Willis Wins "Best Sustainable" product award at 2012 NKBA Gala!

Willis is pleased to announce a significant achievement that was recently attained at the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Gala on February 4th, 2012. It was at the gala that Willis received a prestigious award in the NKBA's design competition. The award - "Best Sustainable Product" - was presented to Willis in recognition of the environmentally-friendly properties of DuPont™ Zodiaq® quartz surface.

The Mayor of Burlington, Ontario, Rick Goldring (left), congratulates Willis President, Mike Hetherman (right) during a ceremonial presentation of the "Sustainability" award.

Additionally, DuPont™ Zodiaq® contains a line of "Terra Collection" colors which are eight aesthetically-attractive colors that contain at least 25% post-consumer recycled content. Zodiaq® has also been given several "green-related" certifications by various institions including the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), GREENGUARD, NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) and SCS (Scientific Certification Systems). Zodiaq® is a non-porous, low-maintenance material that has been recognized for it's outstanding performance in being nearly impenetrable to mould, mildew and bacteria.

Further to the incredible sustainable properties of DuPont™ Zodiaq®, the parent company itself, DuPont Building Innovations has attained "zero waste" at all 15 of their global manufacturing sites. This means that absolutely NO WASTE is being sent into landfills. To achieve this, DuPont™ has "re-purposed" materials that would have otherwise been destined for a landfill. Examples of this "re-purposing" include utilizing otherwise "unusable" Zodiaq® (by consumer standards) as a filler in road pavement and mixing Corian® into bridge concrete.

In short, the "Best Sustainable Product" award proves that the enviornmental stance that has been taken by both DuPont™ and Willis has not gone without notice.

Graduates of Designer Training Class

Willis and FLOFORM Countertops recently completed a round of designer training classes which was hosted at the FLOFORM showroom in Portland, Oregon. The course, which was conducted to host 52 future interior designers from Portland Community College, proved to be a success.

Topics that were outlined during the training included in-depth product information about granite, engineered stone and solid surface as well as current design trends in the surfaces industry. Participants also gained useful knowledge about identifying consumer needs in regards to "Premium Decorative Surface" countertop materials.

In addition to hosting the successful designer training classes, Willis also announced their intent to run a "NKBA Design Competition" that will be facilitated by Willis and FLOFORM this coming May. (More details will be posed online soon - stay tuned!)

We wish to congratulate all of the aspiring and talented interior design students that completed the designer training class. Job well done!

Class participants/graduates:

Aaron Smirl	RCC			Kat O'Neill	RCC
Allie Sweet	SC			Katie Wanvig	SC
Amanda Haynes	SC			Kristen Bridgeford	SC
Brandon Cole	SC			Kristi Rux	SC
Briana Tataish	SC			Kristopher Johnson	SC
Carissa Woodruff	SC			Laura Thornley	SC
Christy Lummus	SC			Linda Buchanan	SC
Danika Hamann	SC			Maureen McCafferty	SC
David Moreno	SC			Megan Misity	SC
Deborah Bacigalupi	SC			Merry Kennedy	SC
Dee Denaway	SC			Miranda Phelps	SC
Emily Burt	SC			Phyllis Eastman	SC
Emma Sawrey	SC			Polina Perju	SC
Erin George	SC			Rachel Ferrante	SC
Erin Manderville	SC			Renee Knempley	SC
Heidi Willis	SC			Sam Smith	RCC
Holly McDonnell	SC			Sarah Hohnbaum	SC
Ian Powell	RCC			Shannon Miller	SC
Jen Davidson	SC			Steve Davis	RCC
Jessica Patten	SC			Susan Dawson	RCC
Joe McDonnell	SC			Wendy Christy	SC
Kaci Coleman	SC

RCC = Rock Creek Campus
SC = Sylvania Campus

NKBA Puget Sound Chapter Event

As DuPont™ Corian® is fast becoming one of the most popular countertop materials in the market, now is a better time than ever to find out how this uniquely thermoformable and aesthetically-attractive material is making waves in the world of residential design.

