June 4, 2026 • 16 mins
Networking can feel like small talk until you realize it can also be the strongest business development system you have. We sit down with Samantha Vogt, president of the NKBA Texas North Plains Chapter and a senior interior designer at Jay Wiley Designs, to get specific about what the National Kitchen and Bath Association really offers working designers and remodelers who want to grow with more confidence and less guesswork.
We unpack the practical benefits Samantha sees every day: education that goes beyond inspiration, market research that helps you understand shifting budgets and client expectations, and a community that can become an organic referral pipeline. Samantha breaks down NKBA certifications and specialty badges, plus the value of standards and code guidance for kitchen and bath design, from clearances to accessibility considerations. If you’ve ever wished for a clearer roadmap for professional development, this conversation lays out what’s available and how to use it.
We also talk trends and the bigger industry picture, including KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, where vendors, CEUs, and panel discussions can keep you ahead of materials and products your clients will ask about next. And yes, we go straight at the AI question: where AI can support your workflow, why it still can’t replace a designer, and how to stay adaptable without buying into hype.
If you want to connect with the right people, learn faster, and build a stronger design business, press play and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a design friend, and leave a review so more pros can find the show.
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Designer Discussions is a partnership of three experts: Jason Lockhart, CEO of KABMS; Maria Martin, founder of DesignAppy; and Mirjam Lippuner, founder of Get Ink DIY
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Mirjam Lippuner (00:00):
Hello and welcome to Designer Discussions
with Jason and Miriam.
Today's guest is Samantha Vogt.
She's the president of the NKBATexas North Plains Chapter and
a senior interior designer withJay Wiley Designs.
And today we're going to talkabout the ins and outs of being
(00:20):
part of the NKBA.
Welcome to the DesignerDiscussions podcast with Jason
and Miriam.
Tune in each week where we talkabout marketing PR and business
advice for designprofessionals.
Jason Lockhart (00:37):
Thanks, Miriam, for the intro.
And we're happy to haveSamantha here.
How are you doing today, Sam?
Samantha Vogt (00:42):
Good.
Happy to be here.
Jason Lockhart (00:44):
So I'm I'm actually happy to have this
episode because Samantha isactually the local president of
the NKBA, where I'm a member aswell.
So I actually asked her to beon here.
She was a little hesitant atfirst, but I'm like, oh, it's
gonna be easy and fun.
So we're happy to have her on.
So for our guest out there,Sam, if you could just explain
who you are.
Samantha Vogt (01:04):
Absolutely.
Yeah, so I am an interiordesigner, as Miriam said, with
Jay Wiley Designs.
I have been there about fiveyears now.
Um, I prior to that, I workedfor a small architecture and
interior design firm um workingon commercial and residential
projects.
So I've always kind of been inthe residential space, um,
(01:25):
always been involved.
And I joined the NKBA board asa program chair three almost
three years ago, um, enrolledinto president um as of this
year, and have always beeninvolved, but at different
levels at different times ofwhat was available in my life.
(01:45):
Um, so it's just kind of anatural fit to roll into it.
Jason Lockhart (01:49):
Awesome.
So, just from your perspectiveas the president of a local
chapter, what do you believe arethe benefits of the
organization to the design ofRomali Hinged?
Samantha Vogt (02:01):
There are there are a lot of benefits.
So primarily, NKBA is focusedon education and networking.
So bringing together thecommunity to better the
community.
So they're what kind of makesthem different than other
organizations is they focus alot on the research and a lot on
the education side of things.
So they have their owncertification program for you to
(02:24):
become a certified designer.
You can also do badges, um,which are like specialty badges
focused on different areas ofthe industry.
And they put a lot of researchinto what those resources are,
educating the pop population,and then doing market research
for everyone on trends, wherethe market's going, the most
kind of important things as abusiness that you need to know.
(02:45):
And then secondarily,networking.
I mean, I know there's a lot ofopportunities to network out
there, but networking with theright people that you want to
work with is important.
