The kitchen and bath industry is built not only on remarkable design and technical innovation, but also on the dedication of professionals who give back to their communities, mentor the next generation, and push the standards of the trade forward. Celebrating these exceptional contributions, the industry has officially announced its 2026 Person of the Year, alongside a distinguished group of seven Praiseworthy Picks. These honorees are being recognized for their tireless commitment to supporting their peers, educating emerging talent, and advancing the kitchen and design industry as a whole.
2026 KBB Person of the Year
The highest honor of the year has been awarded to Elizabeth Lord-Levitt, CMKBD, CLIPP, principal designer at Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Design LLC and owner and founder of Built4Design Residential Academy LLC in Denver, Colorado. Lord-Levitt’s influence on the kitchen and bath sector spans more than two decades of active involvement with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). For 14 years, she has been deeply engaged with her local Denver chapter, sharing her expertise and helping shape local industry standards.
Her contributions to the national organization are equally impressive. Lord-Levitt has lent her expertise as an NKBA National Design Competition judge, participated in the impactful NKBA Chapter Presentation Program, and earned multiple prestigious credentials, including the NKBA Remodeling and Floor Plans & Specification badges.
Earlier this year, Lord-Levitt’s profound dedication to education was officially recognized when she was named the 2025 NKBA Educator of the Year. This national honor is presented to individuals who demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to advancing the knowledge, technical skills, and professional readiness of students entering the field. For Lord-Levitt, this recognition stands out as her biggest professional achievement to date. She notes that the accolade provides meaningful validation for her relentless efforts—a pursuit that can often present significant time management challenges while simultaneously maintaining a demanding full-time career as a residential designer.
In addition to her educational and chapter leadership, Lord-Levitt’s influence extends deeply into product innovation and industry governance. She served on the prestigious Thermador Design Council from 2024 through 2026 and was handpicked once again to serve another term for 2027 through 2029. Through this council, the prominent appliance manufacturer gains direct access to top-tier designers’ insights to help develop and refine future product offerings. Her industry leadership has also earned her regional and national acclaim, including being named one of the 2025 Top Women in Colorado by the Colorado Business Journal. Furthermore, she shares her wealth of knowledge and governance experience as an active member of both the KBB Editorial Advisory Board and the CEDIA Industry Relations Council.
2026 Praiseworthy Picks
Complementing the Person of the Year, the 2026 Praiseworthy Picks shine a spotlight on seven exceptional industry professionals who are making profound impacts through mentorship, community service, hands-on education, and business leadership.
Among the honorees is Kristeen Allinson-Kuehn, co-founder and construction director of Prime & Precision Design-Build in Houston, Texas. For three consecutive summers, Allinson-Kuehn has opened her firm’s active job sites to college students exploring careers in the skilled trades. By welcoming them into real-world environments, she provides invaluable, hands-on experience in core construction and design disciplines, ranging from rough framing and plumbing to material selection and comprehensive project management. In addition to running her design-build firm—where she is currently completing a notable show home project in Friendswood, Texas—she serves as the co-founder of P&P Handcrafted, a specialized sister brand focusing on custom carpentry, fine furniture, and artistic home elements.
In Denver, Gina Bauerle, partner at D’Amore Interiors, has established herself as a passionate advocate for education and community outreach. Through her active involvement with the Interior Design Society (IDS), Bauerle routinely mentors interior design students and professionals who are newly entering the industry. Her dedication extends to the Accessories Retail Team, a specialized network of home décor professionals. Demonstrating her commitment to civic engagement, she led her own team through a major community service project earlier this year as part of the annual conference for the Accessories Retail Team. Together, they successfully redesigned five residences for local veterans, outfitting the homes with brand-new furnishings and décor generously donated by industry sponsors.
Further north, on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Molly McCabe, AKBD, CLIPP, CGP, CAPS, principal designer at McCabe By Design, balances a demanding professional schedule with extraordinary personal dedication. McCabe is highly active with the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Professional Women in Building Council, where she regularly mentors women on navigating successful career paths within the skilled trades. Beyond her professional practice, McCabe serves as a full-time caretaker for her spouse, who lives with a degenerative disease. Demonstrating the practical application of her design expertise, she personally created an accessible outdoor kitchen and entertaining deck tailored to his needs, providing a functional space where he can spend time practicing wildlife photography and enjoying the outdoors.
In West Vancouver, British Columbia, Ami McKay, founder and creative director of PURE Design Inc., has spent nearly two decades mentoring female peers in the design industry. Currently volunteering with the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, McKay believes strongly that women in business derive immense benefit from learning alongside someone who has navigated early missteps and emerged successfully on the other side. Her industry thought leadership was further highlighted in 2025 when she served as a featured panelist during Kohler’s "Make Space for Wellness" session at IDS Vancouver, where she shared expert insights on creating healthy, restorative residential environments.
Cathy Pitts, CAPS, design showroom manager for Cabinetworks LLC in Staunton, Virginia, was honored earlier as the 2026 National Association of Home Builders Young Professional of the Year for Region A. Pitts demonstrated exceptional industry leadership by designing all the cabinetry for the 2025 Augusta Home Builders Association Community Blitz Build event. This collaborative community initiative brought together local professional builders and student carpentry apprentices to construct nine affordable small homes in just nine days. To support the project’s success, Pitts’s company generously donated $10,000 worth of cabinetry at retail value.
Candace Rudd, CMKBD, general manager of Two30Nine by Décor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, has dedicated significant time and energy over the past year to serving as the NKBA Prairie Provinces communication chair. Beyond her communications role, Rudd actively participates in the NKBA Mentor Program and lends her expertise to the Red River College Advisory Council, reflecting her steadfast belief in supporting professional peer development and the future of design education. Her dedication to leadership and professional growth was further underscored when she was specially invited to attend the exclusive NKBA Women to Women conferences in both 2024 and 2025.
Rounding out the list of honorees is Andrea Monath Schumacher, founder and principal designer of Andrea Schumacher Interiors in Denver. Schumacher mentors her internal design team through a hands-on, highly collaborative approach that pairs technical instruction with the cultivation of a refined design eye. She emphasizes teaching her designers not only how to execute design choices, but crucially, the underlying reasons for why those choices should be made. Alongside running her thriving firm, she contributes to broader industry advancement by serving on the Hubbardton Forge Design Advisory Council, and her business leadership was recently celebrated when she was named a 2026 Denver Business Journal Small Business Leader.
Together, Elizabeth Lord-Levitt and the seven Praiseworthy Picks exemplify the highest standards of professional excellence, proving that the future of the kitchen, bath, and residential design industry rests in capable, compassionate, and dedicated hands.
