Georgia Chapter

About Us

About the NKBA Georgia Chapter

Our local chapter in Georgia meets monthly (generally the 3rd Thursday of the month) at the variety of kitchen and bath showrooms throughout metro Atlanta to share our knowledge, learn together and support one another.  Currently we are about 1,550 members strong and consist of professional designers, remodelers, vendors and students.  Join our newsletter to stay informed with all our events and local news by clicking here.

Why join NKBA Georgia Chapter?  First and foremost, we are a welcoming group that loves to have fun while collaborating and supporting one another and sharing knowledge on a monthly basis.  Where else will you receive the best food (and drink) at the most up-to-date showrooms in the metro Atlanta area? 

Additionally, the NKBA Georgia Chapter celebrates the talent of its design community with an annual award celebration each October – the Designs of Distinction Awards.  The Georgia Chapter also reveals the latest in showroom design each December at our annual Holiday Progressive Dinner and it kicks off each year learning from one of the premier architects sharing his/her inspiration and work.  We value our members and look forward to a Membership Appreciation celebration each May.  

So what are you waiting for…come join us today and start meeting new people who share your passion and creativity for the Kitchen and Bath Community.  

Want more information on how to join our chapter?  Please email our membership chair, Maria Szeglowski, CKD; mszeglowski@richelieu.com 


Our History

Back in the early 1980’s, Ken Thelen and Harry Hurt gathered a small group of kitchen dealers, suppliers, and others and met in a run-down motel to discuss what would be involved to start a Georgia chapter of the American Institute of Kitchen Dealers (AIKD). Meanwhile, AIKD, which had begun in 1963, was undergoing a name change.

As written on NKBA’s website: “The AIKDs coined a new name to address the interests of the burgeoning bathroom industry, and in 1983 the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) was born. That same year, the NKBA created the Ambassadors’ Club to recognize members who have dedicated themselves to growing the Association by recruiting new members.” 

 From a small group of “instigators”, the NKBA GA/AL/TN chapter was formed, and after a time, it became the NKBA Ga/Tn chapter until eventually it evolved into what we know and love today – our NKBA Georgia Chapter.

 We’re continuing to fact-check and gather more information to round out our chapter’s history. Please email Cailin Thelen, CMKBD; cailin@thelendesigns.com, with note-worthy items.

Chapter Officers

President
Cailin M. Thelen, CMKBD
Kitchen & Bath Concepts
Thelen Designs, LLC
Dunwoody (Atlanta), GA 30338-3804
Programs Chair
Debbie Killeen
Sub-Zero Wolf Southeast Inc - Atlanta
Atlanta, GA 30305
Communications Chair
Amanda Grimshaw
Cambria
Duluth, GA 30097
Membership Chair
maria A SZEGLOWSKi, CKD
Richelieu America Ltd
Norcross, GA 30071
Membership Chair
Lisamarie Ramps
Vadara Quartz - La Vergne TN
La Vergne, TN 37086
Secretary/Treasurer
David Martinez
European Kitchen & Bathworks
Atlanta, GA 30324

Committee Members

Lisa Brooks
Student Liaison
Lisa Brooks Designs
About the NKBA
The NKBA is the world's leading trade association for the kitchen and bath industry providing tools, research, certification, and events to thousands of professionals. Established in 1963 as a network of kitchen dealers, it has evolved into the premier association of designers, retailers, remodelers, manufacturers, distributors, fabricators, installers and other industry professionals. Today, the NKBA represents an unparalleled network of peers, tools and resources designed to support professional growth and business success.