Beyond Networking: Turning Association Involvement Into Career Growth & Industry Influence

Surface finish decisions are often driven by aesthetics, yet they can significantly impact durability, maintenance requirements, occupant health, sustainability outcomes, and long-term project success. In kitchen and bath environments, where surfaces are exposed to moisture, wear, cleaning chemicals, and daily use, selecting the right finish requires balancing multiple competing priorities.

This highly interactive workshop introduces a Surface Finish Decision Framework that designers can use to evaluate finish options and make more informed specification decisions. Working in small groups, participants will apply the framework to a series of real-world kitchen and bath project scenarios, considering factors such as environmental conditions, performance requirements, maintenance expectations, sustainability goals, budget constraints, and aesthetic intent.

Through collaborative exercises and facilitated discussion, attendees will compare approaches, explore trade-offs, and discover how different priorities can lead to different finish recommendations. Participants will leave with a practical decision-making tool that can be immediately applied to future projects.

Tariffs. Interest rates. Inflation. Global instability. The headlines have been relentless—and so has their effect on homeowner confidence.

Whether they were planning to buy their first home, move up to a larger one, or finally tackle the kitchen or master bath they have been putting off, millions of homeowners have pressed pause. But how long is that pause, really? And what would it take to end it?  This session presents original research, debuted at KBIS, on the psychology of the delayed homeowner.

We go beyond measuring hesitation to understand it: which specific economic conditions are doing the most damage, how homeowners are thinking about the future, and, most critically, which signals they are watching for that would give them the confidence to move forward. We also look at how professionals on the ground are reading this moment and maintaining relationships with clients who are not ready to pull the trigger today but will be. The findings offer a clear-eyed picture of where demand is going and how industry professionals can position themselves to capture it when the window reopens.

This presentation focuses on three key areas of outdoor kitchen design: the existing landscape, the architectural style, and the human element. Learn how to create sophisticated, functional spaces that prioritize client comfort and ensure long-term durability.

Attendees will gain actionable strategies for designing sophisticated and functional outdoor kitchens that blend seamlessly with the natural landscape and surrounding architecture. They'll learn how to prioritize client comfort, incorporate key human-centric design elements, and ensure lasting performance in outdoor cooking and entertaining spaces.