hi - i was a member but not anymore....i def fall on the camp of the nkb a being irrelevant....especially with all their certifcation silliness with the AKBD. I just don't see the need -- none of my sales team is certified and we do just fine thank you very much.

I think this whole thing is bull****. Without the NKBA consumers wouldnt feel comfortable buying a kitchen.  
 
They've done nothing but good for the industry and they are COMPLETELY relevant. 
 
PS. NKBA member here.

I agree with Henry. well said!

I own a dealership in SC. I've never hired a designer that does NOT have a CKD. Why? Because for my designers to build credibility amongst prospects, they need to have that. They are trained professionals - and without the NKBA - that would not be the case.

I think it's a great place...for designers to make designers feel good about each other. Not sure what anyone else in the industry would get out of it???

Gary - What kind of comment is that? You have NO idea what you are talking about and I bet you don't even attend chapter meetings.  
 
I'm sick and tired of people questioning the "value" of the NKBA. Either participate or don't...but throwing stones from the sidelines is just being hurtful and not constructive. 
 
I see both sides. I too have lapsed in my membership. I loved it then became disenchanted then got back in years later and became more active.  
 
I understand now that you get out of it what you put into it and I also understand there's much work left to do and we have a long way to go. 
 
Why not help change it instead of tear it down? Are you just a negative person by nature or do you actually have a point?

So, one of the comments above mentions that in order for designers to build credibility amongst prospects, they have to have a CKD. I would disagree. I feel like the CKD may help, in that it makes your designers look like professionals because they have letters after their names, but honestly, ask your prospects if they even know what the NKBA or a CKD is, and I bet you'll get some blank stares. The NKBA may mean something to you and your team, but if your prospects don't even know what it is, does it really make a difference? I think no. I am obviously not a member.

Laura, I assure you I meant no dis respect...I did however, wish to point out that to me - it seems the NKBA is very good at build recognition AMONG EACH OTHER. I'm not sure anyone else in the entire kitchen and bath industry really cares. Any why you may wonder? Because the NKBA is ONLY credible to those within the organization - the rest of us did not drink the same KOOL AID, that's all.  
 
I have nothing against the NKBA (I honestly don't) I just think that maybe it's time to recognize that they don't have all of the answers.

I'll have to say like with most of us there would be some room for improvement both regionally & nationally with the NKBA. However, it's a great networking opportunity for industry professionals & KBIS is a "ton of fun!" I think/hope you'll see some great changes in the NKBA's structure and relevance in the up coming years!!! I'm a board member for our regional/state chapter! Become involved in your local chapter and see how relevant it is to your business... you never know?

Any true kitchen salesperson would agree that having initials next to your name isn't going to help you much. Never been a member - never will. Because my customers dont care nor do they wish to learn about it. 
 
My suggestion is to get out of the chapter and get into the field where the sale happens. 
 
Just my two cents worth. 
 

Has anyone else noticed this discussion disappearing inside of groups on linkedin???

Sheila 
This was originally started in LinkedIn groups and moved to this blog when censorship reared its ugly head. Everyone can post here without worrying about pressure from outside forces. 
 
All feedback is being considered!

• I think the NKBA is as relevant as someone wants it to be.  
 
 
 
If I didn't have to drive 100 miles to attend a chapter meeting I might still be a member. The chapter meetings were beneficial for networking among peers. 
 
 
 
I do not love or hate the NKBA and  
 
I do not have any resentment to people who have attained certifications, but I feel that everything in this current business enviroment has to be evaulated on a return on investment basis. 
 
 
 
I feel the association has done great things regarding education and advancing the industry, but has done a very poor job in promoting what it means to the buying public the benefits of working with an NKBA member.  
 
 
 
(Everyone think back to the add campaigns touting the benefits of working with a realtor) 
 
 
 
Ask most people on the street what a CPA is and you will get a uniform answer. Ask them what a CKD/CBD/ACKBD/CKBP/CMKBD/ etc is and listen to the responses. 
 
 
 
In 18 years of kitchen and bath planning I have only had one prospective client ask about my credentials and professional membership and after viewing my portfolio and client references any fears she might have had were taken care of.  
 
 
 
I started out wanting to get a CKD, but given the organizations lack of marketing, and recent requirements of NKBA provided education I have decided that I really dont need the extra 3-5 letters after my name when there is no measurable return on the investment. 
 
 
 
I have mentioned to the education and certification commitees that they need to have the option to allow someone with the required experience and references sit for the exam. Several years ago the requirements were 7 years and references. Only recently have the mandatory education requirements been added. If I don't feel prepared to sit for the exam then the NKBA offers some very informative classes that I am allowed to take to prepare myself. To require that I attend and pay for classes from the NKBA to be elligible to take the exam to me is nothing but a way of generating revenue. 
 
