Marlene MacDonald Ketchen named to BKBG

Marlene MacDonald Ketchen, founder and President of The Cabinetry Kitchen & Bath Design Studio, has been named to the Board of Directors of a national buying group, BKBG (Bath & Kitchen Buying Group).

In this role, she will assist in working with the national organization, whose membership includes more than 230 kitchen and bath dealers from across the United States, in helping shape its direction and increasing its membership.BKBG has headquarters in Houston, TX and recently hosted its annual conference in Denver, CO. The organization seeks to help members and vendors improve their efficiency, product selection and pricing through volume purchasing. The Bath and Kitchen Buying Group is the connection between its members and the leading manufacturers and suppliers in the industry.

“Our store has been a member of BKBG for some time and we see real value in the organization,” said Ketchen, adding, “This is a great resource that helps us pass along savings to our customers, as well as keeping us up to date on the very latest in trends in our industry. I am delighted to have the chance to serve on this board.”

The Scituate, MA native and resident of Hull, MA has been in the cabinet business since 2003, when she joined the company that her uncle, Ed MacDonald owned. She purchased the business from her uncle in 2004. Her family can trace its roots in the industry to 1960 when her grandfather, Norman MacDonald, began manufacturing cabinetry under the name MacDonald Kitchens. At one time, all five of Mr. MacDonald’s sons, including Marlene’s father Paul, were involved in the family business.Prior to working in the cabinetry industry, Ketchen, a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, D.C., worked at the White House during the Clinton Administration, first as an assistant to George Stephanopoulos and then in the press office of the West Wing. During this time, she traveled internationally with the press corps to places including Ireland, England, Germany, Egypt, and Korea. She also worked for the Commerce Department, and with Ethel Kennedy for the RFK Memorial non-profit organization.  She is also the former Communications Manager for the Latin American division of AOL.

Originally situated in Hanover, Ketchen relocated her business last year to a showroom in Hingham.  Plans call for the expansion of the business to include new showrooms, on the Cape and Boston. The Cabinetry also has film credits on its resume; it was selected several years ago by the television show This Old House to design several rooms for the 25th anniversary project in Carlisle, MA, and one of the episodes for the series was filmed at The Cabinetry showroom.