2020 is pleased to announce the Design Advisory Council Members.
The goal of the 2020 Design Live Advisory Council is to bring together a group of 2020 Design Live customers to play an active part in the development of our product. Members of the council will participate in exclusive meetings with 2020 where we will discuss industry topics, share future 2020 plans and hear feedback and input.
Amanda attended The College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, majoring in Industrial and Furniture Design. While attending CCS, she started her career with The Home Depot as a Kitchen & Bath specialist, and eventually became a designer and project expeditor. Learning skills on the job, such as tips from installers, and what mistakes never to make again, she broadened her horizons and took on continuing education courses in design and began studying for her CKD through the NKBA, which she earned in 2010.
Amanda worked with several local, custom and semi-custom cabinet shops, where she learned that she had a knack for training and loved sharing her knowledge with her peers. In 2008, she found her way back to The Home Depot, where she was a part of a corporate design group. She enjoyed working with clients and designers all over the U.S. as well as working with her corporate and industry peers. Working closely with the kitchen and bath merchants, Amanda was able to start her career in K&B training where she thoroughly enjoyed helping new designers to get their start in the industry.
This new path allowed her to cross into the manufacturer side of the business working as a corporate trainer for the largest manufacturer of cabinets in North America. She traveled all over North America, sharing her passion for design, trends and all things 2020 with new and seasoned designers alike, making lifelong connections and striving to achieve more. Transitioning into sales and eventually back into full-time design in 2019, Amanda has worked all over, and now calls Austin home. Working with some of the top builders in Austin, and designers all over the country, she now holds the role of Director of Sales and Design for a premier design firm in central Texas.
Twenty plus years, countless moves, and many roles later, Amanda attributes her success and passion to always learning from her peers, and making connections wherever she goes. She enjoys spending weekends driving through the hill country enjoying art, antiques, old cars, great tacos bourbon and cigars, and ALL things design.
Director of Sales & Design
Brittany attended the International Academy of Design & Technology in 2009 to study for her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. While attending design school, she interned for a local Interior Design firm and started a part-time job in the cabinet design industry. She began attending seminars and online classes to learn cabinetry basics as she found kitchen and bath design was her true interest.
After a few years of kitchen design, she started in-home consultations for kitchen and bath remodels and became a part of the installation and production process. Subsequently gaining knowledge in the field, she was able to promptly start managing her own project timelines and work one-on-one with clients and installers on-site from start to finish.
Since then, she has been able to expand her reach digitally as she has been able work to with clients all over the country through creating virtual designs for Cabinets.com. By having this online presence, she can design with regional trends based on a client’s location, which allows her creativity and design talents to grow in numerous ways.
Over the past few years, she has won the "2018 Design Inspiration Award" and the "2019 Orange is the New Everything" Design Award. She has also had the honor of being a guest judge for the 2019 Inspiration Awards by 2020 Spaces. Most recently she has won the "2020 Design Live Award". These design contests allow her to share her design work as well as her knowledge of the design software with many designers and clients across North America.
Chris is the owner of CSK&B, an independent design firm in Pittsburgh, PA. He entered the kitchen and bath industry in 2008, first as a cabinet maker, then as a designer. His background is in the visual arts, and he worked in a variety of art and design occupations including woodcarving, gilding, furniture making, and restoration over his career. His varied background and “hands-on” practicality inform his design sensibilities.
Prior to returning to his native Pittsburgh and opening his own practice in 2017, Chris was a designer for All Stone and Tile, then later for Ithaca Hardware, both in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of Central NY.
Colin has been an avid user of 2020 Design for over 22 years. In fact, he left a career in the IT field after being introduced to 2020 and has never looked back. He began his career designing kitchens and baths for a design/build firm, giving him a strong foundation in the kitchen & bath industry, and went on to retail showroom sales and even owning his own design studio for a few years. A few years ago, he set out to reinvent himself, focusing more on freelance design and one-on-one business- and 2020 coaching.
Design PUGs
Dan fell in love with design and cabinetry over 30 years ago. He has worked in most aspects of the industry from construction, cabinet installation, design, management, and sales. His various roles have been as a designer, dealer, local/regional showroom manager and then he moved into a design and sales management role on a national level. Dan currently works for Bellmont Cabinet Company where he enjoys developing new materials, products, and training and working with designers/dealers across the country on kitchen design and working with 2020 Design Live.
In the kitchen and bath business since 1987. First started with 2020 V6. Ended with V9 because 2020 sold their business in Belgium. "When using V12 for the first time again it felt so familiar and I was blown away by the quality of the renders. Now I am a independent designer and so happy with the new EZ render engine. It really makes our lives so much easier."
Jeannine Laitres, CKD has been in the kitchen and bath business for 25+ years. She has been able to spend time with builders, manufacturers and designers over this period, allowing her to learn from a wide base within the industry. There is still more to learn and she hopes to be able to share it with others in the industry.
Currently residing in Sacramento, California enjoying all Northern California has to offer!