On this note, Willis is pleased to announce its role as co-host to an upcoming NKBA event on Tuesday, March 6th in conjunction with FLOFORM Countertops. This informative session will include a presentation about DuPont™ Corian® and will also include an informative segment about Corian® tub and shower surrounds.

This event is definitely not to be missed!

Any and all members of the NKBA Puget Sound Chapter are encouraged to attend. Contact info@4willis.com for more information.

For over 20 years, Willis and FLOFORM have been partners in providing extraordinary customer service to a variety of customers in the countertop industry. In working together, Willis and FLOFORM continue to bring the highest quality products - DuPont™ Corian® and DuPont™ Zodiaq® - along with unmatched service to their clients in Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

DuPont™ Building Innovations Reaches ZERO Landfill Status with Corian® solid surfaces, Zodiaq® quartz surfaces & Tyvek® weatherization systems

DuPont™ has achieved zero landfill status in its Building Innovations business by reducing, reusing and recycling manufacted by-products and waste at manufacturing sites globally. After three years of focused effort, DuPont™ Building Innovations has become completely landfill free, reducing its environmental footprint from 81 million pounds of landfill waste annually to zero.

Now, through the "Drive to Zero" landfill program, none of the waste generated by the business from the manufacture of DuPont™ Corian® solid surfaces, DuPont™ Zodiaq® quartz surfaces, DuPont™ Tyvek® weatherization systems products and geosynthetic textiles is sent to landfills.

"The Drive to Zero landfill program is good for our business, good for the environment and highly valued by our customers," said Timothy P. McCann, President of DuPont™ Building Innovations. "Working with our supply chain partners to tackle the zero landfill goal was critical to the success of our business in reducing its environmental footprint. Collaborating with our business partners allowed us to succeed in reaching our ambitious project goal of zero landfill."

By completely eliminating landfill - not just reducing it - DuPont™ Building Innovations has created a new standard for environmental stewardship. The Drive to Zero project was comprehensive in other ways, too. Manufacturing by-products, unusable raw materials, product scrap, construction debris and even cafeteria waste were all within scope at the project's 15 global manufacturing and partner sites.

Today, material that previously may have been destined for a landfill is being reused or recycled, including:

• Sanding waste from the manufacture of Corian® and Zodiaq® is used as a filler replacement in concrete
• Ground-up scrap Corian® sheet is used as recycled content in first grade products - such as the company's Terra Collection of Corian® solid surfaces that now contain up to 20 percent recycled content;
• Crushed scrap Corian® is sold for use as road sub-base material and as landscape stone;
• Shipping pallets are repaired, reused or ground into animal bedding;
  
• Carrier belt firm is melted and used to make adhesives, and
  
• Cafeteria waste is recycled into worm bedding or converted into energy

Student Design Competition - The Winners!

Willis and FLOFORM host successful NKBA Roundtable Event in partnership with FLOFORM Countertops of Kent, Washington. Willis hosted an NKBA Roundtable Event which aimed at refreshing the DuPont™ Corian® name in the Washington state market.

With nearly 70 people in attendance, the evening truly was a success. There was general excitement and the feeling of a renewed interest in DuPont™ Corian® - not only as a material that can be used in the kitchen and bath industry, but in all areas of building design.

As the culminating point to the evening, the winners of the NKBA Student Design Competition were announced. With 11 participants in total, the competition had each entrant create either a kitchen or bath themed "design board" centered around a particular color of Corian®. Each design was then judged and scored in the following categories - and the winners were:

Most Inspirational Susan Sears - Bellevue College
(recipient of the grand prize Apple iPad)

Best Bath Design
Kristin Takada - Art Institute of Seattle

Best Kitchen Design
Nesta So - Bellevue College Congratulations to all the winners!

