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Editorial { Eliot Sefrin, Publisher Emeritus } ® Celebrating 50 Years of Service I t's time for a celebration – and not simply because the housing market, after languishing for fve-plus years, is fnally exhibiting signs of a genuine turnaround. Instead, the celebration in question is in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Kitchen & Bath Association. And it's certainly well deserved. Before the NKBA was founded, there was literally nothing in the way of a professional kitchen and bath industry. Kitchen design was in its infancy, bathroom design non-existent. A scattered universe of selftrained lumbermen, carpenters, millwork shops and home builders dominated the design/sales/installation landscape. The NKBA, more than any single factor, changed all that. Founded as the American Institute of Kitchen Dealers (AIKD), the association nurtured the growth of the kitchen/bath industry, helping transform it into a respected profession practiced by tens of thousands of highly trained specialists. Just as importantly, the NKBA gave the industry an identity and voice, bonding its members by linking them through their common livelihood. Its milestones are numerous. Along the course of its 50-year history, the NKBA set standards, established guidelines and expanded the boundaries for design and product use. It educated thousands of industry professionals, and enhanced the professionalism of its members. It conducted research, launched competitions, established certifcation programs and embarked on public relations campaigns and consumer promotions. It established a national convention and educational conference, published technical manuals and created a wide range of networking opportunities. And, all the while, it grew from the handful of visionaries who founded it as a A CYGNUS BUSINESS MEDIA PUBLICATION Group Publisher John Huff Publisher Emeritus Eliot Sefrin dealer-only association into an organization of some 60,000 business professionals spanning virtually all segments of the industry. It would be misleading to imply that the NKBA hasn't seen its share of controversy, economic distress and turnover. But what 50-yearold association hasn't experienced those issues? And how many have the legs to nevertheless reach their Golden Anniversary? Not many, one would suspect. In that sense, the NKBA has defed most odds. After 50 years, it is still standing, still providing valuable services, still attracting members and still eliciting support from hard-working ofcers, legions of volunteers in chapters across North America and a dedicated cadre of stafers at the association's New Jersey headquarters. What the NKBA means to members is perhaps expressed most eloquently by its past and current presidents (see stories, Page 22 and 30), each of whom feels strongly that belonging to the association enabled them to achieve higher levels of personal and professional growth, and an unparalleled level of credibility in the eyes of customers and peers. And there is no argument whatsoever about that. Kitchen & Bath Design News is pleased to publish this 40-page supplement celebrating the NKBA's half-century of enhancing member success, promoting professionalism and providing industry leadership. KBDN joins a grateful industry in offering congratulations to the NKBA on its milestone anniversary. Hopefully, the next 50 years will prove equally substantive, as the association continues to serve the industry in innovative, meaningful ways. SPECIAL KBDN-NKBA SUPPLEMENT | 7 Editor Janice Anne Costa Managing Editor Anita Shaw Senior Editor Kim Berndtson Art Director Kirsten Crock Media Production Rep Cindy Rusch Editor, ForResidentialPros.com Andrea Girolamo Web Site Manager Thamaraj Udomwongyont Audience Development Manager Tammy Steller Reader Service Manager Jeff Heine Administrative Assistant Jenni Ehlke-Heyer SALES OFFICES National Sales Manager Michael Mandozzi East/Southeast Joanne Naylor Midwest Rick Dahl West/Southwest Kim Carroll Product & Literature Showcase/Classifieds Nancy Campoli EDITORIAL OFFICES 3 Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 301N Melville, NY 11747 CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 1233 Janesville Ave. Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 Phone: 631/845-2700; Fax: 631/845-2741 PUBLISHING HEADQUARTERS 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 200 Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Web Site: www.ForResidentialPros.com Copyright © 2013 by Cygnus Business Media, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be produced in any form, including electronically, without written permission from the publisher of Kitchen & Bath Design News.