Meet the Speakers

Emlyn Altman

Senior Lighting Designer

DLR Group

Emlyn Altman is a Senior Lighting Designer at the integrated design firm DLR Group. With over 28 years of experience working on interior and exterior lighting projects, she incorporates a unique, combined background in lighting, architectural design, sculpture, and 3D visualization throughout her work. Her portfolio includes a diverse range of designs such as Hospitality, Culture & Performing Arts, Education (K-12 and Higher-Ed), Corporate, Civic, Healthcare, Retail, Residential, Sports & Recreation, Research Laboratories, and even large-scale art installations. Hospitality lighting is her passion and specialty, especially after having been a Senior Lighting Designer at Wynn Design & Development where she designed lighting solutions for multiple Encore and Wynn Casino Resort projects in Boston, Las Vegas, Macau, and Cotai - including the notable Delilah’s supper club.

Throughout Emlyn’s career, her work and insights and have been published in periodicals such as Lodging Hospitality, Architectural Lighting, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, in addition to seven years as a regular columnist for LD+A magazine, where she wrote about digital design topics for the lighting industry. In 2006, she was one of the first recipients of Building Design and Construction magazine’s “40 Under 40” hotshot designers award. Beyond Emlyn’s regular work responsibilities, she is a member of the Lightfair International Attendee Advisory Committee and serves as Chair of the national Illuminating Engineering Society’s Hospitality Design committee where she helped develop the original “Hotel Lighting Design” Guidelines manual (DG-25) that was later expanded to become the current ANSI/IES RP manual “Lighting Hospitality Spaces” (ANSI/IES RP-9-23). Since 1999, Emlyn has presented as a guest lecturer at universities and professional conferences around the country including the IES Annual Conference, Lightfair, Lightshow West, HD Expo, and Autodesk University. For her, success as an instructor is revealed at the “aha” moment when the students’ eyes light up (pun intended) as they begin to understand the concepts being taught.

Shaun August

Partner, Managing Director

Eos Lightmedia

Shaun has designed, managed, and delivered complex design-build projects around the world and brings over 15 years worth of lighting design, audio visual systems design, and construction experience to Eos.

He has designed lighting for interior and exterior projects, including community wide lighting master plans. The audio visual systems he has designed includes video mapping projects, custom interactive model tables, a permanent exterior musical instrument, motion-triggered audio and a rain storm in a caiman pen. Fun and guest involvement are key motivators in Shaun’s designs.

Shaun has designed complex lighting control networks for ethernet, DMX 512 and other control protocols and has led the development and implementation of custom designed, web-based control systems for museums and sales centres using ‘off the shelf’ hardware rather than proprietary systems.

In addition to architectural work, Shaun has designed lighting for professional theatre productions and is a strong proponent of collaborative design that draws upon many mediums and backgrounds. Shaun also programs custom software for use in Eos’s projects and has developed custom digital signage software, network-controlled high definition video playback systems, network-controlled audio playback devices and many others.

Daniel Blitzer

Principal

The Practical Lighting Workshop

Dan Blitzer, LC, FIES is Principal of The Practical Lighting Workshop, a 30-year consultancy in lighting, marketing, and education. As educator, speaker, writer, and marketer, he brings 45 years of experience to issues of lighting application and technology, energy effectiveness and sustainability.

Dan has served in an advisory role with The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for 15 years. His commercial clients have included Signify Lighting, LumenWerx, Rayon Lighting, RBW, and previously Genlyte and Lightolier, now part of Signify. Non-commercial clients include The Illuminating Engineering Society, The Building Energy Exchange, and The American Lighting Association. He is a member of The Lighting Agora.

Dan has written guides to energy effective lighting in offices, retail, healthcare, and schools; AIA-certified seminars on a wide range of topics, including lighting controls; remote and face-to-face training materials; guides for the NCQLP exam; and the video and printed history of the Lightolier company, The First Hundred Years. He is principal video interviewer for the IESNYC History Committee’s TALK project and has written the video Introduction to Lighting and the most recent edition of Lighting Fundamentals for the IES.

Dan is currently teaching lighting at the New York School of Interior Design’s MFA program and in the Institute for Continuing Professional Studies.

He is a board member and past president of the Designer’s Lighting Forum of New York, a continuing educator for the American Lighting Association, a President of The Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education, and a Fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society. He is Lighting Certified and a mentor in the Guiding Lights Program of the IESNYC.

