Search IconA magnifying glass icon.

LAS VEGAS • FEB 25 – FEB 27, 2025

SHOW NEWS

NKBA with KBIS Supports New Philanthropic Campaign from This Old House, Generation Next, to Close the Skilled Worker Job Gap

Dec 20, 2016

This Old House to Present Initial Donation to mikeroweWORKS Foundation at ‘Beers & Cheers for Trade Careers’ in “The Backyard” on January 11 
NKBA Supports Campaign with Scholarship Donation and Promotional Platform at KBIS 2017 

(Hackettstown, NJ/Alpharetta, GA.) – December 20, 2016 – The National Kitchen & Bath Association with its Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) will host the first public event supporting the This Old House Generation Next philanthropic campaign to encourage and empower young people to join the skilled trades.  KBIS, the destination for kitchen and bath design professionals, will host a ‘Beers & Cheers for Trade Careers’ event with This Old House TV personalities in “The Backyard” January 11 from 4:30pm–6:00pm.  KBIS 2017 will take place in Orlando, January 10-12.

All proceeds from the campaign, which was announced last month by This Old House, will go to the mikeroweWORKS Foundation’s Work Ethic Scholarship Program, providing scholarships to people getting trained for skilled jobs in demand.  The entire crew from This Old House will attend KBIS 2017 to raise awareness about the Generation Next campaign. On January 10th, Kevin O’Connor, host of the Emmy-Award winning PBS series, This Old House, will introduce Generation Next to attendees before hosting Design Bites on the NKBA presents KBISNext Stage sponsored by HomeAdvisor. On January 11th, Norm Abram, This Old House master carpenter, will share details on how the kitchen and bath industry can get involved in this campaign. That afternoon, the television team will be joined by This Old House Ventures, CEO, Eric Thorkilsen, at the ‘Beers & Cheers for Trade Careers’ event at “The Backyard” from 4:30pm-6:00pm to present the inaugural check with donations raised to date for the mikeroweWORKS Foundation.

The NKBA is committing scholarship dollars to the effort, while also dedicating communications throughout 2017 to changing perceptions about vocational careers.

“As soon as we learned of the Generation Next campaign and its support of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation’s effort to close the skilled worker job gap, our entire team felt an instant desire to contribute and get involved,” said NKBA VP of Industry Relations Suzie Williford. “The NKBA is proud to support Generation Next and be a part of such an important cause.”

“The entire KBIS team is honored to be a part of Generation Next. Supporting the efforts of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to close the skilled worker job gap is a cause close to our hearts,” said Brian Pagel, VP Kitchen and Bath Group, Emerald Expositions.  “I’m proud that KBIS is providing the opportunity for the kitchen and bath industry to come together as a community and support such a valuable cause.

“I’m looking forward to KBIS,” added Norm Abram, This Old House master carpenter. “This is always a great event and it’s even more special this year as we raise awareness, and money, for scholarships to encourage more people to enter the skilled trades.”

Several KBIS exhibitors have generously signed on as early Generation Next supporters, including HomeAdvisor, American Standard, InSinkErator and Carhartt.

Three elite members of HomeAdvisor’s professional network will make a special appearance on the NKBA Presents KBISNeXT Stage following Design Bites on January 10th and 11thJosey ParksJosh Downing and Sean Shapiro will each share their unique experience as members of the skilled trade as inspiration for others considering a similar career path.

KBIS is owned by the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

 

About KBIS
KBIS, in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), is an inspiring, interactive platform that showcases the latest industry products, trends and technologies. KBIS is the voice of the kitchen and bath industry and has been for 50 years.

Early in 2013, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced an agreement to co-locate the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) with the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, Nev. in February 2014 under the banner of Design and Construction Week®. The mega-event will return Jan. 10-12, 2017, in Orlando. Kitchen and bath brands that have participated in both shows can continue to choose to exhibit in the KBIS or IBS hall. One pass will provide access to both exhibits. NKBA and NAHB will continue to produce separate educational programming and special events. For more information on KBIS, visit www.kbis.com. 

KBIS is operated by Emerald Expositions, a leading operator of large business-to-business trade shows in the United States, producing more than 80 trade shows and over 100 face-to-face events in total, including conferences, summits and other events. Emerald Expositions connects more than 335,000 sellers and buyers each year and operates within the U.S. in 10 end markets (Gift, Home, General Merchandise and Manufacturing; Sports & Apparel; Design; Jewelry, Luxury & Antiques; E-Commerce; Creative Services; Licensing; Healthcare; Military; and Food).

 

About the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS), as part of Design and Construction Week ® (DCW). With nearly 14,000 member companies representing tens of thousands of members in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry, the NKBA has educated and led the industry since the association’s founding in 1963. The NKBA envisions a world where everyone enjoys safe, beautiful and functional kitchen and bath spaces. The mission of the NKBA is to inspire, lead and empower the kitchen and bath industry through the creations of certifications, marketplaces and networks. For more information, visit NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522).

KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Beth Meiklejohn
White Good
717.693.3442
bmeiklejohn@whitegood.com

John O’Reilly
O’Reilly DePalma
815.469.9100
john.oreilly@oreilly-depalma.com

Loading...