Wellborn Cabinets
Justine Marie is a Seattle-based interior designer. When she was younger, Justine was constantly rearranging her bedroom furniture and driving her parents crazy from all the scuff marks and scratches she was causing to the floors and walls. "You wouldn't believe how many different layouts I got out of that little square room though," says Justine.
After having her son at a young age, Justine knew she needed a path that would build a life that they could be proud of, and have a career that could support them. "Thinking back to my annoying childhood habit, I realized that there was actually a career for that sort of thing," says Justine. While in school, she worked for an interior design firm in Olympia, WA, and shortly after graduating college, Justine was hired at a kitchen and bath firm where she truly found an appreciation for kitchen and bath design. In 2017, she opened her business, Justine Marie Designs which focuses on providing quality kitchen and bath design, products and installation to her clients in the Pacific Northwest. She is also co-founder of Dovetailed, a kitchen and bath e-design company.
She is an active member in the National Kitchen and Bath Association and in 2019 was awarded NKBA Thirty Under 30. In addition to working full time at Justine Marie Designs, she teaches 2020 as part of a Kitchen and Bath Certificate Program at the local Technical College. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and trying new foods, and is never happier than when she's spending a long weekend on a boat with friends, family, and wine.
Lisa Dietz of Thomae Lumber is one of the most creative, genuine and advantageous Designers you will ever meet. With a hands-on construction background that started in high school thanks to working with her father, who was a Finish Carpenter. Her attention to detail starts with floor plan sand finishes when the install is done. Graduating from Montana’s oldest college, Rocky MountainCollege, she was able to fine tune her design aesthetic by specializing in History and Art.
With construction knowhow and an educated artistic eye, her designs are both functional and uniquely beautiful. Helping clients who want to create or update their living space to reflect their individual style. By presenting new ideas and professional design knowledge, she creates beautiful and stylish environments that they absolutely love.
CMKBD, CLIPP
Maria started her career in kitchens and baths in 1992, finally becoming a certified master kitchen and bath designer in august of 2015. In 2016, she also became a certified living in place professional. She is the manager of Tewksbury kitchen & baths, a division of Huston Lumber & Supply Co. and has a BA from Trenton State College.
Maria has been an active NKBA volunteer in her Northern NJ Chapter as well as on the national level, serving as the 2015 NKBA National President.
Matt Barr is the kitchen & bath Design specialist for Curtis Lumber who operate twenty-three stores across upstate New York and Vermont. He has broad experience in both project and personnel management and has worked on numerous large to small scale projects in commercial and residential settings. Matt has a high level of skill in 2020 Design Live CAD drawing and thorough knowledge and understanding of the cabinet Industry.
Originally from the United Kingdom, he began his career in retail with Tesco PLC. working in corporate operations managing global logistics, contracts and supply chains. After ten years his passion for design led him in a different direction, but not before he had spent eighteen months traveling the world and working in Australia.
Graduating with a BA (Hons.) in Interior Design and Architectural Environments from Ravensbourne College of Design & Communication in 2006 Matt was recruited by the Architectural Division of Atkins, a worldwide leading design and project management consultancy specializing in infrastructure for sustainable environments.
Immigrating to the United States in late 2009 it was not until 2011 when Matt joined the Home Depot that he was introduced the kitchen and bath Industry. Matt quickly grew his product knowledge and developed his technical skills in 2020 Design Live.
Michael Kaestner of Kaestner Designs is a 15+ year veteran in the kitchen & bath industry. His passionate pursuit to deliver exceptional spaces to his clientele is second only to his desire to be at the forefront of his industry.
A lifetime student of the trade, Michael is consistently attending both national and regional interior design shows and events in an effort to provide insight to his audience. His inspiration for design is drawn from architecture, the arts, traveling, and his clientele’s stories.
Michael ensures a successful project each and every time by investing energy in getting to know his clients. Michael's most rewarding projects are the ones where he is able to collaborate with his clients.
Although kitchens & bathrooms are his specialty, Michael enjoys working on adjacent rooms and alternate spaces needing some love and attention. Michael obtained CLIPP certification through the Living In Place Institute in 2019. Additionally, Michael has been elected as the new Communications Chair for the NKBA Mid-Atlantic Chapter and was recently selected to join the 2020 Design Advisory Council.
Michael lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tom Shea is the Director of Sales and Business Development at Direct Cabinet Sales – a division of USLBM.
His credentials include:
Before devoting his work full time to the Direct Cabinet Sales, Tom was an instrumental part of growth and development as Regional Sales Manager of the Southeast at Cabinetworks Group and Senior Buyer for Lumberman's Merchandising Corporation. In addition, Tom was a positioning sales consultant and founder of Designing the Sale, a strategic consultative sales process aimed at the kitchen and bath industry. He has tackled multiple aspects of the kitchen and bath industry as a kitchen designer selling online, entrepreneur of Total Kitchen Store and design director of MacLaren Kitchen and Bath. Selling cabinetry in all major markets of the US and now being on the manufacturing side has given Tom a unique perspective on the industry.
In his off time, you can find Tom on the water—boating and fishing are his passion.