So NKBA offers a lot ofopportunities to network, to get
to know people, and honestlybuild kind of that referral
pipeline in an organic way.
Jason Lockhart (03:06):
Okay.
So you're the president now,and as you said, a few years
ago, you were just a member, andthen you joined and became
active.
What was that transition of youthat you wanted to first become
a member of the board and theneventually become the president?
Samantha Vogt (03:22):
So I was involved in NKBA, but just not heavily
involved.
And I actually talked toJennifer, who I work with, and
said, Hey, I'd love to get moreinvolved.
I know you have been on boardsbefore.
Um, and just in general, youhave more experience.
What are your thoughts?
And immediately she was like,Well, there is actually a board
(03:43):
position open with NKBA, and Ithink you do a great job.
So I got introduced to thecurrent board and I'd already
known many of them, but justdidn't know them super well.
Um, started shadowing thecurrent programs chair at the
time and was like, okay, I thinkthis is something I could do.
And just kind of dove in headfirst.
Uh I I kind of recommend thatwhen it comes to boards.
(04:05):
You're you're gonna be like, Idon't know about the time
commitment.
It's it's nerve-wracking.
You're trying to decide if it'ssomething that you can do and
do well.
But from me.
Yeah, exactly.
It's it's scary.
I I had the same reaction atfirst.
I was like, I don't know if Iwant to do this.
Um, but once you get involved,it kind of hooks you because you
get to meet so many greatpeople.
(04:26):
And the conversations I havefrequently with people just like
yourself that make the industryso much better.
And I genuinely have friendsnow in the industry from really
being on the board and beingmore involved.
Jason Lockhart (04:38):
I love it.
I love it.
So, with the shifts that havehappened in the economy over the
last few years, where do yousee the NKBA's role in the
industry with bowling and theeconomy?
Samantha Vogt (04:50):
So, because NKBA focuses so much on the research
and education side, each yearthey put out a state of the
industry where they take all oftheir market research and say,
okay, this is what we're seeingthe economy do.
This is what we're projecting,and this is how it will impact
you.
So it's really important to goand listen to that.
They do it at K-Bays.
(05:10):
Um, they also share that as aCEU, and you can find out on
their website.
And that's typically thebiggest shift that we're seeing
in the market right now is justclient expectations and budget
and how that shapes what we'redoing and how we're doing it.
So they do the a great job whenit comes to education, and
that's the most important thing.
I like it.
Jason Lockhart (05:31):
So you had talked about KBs for the
listeners out there that may notknow what those acronyms mean.
Can you explain that and whatthat's all about?
Samantha Vogt (05:39):
Absolutely.
So K-Boo's is a kitchen andbath industry show.
It happens every year in thefirst quarter, sometime in
February.
Uh it they kind of jump aroundwhere they host it.
It was in Orlando last year.
It's gonna be in Vegas nextyear.
And the industry show basicallyall the vendors come together
and show you the best of whatthey have and all their new
(06:00):
items.
So it keeps you kind of aheadon trends, aware of what's out
there, all the new products, allthe new materials, and can just
put you a little more ahead ofthe game on what's out there and
what your clients might bewanting and predicting what they
might want.
They also have a lot of CEUs,um, panel discussions.
There's been some wonderfulones.
(06:21):
We've actually had some of ourum our past president and some
other members in our chapterhave been speakers at the um
cabez um panels and just CEUs.
Jason Lockhart (06:33):
Okay.
So, what what's happening inthe industry now, what should
designers and remodelers belooking for now and in the
future, like say two, threeyears from now?
Samantha Vogt (06:44):
So, I mean, anyone who's in the industry
knows that it's constantlychanging.
There's constantly somethingnew to learn and absorb.
Um, right now, I think a lot ofthe focus is on AI and what
that does for the industry andhow to be adaptable around that,
because client expectations ofwhat they want to see and what
they need you to produce to sayyes to a project is changing.
(07:06):
So, how can AI help you isalways a big one.