Dan holds a BA in Economics from Columbia University.

James Brigagliano

Lighting Program Manager

DarkSky International

Active in the lighting community for 20 years, James brings a unique blend of technical knowledge, real world experience and a passion for dark sky preservation. James champions the development of existing and new DarkSky Approved Lighting programs.

James began his career in lighting working with the Planning, Design & Construction Dept. at Cornell University. In his time at Cornell James gained experience measuring and photographing built projects, collaborating with professionals on master planning, and creating site lighting standards for the campus. Dedicating himself to lighting, James continued his career at Selux Corporation in Highland, New York, where James wrote multiple continuing education articles, developed award winning dark sky luminaires, and gained a strong appreciation for environmentally friendly lighting.

Being able to utilize his expertise in lighting to support environmental stewardship is extremely exciting to James. Outside of work he loves adventuring with his family and pursuing his interests in nightscape / landscape photography, rock / ice climbing, mountain running, and ski / mountaineering.

Dean Brockob

Specification Sales

Texas Lighting Solutions

Dean Brockob, LC, LEED-ap, has been in the lighting industry for 25 years. He has worked for four lighting manufacturers and three lighting rep firms in different cities. Currently he is in specification sales, working for Texas Lighting Solutions in Dallas, TX.

Dean has presented at over 40 IES and AIA meetings; including LightFair in 2009 and 2019. He is currently the President of the Dallas IESNA section, and Past-President of the Atlanta IES section.

Prior to Texas Lighting, Dean was Regional Sales Manager for USAI, Hydrel, and Louis Poulsen. Dean studied lighting at the University of Colorado (Arch. Engineering), and received an MBA from Georgia State. He is a LEED accredited professional and has been a “LC” since 1999.

Tom Butters

CEO

The Lighting Agora

Tom Butters, LC, is the creative mind and developer behind some of the most well received educational tools and events of the global lighting industry. Since 1986, Tom has worked in or served the entire array of the lighting industry. He uses this diverse background and empathy to understand the needs of the individual or organization to deliver high quality lighting education to suit the precise needs of the user. Tom is a proud board member of the Nuckolls’ Fund for Lighting Education and an Emeritus Member of the IES.

As the Senior Manager then Director of Canlyte/Philips Lighting Concept Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 2000 to 2016, Tom developed and delivered top level lighting education to thousands of attendees in all segments of the lighting industry.

Tom was the co-developer, along with F.X. Morin, of the globally successful free lighting app “IES Ready Reference”. He is the creator of “Light for Life – a Global Collaboration 2020” which involved 17 webinars from 15 lighting organizations from around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tom was the director of the IES’ free 4-hour live webinar “Germicidal Disinfection in the Days of COVID-19” which had over 3600 live attendees from 56 countries and has been viewed by thousands more as a free offering on the IES website.

Tom is a multiple award-winning lighting educator who counts the following as some of his proudest accomplishments.
IES Emeritus Member – 2023
Director of the team that won the 2020 Lightfair Innovation Judge’s Citation Award for the on-line “IES eLearning Portal”
IES Section Service Award – 2018
IES Toronto Section’s prestigious G.G. Cousins Award – 2015
IES Toronto Section Mentorship Award – 2011
Canlyte’s initial class of Certificate of Achievement in Lighting Excellence – 2007

While awards represent his professional success, Tom considers his true success to be the hundreds of former education attendees whom he has helped find passion through lighting. The Lighting Agora intends to continue this trend on a global stage.

Alexandra Christiana

Associate & Sustainability Leader

HMFH Architects

Alexandra Christiana WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, LFA, is an architect and sustainability leader at HMFH Architects, where her passion for building performance and knowledge of lighting design has made her crucial to projects at every stage. Providing integral support to project teams, Christiana uses her skillsets to push sustainable initiatives and assist in problem solving for complex designs. Her commitment to promoting student wellness is reflected in her daylight and energy modeling, as well as her research into healthy material options and embodied carbon. With a background in energy consumption and voluntary building standards, Christiana holds a Master of Science in Environmental Design of Buildings from Cardiff University in Wales and a Master of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Elias Cisneros

Lighting Designer

333 Luxes

Elías Cisneros is an Lighting Architect with a heritage of Mesoamerican Cultures. He is Professor of the Architectural Lighting Design Diploma at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) as well as at the Iberoamerican University (IBERO).

