Chicago, IL -- The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) unanimously named Don Sciolaro as its permanent CEO at its board meeting on April 9, two days before its Kitchen/Bath Industry Show and Conference opened at Chicago's McCormick Place. The official announcement was made by Sara Ann Busby, CKD and current NKBA national president, at the start of the annual NKBA Board of Directors' Cocktail Reception and Gala on April 10 at Union Station.

Busby later told Kitchen & Bath Design News that Sciolaro was elected unanimously with the full support of the NKBA's more than 41,000 members, and that the Hackettstown, NJ-based association and its members are very excited to have Sciolaro on board to lead them in a new direction.

Sciolaro joined the NKBA in 2006 as director of member services, where he was able to increase membership and strengthen the NKBA's local chapter programs. He oversaw recruiting, retention and recognition of the NKBA members worldwide.

Busby also told KBDN that his experience was vetted in the month prior to K/BIS while he acted as the association's interim CEO and kept his duties as director of membership services. It was because of his calm demeanor and cool head through the rigors of setting up for the industry's biggest show, among other things, that he was deemed the best choice for where the NKBA is headed, according to Busby, especially after a close to 20% growth in membership in two years, a huge increase in education opportunities and a commitment to legislative issues.

Later, in a statement, she reiterated the same sentiment: 'Don has been a terrific leader for the association over the past two years, so appointing him as the NKBA's CEO was a clear decision. With Don's vision and ability to meet lofty goals, I'm sure he's going to take the association to places we've never dreamed of. With Don as CEO, I'm very excited about the future of the NKBA.'

Sciolaro came to the NKBA after spending 15 years with America's largest trade association, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), most recently as senior regional manager for the group's largest division, the New York/New Jersey region. In fact, Sciolaro was appointed by Mike Kelly, who resigned his tenure as the NKBA CEO several weeks ago (see related story). Appointing a new director of membership services was one of Kelly's first duties as CEO. Kelly was appointed CEO in July 2005.

While at NAM Sciolaro was responsible for membership and organizing grassroots public affairs efforts. He arranged sessions with members of Congress and association members to educate lawmakers on key issues.