Um, but then understanding whatkind of the shifts are
happening in the kitchen andbath space, what are people
looking for?
What are they wanting, and howwe can deliver that where they
understand it?
Because unfortunately, thisindustry seems to be people
don't get it until they have toto remodel something.
(07:26):
They they don't know whatthey're doing.
You had talked about AI.
So, what are your views on AI?
Jason Lockhart (07:32):
It will not ever replace a designer.
I would love to see.
Can you say that again?
Because we hear that a lot.
I actually hear that a lot fromremodelers and designers that
it will replace them.
So yeah.
Samantha Vogt (07:42):
I I it will not.
So we actually had a discussionthe other day during one of our
um presentations that we had anAI app kind of recording the
conversation to say what theselections were and we could use
it to create meeting notes.
It doesn't have a camera.
So it I was pointing tosomebody at the table is like,
you picked this tile.
AI had no idea what tile I waspointing to.
(08:05):
And the number of showrooms wehad to pull to get all of the
materials.
There's AI is a tool, but itcan't replace us.
And the number of times I'vealso looked at um renders where
I'm like, oh, that's so cool.
There's absolutely no way thatthat's physically possible.
Or, and you can train AI,there's definitely ways to
adjust that.
(08:25):
But we've seen a couple with acontractor where we were looking
at a SARE detail.
We all thought this design wasso cool.
We wanted to use it atinspiration, and then we figured
out it wasn't physicallypossible based on how that AI
image was created.
So it is a tool, but it rightnow it will not replace
designers.
It will place some of thethings we do, but not what what
(08:47):
we do.
Jason Lockhart (08:48):
I like that.
I like that.
And like I say, I hear that allthe time from designers, it
will replace me.
I'm like, AI is not at thelevel yet where it can do all
that that designers will do andthat are paid to do.
So it's mainly used now to helpyou with the mundane tasks, the
things you do over and overagain, it can help automate a
lot of that stuff.
So I agree.
Agree hard hard on it.
(09:08):
So, with designers andremodelers, how can they use
their local NKPA chapter toenhance their own business?
Samantha Vogt (09:17):
So, kind of going back to what I was saying
before, the education side ofit, you can really use the tools
that NKBA provides to educateyourself and to help predict the
future of the industry.
So, using that to help reallymake yourself and your company
adaptable.
On a day-to-day level,networking, I know everyone,
it's like network, network,network.
(09:38):
However, if you go and networknot to say walk away with a
project, but to meet people andgenuinely want to connect with
them.
Most of our referral referralscome from the industry, whether
it's a contractor, whether it'sa vendor, and most of them know
what our ideal client is.
So they are gonna give us abetter referral.
(09:59):
And it's really helpful to beable to hear from other people
like, hey, I'm sending thisperson your way.
I think personality-wise,style-wise, they will be a fit
for you, that endorses a clientso much more and makes us more
excited.
So both between the networkingand just using your resources,
using the resources NKBAprovides is really helpful.
Mirjam Lippuner (10:23):
One thing um I was kind of curious, because
obviously designer discussionsis all about education when it
comes to marketing and and PR,is like what what kinds of what
types of educations andtrainings um does the NK NKBA
provide?
(10:43):
I'm honestly not sure, so I'mcurious.
Samantha Vogt (10:46):
So the NKBA provides, so their primary
certification is equivalent tolike an NCIDQ certification.
So um most people know NCIDQ.
NKBA has an equivalent one formost in residential interior
designers, you don't have to becertified, but that knowledge is
kind of invaluable.
It really helps you run yourbusiness.
(11:09):
So the NKBA focuses on theeducation for making sure you
know the codes and they keep acode book.
So each, I think it's everyfour years, um, they update a
code book and a reference guidefor the best placement for a
sync location, um, appliancelocations, toilet, ADA, all of
the things that are important inour codes and residential.
