NKBA Educators
Dr. Glenda Andes, CKD
Dr. Glenda Andes is an interior designer specializing in universal and senior design. She prefers to design kitchens and bathrooms because she believes that individuals must be able to fully use these rooms if they are to live independently in their homes. While she travels as a speaker, consultant, and kitchen and bath designer, she is based in Raleigh, NC. Dr. Andes’ research has been published in housing and engineering journals and presented at numerous professional and industry meetings. Her dissertation research was awarded the Graduate Student Research Award (for Outstanding Research Relevant to Aging and Directly Applicable to Practice) by the American Society on Aging, the 2005 Polsky Academic Achievement Award from ASID, and a national research recognition award from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. She teaches the Aging in Place one-hour webinar and the Aging in Place instructor-led course at K/BIS in 2009.
Darrill Andries, CKD
Darrill Andries, CKD has over 15 years in the kitchen and bath industry. He holds a B.A. in Art-Interior Design from SDSU and is NCIDQ certified. With a professional focus in the cabinet industry, Andries experience and expertise includes hand drafting, design, CAD system operation, installation, project management and sales. Having worked several years as a regional corporate trainer, he has conducted over 400 seminars and authored manuals and programs. Having been based in both Chicago and Southern California, Andries is currently a trainer and territory manager for a national cabinet company. He co-wrote and teaches Residential Green and also teaches Introduction to Hand Drafting.
Barbara Barton, CMKBD
Barbara Barton, CMKBD is a designer and marketing/appliance specialist who has shared over 30 years of business and sales experience with several kitchen and bath dealerships, as well as major appliance distributors. She has been active with NKBA chapters for many years. Barbara is a past NKBA Design Competition award winner and has had her designs and articles published in local newspapers, magazines, and trade periodicals. Barbara conducts seminars for kitchen and bath dealers and trade organizations such as the NKBA, AIA, and ASID. Barbara’s expertise includes speaking on other business/marketing and sales topics, along with advanced designer trainings in appliance and cabinetry application, professional development, and motivation.
Morton Block, CMKBD
Morton Block, CMKBD is an award-winning designer and training consultant, an author, and speaker. His practical, yet innovative, design solutions and training styles have significantly influenced the kitchen and bath industry throughout North America for more than 30 years. Block teaches, Kitchen Starter, Bath Starter, Kitchen & Bath Krafter, and wrote and teaches many webinars.
Robert Blakeman, AIA, LEED AP
Robert Blakeman, AIA, LEED AP is Senior Vice President with Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor, a full-service architectural engineering firm. Blakeman has shared his expertise on sustainable design at national conferences and has been instrumental in creating spaces that provide natural day lighting, cutting-edge lighting systems, and reduced operating costs with renewable energy systems. He is a member of USGBC and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Blakeman teaches Residential Green, and wrote and teaches Experience Green and Sustainable Design.
Michael Cavallaro, CKD, CBD
Michael Cavallaro, CKD, CBD, of MC Designs, has been involved in the kitchen and bath industry since 1972. Cavallaro's experience includes operating a family kitchen business, managing remodeling projects from the close of the sale to coordination and completion, and simultaneously developing customer awareness within the industry through local media. He teaches Kitchen Starter and Bath Starter.
Ellen Cheever, CMKBD
Ellen Cheever, CMKBD has spent 30 years redefining the kitchen. Although her focus is specific, her expertise touches many venues. As product consultant, author, designer, and industry spokesperson, Cheever educates and impacts the lives and workspaces of homeowners, designers, and manufacturers. She wrote and teaches Pathways to Profit and Profitable Showrooms.
Hank Darlington, MBA
Hank Darlington, MBA has 40 years experience as a business owner, professional manager, industry consultant, author, writer, speaker, and teacher. Darlington and his business are nationally recognized and have received numerous national awards. He wrote and teaches Successful Selling and the Business Management Workshop.
Michael DeLuca, CKD
Michael DeLuca, CKD is a designer of many talents. In addition to being a licensed general contractor, NKBA instructor, and an award-winning interior designer, DeLuca is on a continual learning path. He wrote and teaches Kitchen & Bath Lighting Made Easy.
Kathleen Donohue, CMKBD
Kathleen Donohue, CMKBD, of Neil Kelly Company, lives and works in Oregon, serving as a designer of a branch showroom. She led a team of designers to develop and bring to market the American Craftsman Collection, Transitions Collection and the Naturals Collection of cabinets for Neil Kelly. Donohue wrote and teaches Theme Design Principles.
