

ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOLADES

Parrott has been instrumental in the creation
of NKBA's Professional Resource Library, as a
co-author of Kitchen Planning: Guidelines, Codes
Standards, 2nd Edition, and Bath Planning: Guidelines, Codes Standards, 2nd Edition, in addition to
being published in numerous other prestigious
academic journals. She holds the distinction of
being a CKE - Certified Kitchen Educator -
and she is a founding faculty member of Virginia
Tech's Center for Real Life Kitchen Design and
chair of its advisory board.
Her primary areas of research include environmental issues in housing, kitchen and bath design,
housing for seniors and cross-cultural housing
perspectives.
She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master
of Arts degrees from Cornell University, as well
as her doctorate from the University of Nebraska
at Lincoln.
"Her nominators praised her high level of intellect, knowledge and professionalism, which makes

her an amazing co-author and a significant influence on her students and our
profession,"said Lowrie."They cited numerous awards won by her students,
her consistent contributions to NKBA's educational activities and engagement with industry leaders. And, quoting one of her former students, 'she
was hands-on and helped us think out of the box. She encouraged us to be
free thinkers while still reminding us of the guidelines and codes.' And isn't
that what the best educators do? They teach us to think!"

By DIANNE M. POGODA

"I am both humbled, and proud, by the recognition,"Parrott said upon accepting the award. "Being part of NKBA has been very important in my career."
She began by recognizing several of her current and former colleagues at
Virginia Tech, including Julia Beamish, JoAnn Emmel, Betty Lovingood,
Margaret Carneal and Greg Galford.
"There are many generous people in the industry who have been colleagues,
mentors and/or co-authors on what we always refer as The Books!" said Parrott. "Especially, I want to thank MaryJo Peterson and Ellen Cheever. And
if you haven't been to visit the Cheever Design Library at the Virginia Tech
Center for Real Life Design, consider this your personal invitation."
She also praised the companies in the industry that have supported the
Virginia Tech program in so many ways, including providing internships,
coming to campus to help teach, donating products and services and being
a study tour site and supporter.
"Finally, I want to thank my students,"she concluded."I am so very proud
that we now have Virginia Tech Hokies working in the industry all over the
country, doing fantastic jobs such as designers, project managers and taking
leadership roles within their companies. It is so exciting each year, when
the Thirty Under 30 list comes out, and I see the faces and names of former
students. That really helps to make it all worthwhile."
The NKBA Hall of Fame was established in 1989 and resides in NKBA's
Hackettstown, N.J., headquarters and online at nkba.org. Inductees are
selected by a standing program committee through member nominations.
The nomination process for 2021 inductees, who will be honored at KBIS
2021, Feb. 8 in Orlando, will open in September.

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2/13/20 4:32 PM

Kitchen & Bath Business - February/March 2020

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