(11:30):
Then they also have theirspecialty badges, which are a
remodel, like a remodelerspecialty, a cabinetry
specialty, kind of a variety ofcategories where you can take a
deep dive and ask the questionsand learn so that you have a
little bit more backgroundknowledge in specific tasks.
So their education can vary,but those are like their
(11:53):
certification programs.
And then beyond that, they haveconnections for any kind of CEO
you can think of, businessrelated, um, how to find a
client, pipeline, um, really anytopic you can think of.
Jason Lockhart (12:07):
For any designers or work modelers that
are not involved in any of theorganizations, what would you
suggest that they do now tolearn more about NKBA in their
local chapter?
Samantha Vogt (12:19):
If you go online, you can see who your local
chapter is, and they typicallyhave who your board members are.
Feel free to reach out to themor um find them on Instagram,
find them.
There's you can email info atnkba.com, and that will be the
person that connects you towhoever's your chapter
(12:39):
organizer.
So whether it's the president,the membership chair programs,
they'll they'll connect you andthen they can give you more
information about it.
Each chapter is run slightlydifferently.
In Dallas, we're very fortunatethat the whole DFW Metroplex is
huge.
So we have a ton of members, alot of very active members, and
a lot of opportunity to doevents.
(13:00):
We're hosting one to two eventsevery month.
Um, other chapters, dependingon where you're located, it's
just a lot smaller.
So they they may have lessfrequent events, but they do
like smaller gatherings anddifferent, different types of
things.
So you can really cater to whatyou're looking for, but
communicate with the boardmembers and they'll they'll lead
you in the right direction.
Jason Lockhart (13:19):
I like it.
I like it.
Just a question for you.
If you were to start over inthe industry and you were not
involved, you didn't knowanybody in the area.
Because honestly, this is truebecause when you came into area,
you were new.
So for anybody, so for anybodynew to an area, what would you
suggest they do to get involvedwith either NKB or any of the
(13:41):
other organizations out therefor Vermont?
Samantha Vogt (13:43):
I would say just get involved as quickly as you
can.
Because I, like Jason said, I'mnot from Texas originally.
I moved here 10 years ago, andI actually was um the ASID
president for my collegechapter, and I was on the board
as a student rep to the board.
And then when I moved to Texas,I was so focused on like
creating a life here that I kindof took a hiatus from being as
(14:07):
involved.
I still went to vendor eventsand I just wasn't trying to be
as involved as I had beenpreviously.
And I wish I had continued thatright out of when I had first
moved here and not really takinga hiatus because I think that
just would have helped me moreand I would have been able to
grow my knowledge of theindustry in the DFW area faster.
(14:28):
But if you're new anywhere, itdoesn't matter how old you are,
um, it's important to beinvolved and don't be afraid.
Like I think networking can bescary, especially if you're not
a very social person or you'remore introverted.
But if you kind of just dive inand tell them, like, hey, I
don't know anyone, or I'm I'mlooking to understand more about
this, people are very friendlyand they'll they want to help
(14:50):
you.
So dive in and you can alsoresearch the different industry
organizations.
So NKBA, IIDA, ASID, um, Nari,or Nari, they all cater to
different parts of the trade.
They all overlap, and we'veactually done collaborative
events with all of them becausewe all overlap in the people
(15:10):
that we're looking for.
But if you're looking for moreeducation or more of a
contractor vendor connection,there might be one that's more
suited to you than another.
I selfishly think NKBACS, andwe have kind of that sweet spot
of all of them.
But we're also a big city, sowe get to we get to see
everyone.
Jason Lockhart (15:28):
I love I love it.
So now if any of our listenerswant to reach out to you, how do
they do so?
Samantha Vogt (15:36):
You are happy to email me at my work email, which
is Snatha at JYLAYdesigns.com,or reach out to me on Instagram.
Um, either way, I am happy toask, answer any questions, um,
help connect you.
If you're interested in NKBA, Ican help find who your local
chapter is and who the boardmembers are.