Robin R. Fisher, CMKBD, CAPS
Robin R. Fisher is a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer (CMKBD) and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) with the Neil Kelly Company. She is a national speaker & educator with the NKBA and her award-winning designs have been featured in multiple local and national trade and consumer magazines. In Robin’s 24 years in the industry, she has been a founding partner of both a Portland design/build remodeling firm and an independent residential design firm. Her professional experience includes general contracting, project manager, and designer, but her true passion lies in designing kitchens and baths.
As an advocate of Sustainable Design, Robin has been a featured speaker both locally and nationally. In 2008, she was a featured speaker at the NKBA’s Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Chicago.
Jeffrey Holloway, CKD, CBD
Jeffrey Holloway, CKD, CBD, of Holloway Home Improvement Center, lives and works in Marmora, New Jersey. With a talented and experienced team, he designs, sells, and builds luxury kitchen & bath renovations to the surrounding community. Holloway has been remodeling kitchens & baths for over 21 years. He has been responsible for the construction of new homes, whole house renovations, and small additions. Holloway teaches Kitchen Starter, Bath Starter, Job Installation & Project Management, Advanced Kitchen & Bath, and Krafter.
Anthony Izzo, CKD
Tony has been working for Curtis Lumber for 17 years. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History/ International Business and was recently promoted as a manager of the company’s kitchen and bath business. Tony’s responsibilities include identifying areas of potential growth, design and sales training, product development, and marketing. Tony is an NKBA Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) and has written articles for the Glens Falls Business Journal; one of his designs was also published in Woman’s Day Special Interest Publications in June 2005. Tony is active in his local NKBA chapter and has represented the chapter at the national level. His input is sought after by cabinetry companies on a regular basis through their product development forums and he has recently joined the NKBA as a trainer. Tony teaches Business and Sales courses.
Susan Jacobs, CKD, CBD, CAPS
Susan Jacobs, CKD, CBD, CAPS has been an NKBA member and designer since 1987. She is an NKBA Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) and Certified Bath Designer (CBD), and is a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist through the National Home Builders Association. Susan is currently employed at Pumco Interiors Kitchen and Bath in Petoskey, MI. In addition to designing high quality kitchens and baths, she conducts monthly kitchen and bath seminars as a service to the public.
Since 2001, Susan has held several Board of Directors positions for the NKBA's Northern Michigan Chapter, including Vice President of Government Relations, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Programs, President, and Chapter Representative. Susan has also served on the national level for the certification subcommittee and was a past judge for the NKBA Design Competition.
Ken Jones, MBA
Ken Jones, MBA has more than 25 years of experience creating, building, and selling businesses. His background includes an array of responsibilities with documented success in the areas of entrepreneurial development, turnaround management consulting, software development and implementation, and e-business creation. Jones' background also includes experience in financial management, sales management, and strategic marketing. Jones teaches the Business Management Workshop, and wrote and teaches Mind Your Own Business, and Sales: Managing the Outcome.
Jim Krengel, CMKBD
Jim Krengel, CMKBD, of Kitchens by Krengel, Inc., began his career in 1966 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Today, that design studio is in its third generation of ownership and Krengel spends the majority of his time writing and lecturing. He wrote and teaches Creativity in Action- Kitchen Design and Creativity in Action- Bath Design, and also teaches Certification Prep.
Carol Lamkins, CMKBD, CID
Carol Lamkins, a Certified Master in Kitchen & Bath Design, Certified Interior Designer, and Certified in Family and Consumer Science, is a graduate of California State University-Long Beach with a specialization in interior design, housing, equipment and foods, and a minor in science.
Carol has been a space planner and interior designer for kitchens, baths, and related rooms since 1980, a representative and spokesperson for industry product for over two decades, and a prior co-owner of a kitchen and bathroom design center and showroom. Carol’s experience also includes over twenty years of public speaking and teaching at the adult, college, trade and professional levels, nationally and internationally. With exceptional knowledge of universal design, Carol was chosen to design a for the HGTV Designer’s Challenge. She has also recently been published in Designed in Orange County, A Collection of Southern California’s Finest Designers.
Jennie Lund, CMKBD
From home centers to custom cabinetry, Jennie Lund, CMKBD has experience in all segments of the cabinet design industry. She has been the featured designer on “For Your Home,” an internationally syndicated PBS home improvement series, produced by Cutter Productions. As a frequent speaker at regional home shows, such as Southern Ideal Home Show, Southern Spring Home and Garden Show, and the Southern Women’s Shows, Jennie is also an award-winning show house designer for the Women’s Club.