Elias was nominated for the Queen Sofia Award in Spain and is custodian of the “Dove of Peace” by UNESCO. He serves as a juror for national and international lighting design awards; synodal of university theses; and lecturer in several countries in America, Asia and Europe. He was President of the Yucatan College of Architects in 2018-2021. His firm is No.1 in the ranking of the “10 Firms for sustainable cities / Smart Cities.” by the CNN/Expansión group.

Elias is passionate about the relevant social function that shadows and lights play in societies of all times. He received an Honorable mention in the XV Biennial of Yucatecan Architecture 2023.

Casey Diers

Senior Designer

Morlights

Casey has created hundreds of architectural spaces and interactive environments, as well as live performance, film, television, and music video lighting. With experience as a lighting controls system integrator, Casey serves as lighting controls designer for Morlights complex and varied projects. Casey's reputation for meticulous attention to detail and his knowledge of both the art and science of light, combined with a willingness to speak up when a detail can be just a little better, make him a valuable resource on any project.

Casey has a degree in Lighting Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University. He is a member of the Illumination Engineering Society, the United States Institute of Theatre Technology, and holds a Certified Lighting Controls Professional certification from the International Association of Lighting Management. Casey has contributed to industry standards via the ESTA Technical Standards Program and the IES Standards program and sits on the IES Lighting Control System Committee.

Julie Donovan

Senior Associate

Horton, Lees Brogden Lighting Design

Julie Donovan is a Senior Associate at Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design. She has been working in the architectural and engineering industry for 34 years and has worked on a variety of lighting design projects. She is a registered architect, LEED BD+C, a member of International Association of Lighting Designers and serves on the ASHRAE 90.1 committee and IES RP-29 Lighting for Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities committee. For HLB, Julie keeps the office up to date on all things related to energy codes across the country.

Raimond Dumoulin

Global Program Manager, Light Sources

Signify

Coming from a background in semiconductor packaging, Raimond stepped over in the early days to LED development within Philips Lighting, now Signify. In his role as LED architect, he has developed early COBs and high efficiency LEDs with a drive for special spectra applications. In his current position in Signify, Raimond leads a global team to develop new LEDs for a wide range of applications, with multiple suppliers and partners for super efficiency and special spectra applications.

Alp Durmus

Head of the Lighting Laboratory in the Department Architectural of Engineering

Penn State University

Alp Durmus research is focused on adaptive and next generation illumination systems, color science, and the interaction between occupants and built environments with respect to a wide range of applications on energy consumption, user interaction, and environmental impacts.

Bill Ellis

President

Candela Controls, Inc.

As owner and President of Candela Controls, Inc. in Winter Garden, FL, Bill Ellis has gained experience and respect in the industry for his innovative thinking and problem-solving approach to the unusual project. Some of his most challenging projects include: the Sky Church and Artists Journey at Experience Music Project, Seattle, WA; the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, IL; the Space Shuttle Atlantis on display at The Kennedy Space Center, FL; and the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, MD. In addition, there have been over 22 casino projects in 7 states, the Bahamas, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as multiple themed projects for the Walt Disney World Company and SeaWorld Entertainment.

Bill earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Lighting and Audio from the North Carolina School of the Arts. He is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society and sits on its Lighting Control Systems and Museum and Art Gallery Lighting Committees. Bill is also member of Control Protocols Workgroup for ESTA, and is an alternate member to Code Making Panel 18 of the National Electrical Code for ESTA. A leader in systems integration, Mr. Ellis is a Certified Low Voltage Systems Specialty Contractor in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.

Bill has presented at several LightFair International conferences, and for IESNA, PLASA, and ESTA on a range of lighting control topics, including Advance Control Solutions, the use of DMX512, RDM, sACN, DALI, and PoE integrations.

Laurie Emery

Healthcare Market Development Manager

Visa Lighting

As Healthcare Market Development Manager for Visa Lighting, the leading brand in performance lighting for commercial, educational, hospitality, healthcare, and behavioral health facilities. Laurie supports specifiers through training for lighting solutions that enhance healthcare applications and improve patient well-being.