Willis would also like to thank the following:

Josh Dunn	Premier Media for judging the Best Corian® Kitchen Design category.
Joseph Irons	Irons Brothers Construction LLC for judging the Best Corian® Bathroom Category.
Candace Nordquist	Signature Woodworks for advertising the competition through the NKBA

As well as the following students who entered the competition:

LaVaughn Richards (Clover Park Technical College)
Lindsey Shoemaker (Highline Community College)
Linda Watts (Highline Community College)
Amanda Hurley (Art Institute of Seattle)
Jeff Lavoie (Art Institute of Seattle)
Trisha Gaffney (Bellevue College)
Kristin Dobbs (Bellevue College)
Andrea Hermanson (Bellevue College)

And a special "thank you" to FLOFORM Countertops for hosting the competition at their showroom in Kent - especially to Jessi Kuemper and Auburey Daughtry for all their help with planning and set-up.

DuPont™ Corian® Bone is Back!

	Due to the popularity of the DuPont™ Corian® color "Bone", effective December 1st, 2011, DuPont™ is moving the 1/2" Bone sheet from the Library Collection back into the standard offering! Bone will be placed into the Price Group "B" category.  Standard lead times will apply.

Student Design Competition - Refresh DuPont™ Corian® Your Way

Our Local Competition Objective Our objective for this competition is to refresh the DuPont™ Corian® name in the Washington State market. It is our hope to show designers, architects, and remodelers that DuPont™ Corian® can give that "creative edge" to any project. Though it may not be known by all, DuPont™ Corian® has continually evolved since its advent in 1967 and – as the original solid surface material – continues to be a leader in being up on the latest trends. We would like to reinvent what Corian® is all about.
Express Your Creativity... This is a great way for you as a designer to express your creativity using DuPont™ Corian®. No matter how Corian® inspires you, this is your chance to think outside the box and come up with something that expresses your skills – and yourself. Advertising Your Work... Making a name for yourself is the first step in achieving success in the design industry. This competition will allow you to show off your work in front of local designers as well as your industry peers. And, since Willis and DuPont™ want to showcase the hard work and dedication that you put into your design, we will be using and displaying your boards at events throughout the year. This is your time to shine! Here is your chance to win an iPad! There will be prizes awarded for the following categories: Most Inspirational Award Given to the student with the most votes from the NKBA members on their favorite design board. Winner also recieves an Apple iPad. Best Kitchen Design Award Given to the student based on visual appeal, creativity, and the elements & principles of design in a kitchen setting. Best Bathroom Design Award Given to the student based on creativity, the elements & principles of design, and visual appeal in a bathroom setting. Competition Rules To enter the competition you must be an NKBA Student Designer. Competition open to Washington, U.S.A. residents only You must have your design board completed by the deadline; no late entries will be accepted. Must use a 10" x 10" Corian® sample in the design, with other finishes complimentary to the design - such as tile, flooring, hardware, & textiles. One entry per student on a 20" x 30" foam board - displayed vertically. Optional: Design a floor plan for a kitchen or bathroom. Please label (manufacturer & name of product) products that you use on your board. On the back of your design board, indicate your name, the school that you are attending, and whether your design is for a kitchen or bathroom. Have fun & be CREATIVE! To Receive a Corian® Sample To receive your Corian® 10x10 sample, contact Stephanie Stead with Willis (contact information below), and she will ship it to your home in 2-3 business days. As we want to ensure that everyone who wishes to compete has the opportunity, the sooner you send in your sample request, the better! Student Design Boards Due: Friday, November 4, 2011 Turn in your Design Boards to the following instructors Bellevue College: Cheryl Ford (425)-564-3155 Clover Park Technical College: Julie Watts (253)-589-5567 Highline Community College: Tamara Hilton (206)-878-3710 ext. 3976 The Art Institute of Seattle: Marilyn Ward (425)-882-3242 Design Boards & Awards will be presented at the NKBA Roundtable Event at FLOFORM Countertops, Tueasday, November 8th 2011. Contact: Stephanie Stead E-Mail: stephanies@4willis.com We wish all of our entrants the best of luck!