Ann Morris, CMKBD
Ann Morris, CMKBD works for Allied Kitchen and Baths in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as a Design Consultant. Morris has been in the kitchen and bath design business for 20+ years and has designed and installed projects domestically as well as internationally. Her work has been featured in national publications such as McCall's, New York Times, Gourmet Magazine, Town & Country, Better Homes and Gardens, and Inspired House. In 2006, Morris appeared on HGTV's "I Want That Bath" where she designed a guest bathroom in Island Colonial Style. She wrote and teaches Design With Color.
Judith A. Neary, CMKBD
Judith A. Neary, CMKBD is with Pacific Crest Industries, a custom cabinet manufacturer producing the Bellmont and Amero lines, based in Sumner Washington,. Judith holds a key position with this vibrant and growing Puget Sound company in development of training and design support programs for their network of dealers. With over 25 years of industry experience, she began her career in commercial and hospitality design. She continued to develop her skills and style designing and building custom cabinetry, case goods and furniture. She spent twelve years with a national retailer in training and merchandizing. In addition to showroom space planning and design her various responsibilities included development and implementation of business processes and installation programs. Judith's extensive experience of design applications gives her a unique and comprehensive knowledge. Her teaching style assures that you will not be bored. She brings a passion for the Kitchen and Bath industry, a genuine desire to help people achieve, a personal commitment to make a difference and the determination to have fun doing it.
Judith teaches the three day AKBD Prep Course, the CKD/CBD Prep Course, the Complete Certification Prep Course, Documenting Bath Design and Documenting Kitchen Design.
David Newton, CMKBD
David Newton, CMKBD shares his experience, knowledge, and new trends in the industry with others. Newton's presentations are continuously rated high for instruction, knowledge of the industry, and a "voice of experience." His grasp of the profession and teaching skills make him a valuable member of our industry. Newton wrote and teaches Selling with Personality, Kitchen Starter, Bath Starter, Certification Prep, Kitchen & Bath Krafter, Documenting Kitchen Design, Documenting Bath Design, as well as many webinars and web series courses. In 2008, Newton was inducted into the Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of Fame.
Al Pattison, CMKBD
Al Pattison, CMKBD has over 35 years of experience in the industry. He is currently the manager of Kitchen Korner in Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada. Pattison founded the Western Canada Chapter of NKBA in 1988. A Past NKBA President, Al served on the National level since 1989. He was an NKBA teaching professional for six years, traveling throughout North America presenting courses for the Association. He was inducted into the Ambassador’s Club in 1990.
Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, CAPS, CAASH
Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, CAPS, CAASH, BA and Masters Degree, has more than 18 years experience as a designer in the field, and her work has earned national recognition. With specific expertise in universal design, Peterson has authored three books on the subject and is a frequent national speaker and educator. For the NKBA, Mary Jo wrote and teaches Design for All: Universal Design Strategies, Design for All: Universal Design Details, and Residential Green for Kitchens and Baths. Mary Jo is also a requested guest lecturer at Harvard University in Boston on the topic of kitchen and bath design.
Les Petrie, CMKBD
Les Petrie, CMKBD started his design career while selling diagnostic imaging equipment in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1986, he purchased Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry. Petrie soon earned his credentials as a CKD and CBD and was one of the first 50 CMKBDs. He has held nearly every officer position at both the chapter and national level and led the NKBA as national president in 2003. Petrie continues to write for local magazines and contributes to publications across the US, while also making design presentations for allied associations. He has presented both here and in England's largest kitchen and bath shows, Kitchen & Bath Expo and MasterClass, in both London and in Birmingham. Petrie continues to practice as an independent design consultant on the outer banks of North Carolina. He teaches Creativity in Action: Kitchen, Creativity in Action: Bath, and the Complete Certification Prep Course.
Jodi Tramontin, CKD, CBD
Jodi Tramontin is an NKBA Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) and Certified Bath Designer (CBD). With over 18 years of experience in the kitchen and bath industry, she has devoted the last 8 years of her career to training and mentoring kitchen and bath professionals. Jodi is the National Training Manager for Dura Supreme, Inc., a manufacturer of semi-custom and custom cabinetry located in Howard Lake, Minnesota with a nationwide network of kitchen and bath dealers. She is responsible for the development and implementation of dealer education/training programs. Jodi teaches Kitchen and Bath Krafter and Advanced Kitchen and Bath Design.
Mark T. White, CKD
Mark T. White, CKD established Kitchen Encounters in 1981. With more than 25 years in business, this family-owned business is known for unique and creative designs, quality products and exceptional service. White developed the Interactive Design Process to ensure the very best results for customers' projects. He has been featured numerous times in national and regional publications as a contributing designer and writer. White teaches Introduction to Hand Drafting.