With a background in architecture and electrical design, Laurie's career direction changed when she discovered her true passion in lighting design. This newfound interest led her to pursue further training in lighting design, a journey that was enriched by educational opportunities with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

Today, Laurie is a certified lighting (LC) professional with a wealth of experience, having worked alongside architects, engineers, and interior designers for many years. She has positively influenced numerous interior and exterior projects across various sectors, including commercial, educational, retail, hospitality, senior living, and healthcare. Notably, she led a partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital, leading the development of lighting products for their patient rooms in the Big Lot’s Behavioral Health Pavilion. Laurie has also held leadership roles in the IES sections in Toledo, Cincinnati, and Greensboro.

Laurie continues to leverage her professional lighting design background at Visa Lighting through continual research of modern lighting technology and design trends in the healthcare market. This knowledge allows her to engage with design professionals to promote evidence-based design that encourages healing in healthcare environments.

William Norris, P. Eng

Co-founder and Principal

Airlight

Will Norris is the Co-founder and Principal of Airlight, leading Canada's marketplace for Casambi lighting controls. In this role, Will drives the adoption of smart lighting systems that transform environments across various sectors, ensuring clients have access to the most advanced and efficient lighting control solutions.

As a Professional Electrical Engineer and a Certified Casambi 4C Commissioning Partner, he brings a wealth of technical expertise and innovative thinking to every project. Will also serves as a part-time lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University's Chang School of Continuing Education, providing the next generation of professionals with the requisite skills and knowledge needed to excel in the industry.

Tony Esposito

Director, Standard Development, Light Concept Lead

International WELL Building Institute

Founder and Head Research Scientist | Lighting Research Solutions LLC

Dr. Tony Esposito is a lighting quality researcher with a background in lighting design and engineering. He is the Director and Light Concept Lead at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the Founder and Head Research Scientist at Lighting Research Solutions LLC (a lighting consultancy providing services in research, education, and development), and Co-Chair of the Color Committee of the Illuminating Engineering Society.

Richard Falconer

Senior Lighting Designer

NV5

Originally from London, England, Richard D. Falconer has worked in lighting design across North America. Richard brings diverse experience, including many years in the theatrical side of lighting, designing lighting for special events and traditional stage plays. With a focus on aesthetics, functionality, and energy efficiency, Richard deftly designs lighting solutions that enhance the storytelling elements of a live performance through the use of lighting. Several of his previous projects have been honored with design awards by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES.) Richard is a Professional Member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and is also Lighting Certified (LC) with the National Council on Qualifications for Lighting Professions (NCQLP).

Alison Fiedler

Associate, Senior Lighting Designer

Stantec

Alison Fiedler has over 12 years of lighting design experience, covering a wide variety of projects from workplace to transportation and almost everything in between. She continues to thrive in a career that allows her to tap into her talents to create lighting environments that enhance the architecture of buildings and landscapes, provide enchantment, comfort, and safety to users, and bring the unique visions of architects and owners to life. Alison loves learning about how people work and live and puts this to use in her designs. She is enthusiastic about learning, educating, and sharing her experiences to help lighting professionals of the future, and she demonstrates this through local mentorship and speaking engagements. Outside of the office, Alison is passionate about enjoying the outdoors, investing in relationships with her family and community, and relaxing with a great cup of coffee.

Rachel Fitzgerald

Principal, Discipline Lead for Lighting Design

Stantec

Rachel Fitzgerald is a Principal and the Discipline Lead for Lighting Design at Stantec, with 20-years of experience providing exterior and interior lighting designs for hospitality, mixed-use, retail, corporate, civic/government, education, and recreation facilities. She is a leading expert on how lighting and daylighting drive health and wellbeing, and her commitment to designing highly sustainable and human-centric spaces has resulted in more than three dozen design awards. Rachel is an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, serves on the WELL light concept advisory, and is Membership Chair for the IALD and previously served on the Board of Directors.

Forest Flager

CEO and Co-Founder

Parspec Forest

Forest developed a passion for sustainable design working for his father’s construction business in Santa Cruz, California. This led him to complete an engineering degree at MIT before joining Ove Arup and Partners in London, UK where he specialized in sports venue design. Forest later pursued a PhD in computational design at Stanford University before joining the faculty at Stanford’s Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) in 2013. He went on to lead software and design automation at Katerra, a technology driven off-site construction company, before co-founding Parspec in 2021. Forest currently lives in Palo Alto, California with his wife and young daughter.

