Presidential Recap: Leading DPHA into a New Era.

To our valued members and partners,

Our industry is entering a new era, shaped by rapid consolidation, evolving business models, and new expectations for professional development. In late January, the DPHA Board of Directors met in New Orleans to reflect on where we’ve been and, more importantly, to chart a confident path forward.

As we close the chapter on 2025, our focus is firmly on the future: strengthening the Association, expanding the value we deliver to members, and ensuring DPHA remains a trusted resource in an evolving marketplace. Even amid economic uncertainty and external pressures affecting the industry, member support for DPHA remains strong. Conference feedback continues to affirm the quality of our programming and the importance of gathering as a community, and we are building on that momentum to evolve DPHA into a more agile, education-centric association.

Strategic Initiatives for 2026

Our work is guided by four core priorities: educational innovation, conference revitalization, organizational sustainability, and member engagement.

1. DPHA University & Educational Excellence

Education has always been the cornerstone of DPHA, and continues adding more value proposition.

• The Vault Evolution: We are enhancing The Vault assessment and certificate program with expanded multimedia content and AI-supported training tools to better support staff well beyond initial onboarding.
• Curriculum Expansion: Six new courses were added in the second half of last year with a focus on critical soft skills, including HR and management development.
• Flexible Subscription Model: A new company “seat” subscription for DPHA University to rotate participants throughout the year, supporting ongoing team growth, is currently being beta tested.
• Webinar Transformation: The Professional Development Committee is elevating our webinar offerings to deliver a robust mix of training sessions, panel discussions, and roundtables.

2. Revitalizing the DPHA Conference

The annual conference remains a cornerstone of the DPHA experience, and we are committed to making it stronger than ever.

• Keynote & Content: For 2026, we are reimagining the keynote experience and introducing more cohesive, theme-driven programming.
• Dealer Attendance Campaign: A targeted outreach effort is underway to increase dealer member participation and broaden the perspectives represented.
• Registration Incentives: Staff is investigating incentives tied to membership renewals to encourage early registration for the 2027 conference.

3. Organizational Strength & Strategic Partnerships

We continue to take thoughtful steps to strengthen the Association and broaden our support network.

• Strategic Partnerships: Longstanding and new partnerships are being enhanced to support DPHA programming and long-term stability.
• Corporate Sponsorships: We have refreshed sponsorship benefits and launched a centralized access portal to ensure partners receive meaningful value and engagement.
• Product of the Year (POTY): The POTY Awards remain an important celebration of excellence in our industry, with continued efforts to expand participation and industry visibility.

4. Engagement & Community

A strong association is built on connection, trust, and shared purpose.

• PerkPoints Program: We continue to explore additional ways to grow how members can use PerkPoints across DPHA programs.
• Welcome Committee: A new Welcome Committee will help ensure new members feel informed, supported, and connected from day one.
• Industry Voice: DPHA will continue to lead industry dialogue through our DPH Perspectives column in Kitchen & Bath News, as well as other industry and designer columns.

DPHA continues to make steady, meaningful progress. By staying focused, listening to our members, and remaining students of the trade, we are well-positioned to turn the challenges of this new era into opportunity. I am grateful for your continued engagement and support as we move forward together.