Um, or if you just have somequestions about how to how to be
(15:59):
more involved and how to be agood board member, where I can
tell you us and along with everyother chapter is always looking
for people to be more involved.
And there's always a way foryou to be involved, even if you
don't want to be a board member.
Jason Lockhart (16:11):
I love that.
I love that.
Samantha, we appreciate yourtime.
And for all of our listenersout there, reach out to her if
you have any questions at all.
And we hope to hear and see youin two weeks on Designer
Discussions.
We hope you enjoyed thisepisode of Designer Discussions
and all of the helpfulinformation.
Subscribe to our podcast, leaveus a review, and share it with
(16:33):
your friends.
We look forward to having youback next week for more
information on the podcast andthe marketing studio.
Visit designer discussions.comand follow us on social media.
Hello and welcome to Designer Discussions
with Jason and Miriam.
Today's guest is Samantha Vogt.
She's the president of the NKBATexas North Plains Chapter and
a senior interior designer withJay Wiley Designs.
And today we're going to talkabout the ins and outs of being
(00:20):
part of the NKBA.
Welcome to the DesignerDiscussions podcast with Jason
and Miriam.
Tune in each week where we talkabout marketing PR and business
advice for designprofessionals.
Jason Lockhart (00:37):
Thanks, Miriam, for the intro.
And we're happy to haveSamantha here.
How are you doing today, Sam?
Samantha Vogt (00:42):
Good.
Happy to be here.
Jason Lockhart (00:44):
So I'm I'm actually happy to have this
episode because Samantha isactually the local president of
the NKBA, where I'm a member aswell.
So I actually asked her to beon here.
She was a little hesitant atfirst, but I'm like, oh, it's
gonna be easy and fun.
So we're happy to have her on.
So for our guest out there,Sam, if you could just explain
who you are.
Samantha Vogt (01:04):
Absolutely.
Yeah, so I am an interiordesigner, as Miriam said, with
Jay Wiley Designs.
I have been there about fiveyears now.
Um, I prior to that, I workedfor a small architecture and
interior design firm um workingon commercial and residential
projects.
So I've always kind of been inthe residential space, um,
(01:25):
always been involved.
And I joined the NKBA board asa program chair three almost
three years ago, um, enrolledinto president um as of this
year, and have always beeninvolved, but at different
levels at different times ofwhat was available in my life.
(01:45):
Um, so it's just kind of anatural fit to roll into it.
Jason Lockhart (01:49):
Awesome.
So, just from your perspectiveas the president of a local
chapter, what do you believe arethe benefits of the
organization to the design ofRomali Hinged?
Samantha Vogt (02:01):
There are there are a lot of benefits.
So primarily, NKBA is focusedon education and networking.
So bringing together thecommunity to better the
community.
So they're what kind of makesthem different than other
organizations is they focus alot on the research and a lot on
the education side of things.
So they have their owncertification program for you to
(02:24):
become a certified designer.
You can also do badges, um,which are like specialty badges
focused on different areas ofthe industry.
And they put a lot of researchinto what those resources are,
educating the pop population,and then doing market research
for everyone on trends, wherethe market's going, the most
kind of important things as abusiness that you need to know.
(02:45):
And then secondarily,networking.
I mean, I know there's a lot ofopportunities to network out
there, but networking with theright people that you want to
work with is important.
So NKBA offers a lot ofopportunities to network, to get
to know people, and honestlybuild kind of that referral
pipeline in an organic way.
Jason Lockhart (03:06):
Okay.
So you're the president now,and as you said, a few years
ago, you were just a member, andthen you joined and became
active.
What was that transition of youthat you wanted to first become
a member of the board and theneventually become the president?
Samantha Vogt (03:22):
So I was involved in NKBA, but just not heavily
involved.
And I actually talked toJennifer, who I work with, and
said, Hey, I'd love to get moreinvolved.
I know you have been on boardsbefore.
Um, and just in general, youhave more experience.
What are your thoughts?
And immediately she was like,Well, there is actually a board
(03:43):
position open with NKBA, and Ithink you do a great job.