Matthew Fracassini

Associate | Sustainability Leader

The Lighting Practice

Matt Fracassini joined The Lighting Practice in 2015. He has a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering with an emphasis in Lighting Design from The Pennsylvania State University. Matt’s focus is designing attractive, coherent, and energy-efficient lighting with advanced lighting control solutions. In his role as Associate, he leads The Lighting Practice in sustainable design through thoughtful and imaginative approaches that transform the built environment and limits impact on the planet. Matt oversees the development and refinement of sustainability goals, establishes achievable sustainability metrics and processes as well as leading intra-office and client-facing opportunities for sustainability education.

Jay Goodman

Founder

Apres Illumination

In the last decade, Jay has been immersed and has made extraordinary strides in his pursuit to mimic sunlight indoors. It's a perfect storm, of new technology in LED chips, phosphors and controls, combined with almost weekly peer reviewed, published papers validating the connection between the sun and our sleep, health, recovery, and immunity

A 30 year lighting industry entrepreneur, his time has always been spent commercializing the latest technology in lighting.

He started in the 1980s commercializing energy saving ballasts and lamps and migrating to where new technology enabled new markets—from the 90's retrofitting hotel guest-rooms, to manufacturing CFLs, and from 2000s manufacturing fluorescent high-bays to an early entry to the LED revolution with his patented, energy saving, LED down lights.

Anne Kustner Haser

President

AKLD Lighting Design

Anne is passionate about lighting and how the power of light can make in the visual experience. She is President of AKLD Lighting Design and the principal designer for numerous merit and honor award projects from the IES and AIA, along with an IALD Award of Excellence and GE Edison International Lighting Design Award. She has spoken across the country presenting to the AIA, IES, IALD and various design groups, and taught university courses. Her projects have been published in a number of design publications including LD+A, Architectural Digest, Interior Design, Luxury Home Quarterly, The Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune.

Mitch Hefter

Principal

Mitch Hefter Consulting

Mitch Hefter has been working in lighting controls for over 40 years. He has played a major role in setting entertainment technology standards, promoting electrical safety, developing certification for entertainment industry electricians, and is an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician and Recognized Trainer. He is a founding member of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) Technical Standards Program (ANSI E1) and co-chairs the Electrical Power Working Group. Mitch was instrumental in the development of USITT DMX512 in 1986 and chairs the ESTA E1.11 USITT DMX512-A Task Group.

Mitch is a USITT Fellow, a USITT Founders Award recipient, a past Engineering Commissioner, and was awarded Honorary Lifetime USITT Membership in 2014.

Mitch has worked on updates to the National Electrical Code since 1981and was instrumental in getting USITT's first representative onto NEC Panel 15. Mitch has been representing the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) on NEC Panel 15 since 1997. He was appointed the USITT Alternate on NEC Panel 13 in 2022.

Mitch also chairs the IES Lighting Control Systems committee and worked on several IES standards. Mitch is also an IES Fellow. He has presented at LightFair, LDI, USITT, NAMM, and at IES chapters on several topics, including Emergency Lighting Control.

Kate Hickcox

Energy + Environment Research Scientist

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Kate Hickcox is a creative thinker with over 20 years of experience in lighting, research and design. Kate’s work focuses on sustainability, which means considering the complex aesthetic, technical, visual, and non-visual needs of people while at the same time equitably benefiting the economy, society, and the environment. Kate’s unique background blends the artistic with the practical and allows for the discovery of unique design solutions and innovative research-based strategies. Her work at PNNL includes supporting Energy Equity and Justice in Systems Technology work, leading decarbonization and circularity efforts for lighting and other mechanical and electrical systems, and work in outdoor nighttime lighting.

She has authored or co-authored many technical publications/reports and has presented at LightFair International, IALD, LEDucation, the CIE and the IES on topics including sustainability, life cycle assessment, subjective rating scales, designing for darkness, glare and brightness perception, lighting, and acoustics as well as lighting quality metrics.

Kate has been a guest critic and speaker at Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons/The New School, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Architecture Department. She has taught at The New School, Parsons’ School of Constructed Environments and was also the Lighting Fellow for ‘Opening the Edge’, a project of the Design Trust for Public Space, in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority; proposed by Jane Greengold.

