Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM DECEMBER 2024 22 A S S O C I AT I O N [ N E W S ] N KBA's highly successful Specialty Badge program has added a new discipline: Appliance Specialist. The program launched at KBIS 2019 with four badges and has added four more since then. The Appliance Specialist is the ninth badge, joining Sales & Marketing, Floor Plans & Specifications, Color, Sustainability, Cabinetry, Remodeling, Lighting, and Universal Design. While NKBA's industry-leading CKBD and CMKBD certifications are centered on designers, the badges may be earned by members in any industry sector including designers, remodelers, manufacturers, dealers, educators, and skilled tradespeople. As an all-industry association, it's part of NKBA's ongoing mission to provide educational opportunities for all the members at any stage of their professional development. Requirements and testing for Specialty Badges are developed by NKBA's Learning Department in conjunction with subject matter experts in each discipline, following the NKBA's 4th Edition K&B Planning Guidelines, building policies, access codes, and standards. For the Appliance Badge, NKBA gratefully acknowledges the time, expertise and insights of four industry professionals: Jared Costa, director of national sales & product training for Miele; Jonathan Barfell, currently marketing director at Schréder USA and previously marketing director at Liebherr Appliances; Heather Guerriero Dans, currently a consultant for Tulip Cooking modular burners and previously of GE's Monogram luxury division; and independent consultant Paula Smith, AKBD, a veteran of GE and Fisher & Paykel in product management, showroom operations, and marketing. Over several months, the committee created the content and developed exam questions. The experts agreed that one of the most critical points of the Appliance Badge was client assessment. Barfell said that the most important element is learning the right questions to ask clients. "Appliance options are endless, and knowing some specific solutions that will help your clients' needs will save them both time and money." Dans recalled, "We wanted to equip badge holders with the most NKBA LAUNCHES SPECIALTY BADGE FOR APPLIANCES NKBA's micro-credential program adds its ninth discipline APPLIANCE SPECIALIST NKBA SPECIALTY BADGE THE APPLIANCE BADGE HIGHLIGHTS THE EVOLUTION OF APPLIANCES WITH EMPHASIS PLACED ON PRODUCT, SELECTION, CATEGORIES, MODELS, SIZES, CONFIGURATIONS, AND INSTALLATION METHODS FOR BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES. AN OVERVIEW OF PRODUCT MECHANICS, COOKING TECHNOLOGIES, AND PROPER VENTILATION PROPER IS DISCUSSED. PRICE COMPARISON, BUDGET CONSIDERATION, AS WELL AS CLIENT INTERACTION AND EVOLUTION EVALUATION ARE REVIEWED. REFERENCES TO THE NKB FOURTH ADDITION K AND B PLANNING GUIDELINES, BUILDING POLICIES, ACCESS CODES, AND STANDARDS ARE PROVIDED WHEN NECESSARY.

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