So I got introduced to thecurrent board and I'd already
known many of them, but justdidn't know them super well.
Um, started shadowing thecurrent programs chair at the
time and was like, okay, I thinkthis is something I could do.
And just kind of dove in headfirst.
Uh I I kind of recommend thatwhen it comes to boards.
(04:05):
You're you're gonna be like, Idon't know about the time
commitment.
It's it's nerve-wracking.
You're trying to decide if it'ssomething that you can do and
do well.
But from me.
Yeah, exactly.
It's it's scary.
I I had the same reaction atfirst.
I was like, I don't know if Iwant to do this.
Um, but once you get involved,it kind of hooks you because you
get to meet so many greatpeople.
(04:26):
And the conversations I havefrequently with people just like
yourself that make the industryso much better.
And I genuinely have friendsnow in the industry from really
being on the board and beingmore involved.
Jason Lockhart (04:38):
I love it.
I love it.
So, with the shifts that havehappened in the economy over the
last few years, where do yousee the NKBA's role in the
industry with bowling and theeconomy?
Samantha Vogt (04:50):
So, because NKBA focuses so much on the research
and education side, each yearthey put out a state of the
industry where they take all oftheir market research and say,
okay, this is what we're seeingthe economy do.
This is what we're projecting,and this is how it will impact
you.
So it's really important to goand listen to that.
They do it at K-Bays.
(05:10):
Um, they also share that as aCEU, and you can find out on
their website.
And that's typically thebiggest shift that we're seeing
in the market right now is justclient expectations and budget
and how that shapes what we'redoing and how we're doing it.
So they do the a great job whenit comes to education, and
that's the most important thing.
I like it.
Jason Lockhart (05:31):
So you had talked about KBs for the
listeners out there that may notknow what those acronyms mean.
Can you explain that and whatthat's all about?
Samantha Vogt (05:39):
Absolutely.
So K-Boo's is a kitchen andbath industry show.
It happens every year in thefirst quarter, sometime in
February.
Uh it they kind of jump aroundwhere they host it.
It was in Orlando last year.
It's gonna be in Vegas nextyear.
And the industry show basicallyall the vendors come together
and show you the best of whatthey have and all their new
(06:00):
items.
So it keeps you kind of aheadon trends, aware of what's out
there, all the new products, allthe new materials, and can just
put you a little more ahead ofthe game on what's out there and
what your clients might bewanting and predicting what they
might want.
They also have a lot of CEUs,um, panel discussions.
There's been some wonderfulones.
(06:21):
We've actually had some of ourum our past president and some
other members in our chapterhave been speakers at the um
cabez um panels and just CEUs.
Jason Lockhart (06:33):
Okay.
So, what what's happening inthe industry now, what should
designers and remodelers belooking for now and in the
future, like say two, threeyears from now?
Samantha Vogt (06:44):
So, I mean, anyone who's in the industry
knows that it's constantlychanging.
There's constantly somethingnew to learn and absorb.
Um, right now, I think a lot ofthe focus is on AI and what
that does for the industry andhow to be adaptable around that,
because client expectations ofwhat they want to see and what
they need you to produce to sayyes to a project is changing.
(07:06):
So, how can AI help you isalways a big one.
Um, but then understanding whatkind of the shifts are
happening in the kitchen andbath space, what are people
looking for?
What are they wanting, and howwe can deliver that where they
understand it?
Because unfortunately, thisindustry seems to be people
don't get it until they have toto remodel something.
(07:26):
They they don't know whatthey're doing.
You had talked about AI.
So, what are your views on AI?
Jason Lockhart (07:32):
It will not ever replace a designer.
I would love to see.
Can you say that again?
Because we hear that a lot.
I actually hear that a lot fromremodelers and designers that
it will replace them.
So yeah.
Samantha Vogt (07:42):
I I it will not.