She is currently a member of the IES Standards Committee, member of the ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Whole Life Design Guide working group, voting member of the IES Technical Committee: Discomfort Glare in Outdoor Nighttime Environments and of the IES Sustainability Committee.

Yoelit Hiebert

Quality Manager

PLC Multipoint

Yoelit has been working in the LED lighting industry for nearly twenty years and currently serves as both the Quality Manager and R&D lead at PLC Multipoint. Shereally likes solving problems and her work gives her plenty of opportunities to do just that in the complex and rapidly changing world of lighting control.

Yoelit Hiebert has both a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering. She is a Professional Engineer and Lighting Certified. Yoelit is active in industry standards development and serves as the Vice-Chair for the IES Lighting Control Systems Committee. She also serves as Vice-Chair on the Lighting Controls Association Board.

Although a St. Louis native, Yoelit has spent the last five years living and working in Connecticut.

Jon Hoyle

Principal

The Lighting Practice

Jonathan Hoyle joined The Lighting Practice in 2008 after completing his Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design at the University of Illinois. He was promoted to Associate Principal in 2019, then Principal in 2022. He has been an integral part of TLP’s expansion to New York. During his tenure at TLP, Jon has experience with a variety of project types including corporate, education, exterior facades, historic interiors and exteriors, hospitality, public spaces, and a variety of transportation environments. This range helps create a unique perspective when designing a new project. He was recognized by Lighting Magazine for his leadership in lighting design as a 40under40 class of 2020. Jon also served for four years as an adjunct professor in the Architecture Department at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. When not at work, he can often be found riding his bike through the city streets or along wooded trails.

Hyun Woo Hwangbo

Lighting Designer

Tillotson Design Associates

Hyun Hwangbo recently graduated with Departmental Honors from the MFA Lighting Design program at Parsons School of Design, where he also served as an officer for LUX Team. He gained practical experience through internships at Brandston Partnership Inc. (BPI) and The Lighting Practice (TLP). Currently, he is a lighting designer at Tillotson Design Associates (TDA). Recently, Hyun presented a poster at IES24: The Lighting Conference, about the relationship between lighting environments and the perception of crime fear in urban spaces

Harold Jepsen

VP Standards & Industry Relations

Legrand

Harold Jepsen is the Vice President of Standards & Industry Relations for Legrand’s controls and lighting divisions. As a licensed electrical engineer and WELL-AP, he is a 30-year veteran in the energy, lighting and building automation industry. He serves on the ASHRAE/IES 90.1 and Standard 100 committees, the IECC Lighting, Power & Renewable Subcommittee and the IES Lighting Control Systems Committee. He is the technical lead for Legrand’s Code Solutions Programs and is a regular presenter on lighting and control energy code topics.

Carol Jones

Market Development Manager, North America

DALI Alliance

As the NA Market Development Manager for the DALI Alliance, Carol continues her journey of bringing higher value digital lighting into reality and contributing to environmental goals. She’s a 30-plus year veteran of the lighting industry, but she's anything but an industry standard.

Carol has an unusually diverse background having been a lighting designer, a ‘labbie’ at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a manufacturer for both controls and luminaires, and most recently is the owner of Beyond Light Consulting. The constant is her commitment to innovation and market transformation.

Carol is a recognized industry thought leader and has long been involved with standards development, professional associations and Federal programs and policy. With 40-plus conference presentations and 20 publications under her belt, she’s well-known as a speaker and author.

Karl Jonsson

Chief Product and Innovation Officer

LUUM.iO

Karl is an experienced technology creator and innovator with over 20 years of expertise in Lighting, Controls, IoT and Energy Management across multiple industry sectors, such as Entertainment, Commercial and Consumer solutions. He has most recently led the Wemo Smart Home Business unit at Belkin International and studied Power over Ethernet and LVDC designs for lighting, with a focus on decarbonization, for the past 7 years. Karl has held several high-level positions with industry-leading companies, including Cisco, Belkin, Tridonic and Zumtobel, and has an impressive track record of visionary thinking, with 70+ patents, including early patents for wireless light bulbs later acquired by Signify. He has contributed to industry standards such as ZigBee, Thread, Z-Wave, TCLA, Matter and the IPSO Alliance, and co-founded the IoT Ready Alliance with Enlighted Inc, which was adopted by DIIA in 2019. Karl is currently a board member of Zumtobel Lighting Inc and eTactica ehf, as well as an advisory member to Lexi devices and Mnmmod building solutions. He holds a B.Sc. in Electronics and M.Sc. in IT and Computer Science from universities in Copenhagen and is an Icelandic citizen.

