NKBA Announces 2008 Kitchen & Bath Hall Of Fame Inductees
Professionals recognized for their outstanding service to the kitchen and bath industry
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Claudette Hoffmann
Manager of Member Services
(800) THE-NKBA, x3219
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HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (February 5, 2008) - The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is pleased to announce this year's inductees into the Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of Fame, which honors professionals who have made exceptional contributions through long-term dedication to the industry. Hall of Fame nominations are submitted by NKBA voting members and reviewed by the Hall of Fame Committee.
The 2008 inductees are David H. Newton, CMKBD of David Newton and Associates in Knoxville, Tenn.; Kenneth S. Rohl, CEO of ROHL Corporation in Irvine, Calif.; and Eliot Sefrin, editorial director and publisher of Kitchen & Bath Design News in Melville, N.Y.
David H. Newton, CMKBD, David Newton and Associates
David's introduction to the kitchen and bath industry came in 1970, managing a building products distributor. In 1986, he became the director of training for the National Kitchen and Bath Association, teaching the three-day Kitchen Specialist Training School and creating the Bath Design course. David left the NKBA in 1989 to begin David Newton and Associates, but continued to teach and develop NKBA training programs.
David was one of the first trainers in the kitchen and bath industry to incorporate PowerPoint-style presentations and also introduced Kitchen and Bath CAD training into his design courses. David developed or co-developed ten of the programs presented by NKBA during 2007, as well as six of the new NKBA web-based seminars. He co-authored Kitchen and Bath Drawing, part of the NKBA Professional Resource Library. The "Kitchen and Bath Business Exam Tips" column, written by David, appears regularly in Profiles Magazine, the NKBA's quarterly publication.
Kenneth S. Rohl, CEO, ROHL Corporation
Kenneth S. Rohl is Chief Executive Officer of ROHL Corporation, a marketer of high-end kitchen and bath products. Ken began his company as Western States Manufacturing in 1983, introducing the pull-out kitchen faucet to the U.S. The company was renamed ROHL in 1991 and its products are now featured in more than 900 luxury showrooms across the U.S. The company has supplied more than 300,000 pull-out faucets to the U.S. market. The ROHL product line continues to grow far beyond the original pull-out faucet. It now includes a wide range of top quality faucets and fixtures.
Ken has also directly contributed to the National Kitchen and Bath Association in a number of capacities, including serving as a member of the Board of Directors, National Strategic Planning Group, National Manufacturer's Representatives Council and NKBA Ambassador's Club, as well as serving as the vice president of the Southern California Chapter for six years.
Eliot Sefrin, Editorial Director and Publisher, Kitchen & Bath Design News
Eliot Sefrin is the founding editor of Kitchen & Bath Design News, which has now served kitchen and bath trade professionals for 25 years. He was given the dual title of editorial director and publisher in 1994, and has also served as group publisher for KBDN's parent company, Cygnus Business Media, with oversight responsibilities for KBDN's sister magazines Qualified Remodeler, Residential Design/Build and Surface Fabrication.
KBDN has helped shape, define and educate a maturing kitchen and bath industry marked by growth, new forms of competition and an increased fashion emphasis. In the process, the magazine has helped raise the professionalism and profitability of its 50,000 monthly readers. In partnership with the NKBA, KBDN also co-produced the highly successful "Designing for Profit," "Profitable Showroom Design" and "Pathways to Profit" seminars aimed at delivering education to kitchen and bath professionals in key metropolitan markets.
About the National Kitchen & Bath Association
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a non-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS®). With more than 41,000 members, the NKBA has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry for 45 years. The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry. For more information, please visit the NKBA Press Room at www.nkba.org/press or call (800) THE-NKBA.