So we actually had a discussionthe other day during one of our
um presentations that we had anAI app kind of recording the
conversation to say what theselections were and we could use
it to create meeting notes.
It doesn't have a camera.
So it I was pointing tosomebody at the table is like,
you picked this tile.
AI had no idea what tile I waspointing to.
(08:05):
And the number of showrooms wehad to pull to get all of the
materials.
There's AI is a tool, but itcan't replace us.
And the number of times I'vealso looked at um renders where
I'm like, oh, that's so cool.
There's absolutely no way thatthat's physically possible.
Or, and you can train AI,there's definitely ways to
adjust that.
(08:25):
But we've seen a couple with acontractor where we were looking
at a SARE detail.
We all thought this design wasso cool.
We wanted to use it atinspiration, and then we figured
out it wasn't physicallypossible based on how that AI
image was created.
So it is a tool, but it rightnow it will not replace
designers.
It will place some of thethings we do, but not what what
(08:47):
we do.
Jason Lockhart (08:48):
I like that.
I like that.
And like I say, I hear that allthe time from designers, it
will replace me.
I'm like, AI is not at thelevel yet where it can do all
that that designers will do andthat are paid to do.
So it's mainly used now to helpyou with the mundane tasks, the
things you do over and overagain, it can help automate a
lot of that stuff.
So I agree.
Agree hard hard on it.
(09:08):
So, with designers andremodelers, how can they use
their local NKPA chapter toenhance their own business?
Samantha Vogt (09:17):
So, kind of going back to what I was saying
before, the education side ofit, you can really use the tools
that NKBA provides to educateyourself and to help predict the
future of the industry.
So, using that to help reallymake yourself and your company
adaptable.
On a day-to-day level,networking, I know everyone,
it's like network, network,network.
(09:38):
However, if you go and networknot to say walk away with a
project, but to meet people andgenuinely want to connect with
them.
Most of our referral referralscome from the industry, whether
it's a contractor, whether it'sa vendor, and most of them know
what our ideal client is.
So they are gonna give us abetter referral.
(09:59):
And it's really helpful to beable to hear from other people
like, hey, I'm sending thisperson your way.
I think personality-wise,style-wise, they will be a fit
for you, that endorses a clientso much more and makes us more
excited.
So both between the networkingand just using your resources,
using the resources NKBAprovides is really helpful.
Mirjam Lippuner (10:23):
One thing um I was kind of curious, because
obviously designer discussionsis all about education when it
comes to marketing and and PR,is like what what kinds of what
types of educations andtrainings um does the NK NKBA
provide?
(10:43):
I'm honestly not sure, so I'mcurious.
Samantha Vogt (10:46):
So the NKBA provides, so their primary
certification is equivalent tolike an NCIDQ certification.
So um most people know NCIDQ.
NKBA has an equivalent one formost in residential interior
designers, you don't have to becertified, but that knowledge is
kind of invaluable.
It really helps you run yourbusiness.
(11:09):
So the NKBA focuses on theeducation for making sure you
know the codes and they keep acode book.
So each, I think it's everyfour years, um, they update a
code book and a reference guidefor the best placement for a
sync location, um, appliancelocations, toilet, ADA, all of
the things that are important inour codes and residential.
(11:30):
Then they also have theirspecialty badges, which are a
remodel, like a remodelerspecialty, a cabinetry
specialty, kind of a variety ofcategories where you can take a
deep dive and ask the questionsand learn so that you have a
little bit more backgroundknowledge in specific tasks.
So their education can vary,but those are like their
(11:53):
certification programs.
And then beyond that, they haveconnections for any kind of CEO
you can think of, businessrelated, um, how to find a
client, pipeline, um, really anytopic you can think of.
Jason Lockhart (12:07):
For any designers or work modelers that
are not involved in any of theorganizations, what would you
suggest that they do now tolearn more about NKBA in their
local chapter?
Samantha Vogt (12:19):
If you go online, you can see who your local
chapter is, and they typicallyhave who your board members are.