Michael Jouaneh

Manager Sustainability and Energy Standards

Lutron

Michael Jouaneh is manager of sustainability and energy standards for Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Michael is a frequent presenter at industry events such as Lightfair International and Greenbuild, and is active in the development of the top energy and green building codes/standards for the U.S. He is also the author of several published articles, whitepapers, and case studies on high-performance, energy-efficient green buildings.

Michael chairs the Power, Lighting, and Renewables subcommittee for the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). He is a vice chair of the ASHRAE 189.1 Standard for High-Performance Green Buildings committee. He is involved with many standards development organizations, including the California Energy Commission, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and Illuminating Engineering Society.

Michael is a LEED AP, WELL AP, and WELL Faculty. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. from Drexel University.

Won Hee Ko

Assistant Professor

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Dr. Won Hee Ko is an Assistant Professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on integrated analysis of environmental quality for architecture with an aim to improve occupant health, well-being, and productivity. Prior to joining NJIT, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for the Built Environment, UC Berkeley, where she also earned her Ph.D. degree in Architecture, with a specialization in Building Science, Technology and Sustainability. Won Hee has professional experience at Buro Happold Engineering (facade and computation analysis teams). She received her BArch from Yonsei University, South Korea, and her MS in Building Science from the University of Southern California.

Over the past three years, her research has focused on view quality assessment. Firstly, she published a framework for evaluating view quality in the built environment. Following, she worked on studies looking into view access and clarity using different facades materials while applying advanced technologies including virtual reality (VR) and 3D point cloud systems.

Bryce Krulic

Director of National Sales – 1 Phase UL 924 Products

Staco Energy Products

With 24 years of experience in the electrical industry, Bryce Krulic, Director of National Sales at Staco Energy Products, brings deep expertise in emergency lighting solutions. A Georgia Tech Mechanical Engineering graduate, Bryce is well-versed in power distribution, energy storage, and motors, making him a trusted voice in the field.

Craig Bernecker, Ph.D., FIESNA, LC

Director of Lighting Design Program

The New School, Parsons School of Design

Dr. Bernecker has been a lighting educator for over 40 years. He is founder of The Lighting Education Institute, providing professional education, and Professor of Lighting Design and Director of the Masters of Fine Arts in Lighting Design program at Parsons School of Design, The New School. Prior to founding The Lighting Education Institute, he directed the lighting education program within the Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State University. He has published more than fifty articles on research and education in lighting design and illumination engineering and is known for his work on the psychological aspects of lighting. He also maintains an active consulting practice, providing lighting design services and serving as an expert consultant on many projects and as an expert witness on many legal cases. He regularly serves as a peer reviewer for lighting research proposals and projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

He further served for 15 years as Educational Facilitator for LIGHTFAIR International, coordinating the development of the annual conference program, and annually teaches an online lighting certification review course in preparation for the NCQLP LC exam.

Dr. Bernecker has served the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) as Vice-President for Technical and Research Activities (1991-1993) and Vice-President for Educational Activities (1993-1995). More recently, he served the Society in its highest office, as Senior Vice-President for 2003-2004, President for 2004-2005, and Immediate Past President for 2005-2006. As a result of his contributions to lighting education, the Society named him a Fellow in 1991, and for his service to the IES, the Distinguished Service Award in 2017. He also received the 2021 LIT Lighting Design Awards Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2024 Edison Report Lifetime Achievement Award

Dañiel Luna-Fuller

Owner

Luna Lighting

Dañiel Luna-Fuller is the owner of Luna Lighting. She is retired from the United States Army, where she served as a construction engineer for 17 years. With a deep passion for design work and customer solutions, she has specialized in lighting design for the past 10 years. Since 2014, she has been extensively involved in the lighting industry, working across all levels of the supply chain before founding Luna Lighting in 2017. Luna Lighting has not only helped with various commercial lighting projects but has also set itself apart with a focus on agricultural lighting, including controlled environment horticulture and indoor lighting for plants. Her company has completed over 500 projects for various applications. Dañiel aims to bring her expertise in this niche to commercial lighting professionals, helping them discover new opportunities.