 
 
As Dennis Miller said every night. " of course, thats just my opinion, I could be wrong"

I posted this as a comment in a Linked In debate. I re-post here to add my 2 cents in this question. - 
 
"Debate is very healthy and I appreciate you willing to bring up this closed door subject. Having looked at your LI profile, it appears you have been in the K&B business for sometime, and no doubt you have sold to both the ID and K&B designer. No doubt you have heard from your customers that this debate ( between the 2 groups regarding licensing) has repercussions and is not appreciated. The fact that some groups have removed the discussion from debate also is highly disturbing.  
As a Registered and Certified Interior Designer, I would never have dreamed of calling myself a Certified Kitchen Designer until I actually took coursework and a test that said I could call myself that. As a professor of both ID and K&B, I am careful to point out that learning just K&B does not make oneself an Interior Designer ( and vice versa) and if the student wishes just to pursue the K&B curriculum, then they would find any number of avenues for them to work within the industry, most notably the residential side of the profession. If they want to be able to compete further, then they need to add to their credentials, usually by furthering their education to four years ( a BA in ID) and then add to their experience by working in the field and eventually sitting for the NCIDQ test.  
That being said, whether anyone likes it or not, a commercial designer typically is responsible for much more within an interior environment than a residential designer. With that responsibility comes more liability, more education and more costs. No one is preventing a residential designer from calling themselves an Interior Designer, but many jurisdictions are coming to or have put in place, the title "registered" or "certified" in front of the generic term interior designer, in order for the public to know that the holder of that title has completed further education and testing. No state restricts the use for residential work, only for code-enforced environments over 5000 sq ft. McMansions aside, I doubt many residential kitchens hit that size. Again, thanks for bringing this subject to the light, let it shine!"

I have been asked if I'm an NKBA member twice over the course of six years working as a Designer for a residential remodeling firm. I agree with David that if an individual wants to sit for the exam, they shouldn't be required to accumulate education hours to be eligible if they have relative experience and/or hold a degree in a related field. I am a member and enjoy attending meetings when they are less than 80 miles away. .

Wow quite a discussion. I am heavily active in the NKBA on the local level and on the National level. Recently I had a colleague tell me that at his firm that has certified designers and non-certified designers that the CKD's outperform the non-certified designers by over 20%. To boost his business he is simply going to hire CKD's and thereby grow his business by 20% relevant value! Interestingly a valuable fact that I learned by being involved and now I know something about my competitors views, Networking Value! Those of you that find the NKBA irrelevant are not looking beyond your business. Secondly the misconception about certification and all those thousands of dollars needed to become certified let's look at the facts. The NKBA gives credit for relevant college credits in design and business classes. If you have an degree nearly all your educational requirements would be waived except for maybe 8-16 hours of specific kitchen/bath design or business education that your transcript maybe lacking. A clear lack of knowledge on the part of the person making the comment does not make it true. The NKBA is very successful. KBIS Was smaller this year but I found the experience more relevant than any other year. The conference sessions were all excellent, the speakers, the topics very relevant current and informative. I had in-depth interactions with vendors who were all eager to talk to prospects. It was an excellent show.

I have a ID degree and over 20 years experience specializing in kitchen, bath & furniture design. I believe the NKBA is valuable in establishing industry standards and awareness. Unfortunately it has been my experience that the independent CKD drawings I typically see are at best mediocre. Many seem to design in a style akin to "paint by numbers". When studying the course some years ago, that seemed to be the method. It didn't make any sense to me personally. Perhaps I've just encountered the worst and many legitimate, creative people have taken the training and are very skilled. Unfortunately it seems there are folks that hide behind the designation and think it makes up for poor ideas. I never would wish the consumer to be fooled by this. Any forum that encourages training and product knowledge is valuable and should be embraced by the industry in general. That should be the role, not just the issuing of a piece of paper.

Hi My name is Dan I've been in this business since 1968 I don't support The NKBA. If you check its history with old timers It is nothing but a money making Organization from New Jersey Started by some New Jersey Dealers that had good interntions but soon turned into a money making organization that had some nasty in fighting for control at it's beginning and soon became a nice money making organization that soon was making money for the .....Who! .......OH ... the board members and salaried employees some with hefty incomes..like so many "non profit organizations" what have the done 
1. Gotten in bed with the Large distributer, Manufacturers, ane Large retailers, churned out thousands of wide eyed begginers that work at Big Boxes for $12.00 or maby 18.00 an Hr and who stock shelves wear an apron and basically are treated like like dopes ,(sorry but that's the truth of the matter) ....is that a helping us .....no thanks Thanks NKBA