Feel free to reach out to themor um find them on Instagram,
find them.
There's you can email info atnkba.com, and that will be the
person that connects you towhoever's your chapter
(12:39):
organizer.
So whether it's the president,the membership chair programs,
they'll they'll connect you andthen they can give you more
information about it.
Each chapter is run slightlydifferently.
In Dallas, we're very fortunatethat the whole DFW Metroplex is
huge.
So we have a ton of members, alot of very active members, and
a lot of opportunity to doevents.
(13:00):
We're hosting one to two eventsevery month.
Um, other chapters, dependingon where you're located, it's
just a lot smaller.
So they they may have lessfrequent events, but they do
like smaller gatherings anddifferent, different types of
things.
So you can really cater to whatyou're looking for, but
communicate with the boardmembers and they'll they'll lead
you in the right direction.
Jason Lockhart (13:19):
I like it.
I like it.
Just a question for you.
If you were to start over inthe industry and you were not
involved, you didn't knowanybody in the area.
Because honestly, this is truebecause when you came into area,
you were new.
So for anybody, so for anybodynew to an area, what would you
suggest they do to get involvedwith either NKB or any of the
(13:41):
other organizations out therefor Vermont?
Samantha Vogt (13:43):
I would say just get involved as quickly as you
can.
Because I, like Jason said, I'mnot from Texas originally.
I moved here 10 years ago, andI actually was um the ASID
president for my collegechapter, and I was on the board
as a student rep to the board.
And then when I moved to Texas,I was so focused on like
creating a life here that I kindof took a hiatus from being as
(14:07):
involved.
I still went to vendor eventsand I just wasn't trying to be
as involved as I had beenpreviously.
And I wish I had continued thatright out of when I had first
moved here and not really takinga hiatus because I think that
just would have helped me moreand I would have been able to
grow my knowledge of theindustry in the DFW area faster.
(14:28):
But if you're new anywhere, itdoesn't matter how old you are,
um, it's important to beinvolved and don't be afraid.
Like I think networking can bescary, especially if you're not
a very social person or you'remore introverted.
But if you kind of just dive inand tell them, like, hey, I
don't know anyone, or I'm I'mlooking to understand more about
this, people are very friendlyand they'll they want to help
(14:50):
you.
So dive in and you can alsoresearch the different industry
organizations.
So NKBA, IIDA, ASID, um, Nari,or Nari, they all cater to
different parts of the trade.
They all overlap, and we'veactually done collaborative
events with all of them becausewe all overlap in the people
(15:10):
that we're looking for.
But if you're looking for moreeducation or more of a
contractor vendor connection,there might be one that's more
suited to you than another.
I selfishly think NKBACS, andwe have kind of that sweet spot
of all of them.
But we're also a big city, sowe get to we get to see
everyone.
Jason Lockhart (15:28):
I love I love it.
So now if any of our listenerswant to reach out to you, how do
they do so?
Samantha Vogt (15:36):
You are happy to email me at my work email, which
is Snatha at JYLAYdesigns.com,or reach out to me on Instagram.
Um, either way, I am happy toask, answer any questions, um,
help connect you.
If you're interested in NKBA, Ican help find who your local
chapter is and who the boardmembers are.
Um, or if you just have somequestions about how to how to be
(15:59):
more involved and how to be agood board member, where I can
tell you us and along with everyother chapter is always looking
for people to be more involved.
And there's always a way foryou to be involved, even if you
don't want to be a board member.
Jason Lockhart (16:11):
I love that.
I love that.
Samantha, we appreciate yourtime.
And for all of our listenersout there, reach out to her if
you have any questions at all.
And we hope to hear and see youin two weeks on Designer
Discussions.
We hope you enjoyed thisepisode of Designer Discussions
and all of the helpfulinformation.
Subscribe to our podcast, leaveus a review, and share it with
(16:33):
your friends.
We look forward to having youback next week for more
information on the podcast andthe marketing studio.
Visit designer discussions.comand follow us on social media.
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