Kitchen & Bath Business September/October 2023 - 24

NKB A HALL
OF F AME
Celebrating the Exceptional
The NKBA Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of Fame honors the individuals
who have made the biggest difference in the kitchen and bath industry
THE KITCHEN AND BATH are the two most essential
rooms of the home, used by the whole
family ... Every. Single. Day. Th e K&B industry
is innovative, with agents of change who transform
the industry by improving its products and
its designs so they function better, enhancing the
lives of homeowners everywhere.
Th e NKBA Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of
Fame recognizes the innovators whose creativity
and passion have driven extraordinary diff erences
in these essential spaces and the industry as a
whole. Th ey might be honored for inventing a
revolutionary product or technology or creating
an innovative design that aff ects the very way we
interact in these spaces. Some have redefi ned how
products are made, sold or distributed, others have
displayed an overall dedication and service to the
industry or NKBA, while others have cultivated
the next generation of industry professionals.
Since 1989, the Hall of Fame has honored
nearly 100 inductees who have contributed to the
growth and professionalism of the association
and the kitchen and bath industry. Individuals
are nominated by NKBA members, then reviewed
by a standing program committee and
recommended for fi nal approval by the NKBA
Board of Directors.
Here's a spotlight on four inductees we are
celebrating for their commitment to the future,
whether they are leaders in education, environmentalism
or accessibility within the kitchen and
bath industry and beyond.
KATHLEEN PARROTT, PH.D., CKE, INDUCTED 2020
Kathleen Parrott has devoted her career to educating
aspiring kitchen, bath and home designers.
A professor in Virginia Tech's Department of
Apparel, Housing and Resource Management,
Parrott was instrumental in creating NKBA's
Professional Resource Library as a co-author
of the landmark kitchen and bath planning
guidelines. She is a Certifi ed Kitchen Educator
and founding faculty member of Virginia Tech's
24
/ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023
ABOVE 2020 NKBA Chair
Allison Lowrie inducts
Kathleen Parrott, Ph.D., CKE,
into the National Kitchen &
Bath Industry Hall of Fame at
KBIS 2020 in Las Vegas.
Center for Real Life Kitchen Design, where she is chair of its advisory
board. She has been published in numerous prestigious academic journals
and brings a consistently high level of intellect, knowledge and professionalism
to all her endeavors.
GUNNAR BALDWIN, CLIPP, INDUCTED 2016
Water conservationist Gunnar Baldwin joined TOTO in 1990, when the
Japan-based manufacturer opened its American subsidiary. He represented
TOTO on several green building committees, including the fi rst U.S.
Green Building Council Water Effi ciency Technical Advisory Group, and
was a charter director of the Alliance for Water Effi ciency. In the '70s, he
pioneered the fi rst code-approved, low-consumption toilet to reduce the
environmental impact of wastewater, and he has lobbied for incentives for
water conservation and trumpeted universal design. A member-employee
of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Baldwin is now
semi-retired, consulting as a water effi ciency specialist.
MARY JO PETERSON, CMKBD, CAPS, CAASH, INDUCTED 2009
An author, speaker and instructor for NKBA, Mary Jo Peterson owns her
namesake design practice that is focused on residential and commercial building
projects. She has trained staff on incorporating universal design principles,
including national builders on the design of spaces and manufacturers on
the design of products. An advocate for change toward and education in the
Kitchen & Bath Business September/October 2023

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