Clifton Manahan

Senior Associate

HLB Lighting

Clifton is a quick study with new lighting technologies, fixtures and applications issues, becoming a valued expert in multiple areas. With a strong aesthetic based in theater and fine art his focus is on mastering technical applications - creating especially realistic and accurate lighting renderings and calculations, leading to well-thought-out and comprehensive lighting specifications.

John McBride

VP Sales

Holophane/Utility, Acuity Brands

John is the Vice President of Controls at Acuity Brands Lighting. He, and his team are responsible for promoting lighting control solutions, training, and product selection for the Holophane/Utility channel. He works closely with the other divisions of Acuity to simplify applications and provide insight on customer trends. Over the past 3 years, John has focused on implementing Network Lighting Controls and Smart City strategies for customers that are moving beyond stand-alone photocontrol applications. John has more than 32 years of experience in the lighting and controls industry with eight years in electrical design and over 24 years in lighting controls sales and management.

John Mears

Director of Business Development

Eos Lightmedia

John has over 20 years of specification sales experience in the lighting industry. In his previous role as the Vice President of Sales for a highly regarded manufacturer, he worked closely with the design community on many world renowned museum, retail and themed projects. John has a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Northeastern University in the United States and is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.

In addition to being a speaker at many industry events, he has guest lectured at both Syracuse University and the University of Rhode Island for their respective Museum Studies graduate programs. As the customer advocate, John understands the highly demanding design and build project world and knows what it takes to deliver winning results to our clients.

Martin Mercier

Strategic Marketing Manager for IoT and Connected Systems

Cooper Lighting Solutions

Martin Mercier P.Eng is a Strategic Marketing Manager for IoT and Connected systems for Cooper Lighting Solutions, a division of Signify (formerly known as Philips Lighting) a global lighting manufacturer leading the lighting industry revolution into IoT-driven solutions and renewable energy lighting. Before Martin was a senior product manager for advanced lighting technology systems for the Americas for 8 years with Signify. Since his early days in R&D, he contributed to develop and launch the patented first Philips Lighting LED light engine plate-form deployed in multiple brands and manufacturing sites across the Americas. Shortly after he helped to bring successfully to market early cloud-based technology lighting systems for public and private customers in the Americas. His insights and ideas helped to strengthen the overall effort in pioneering new technologies for Signify and the lighting industry in general bringing problem-solving solutions for our smart city and smart building customer

Naomi Miller

Senior Scientist

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Naomi Miller straddles the line between design and engineering at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Portland OR. As a senior scientist she applies her decades of experience in architectural lighting design in Upstate New York and San Francisco to nudge design professionals, product manufacturers, governments, and end users towards more visually uplifting, environmentally-responsible, and healthy lighting solutions. She researches and reports on lighting quality issues such as visual comfort, flicker, and light distribution with respect to solid-state products. Lighting is an intriguing stew of economics, human factors, and physics; an essential element of productivity and comfort; and a necessary element of visual delight. In 2023 she received the CIE Waldram Gold Pin for Outstanding Contributions in Applied Illuminating Engineering, and in 2024 received the IES Medal Award. She is both a Fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society and the International Association of Lighting Designers.

Colm Nee

Chief Technology Officer

Enlighted

Colm joined Enlighted in 2019. As Chief Technology Officer, he is responsible for driving the product and technology strategy and leading a team of dedicated and passionate engineers and product managers who all want to make a difference.

Prior to Enlighted, he was a data analytics leader at Allianz, where he focused on using data to create data products for large institutional investors (corporate pension funds, family offices, institutional asset managers). He created several innovative investment products, built on top of a modern data architecture and analytics platform.

He is energized/inspired by/passionate about being part of a small group of companies helping shape the future of work and making a difference in our global fight against climate change.

Jon Parrish

Business Developer

Johnson Controls

Jon currently leads the west region of Johnson Controls' Intelligent Lighting Infrastructure division. His role involves managing a skilled team of design and operations professionals who specialize in developing and implementing connected lighting solutions for clients in both public and private sectors.

The focus is on delivering practical lighting solutions that boost energy efficiency and reduce operational costs, ultimately eliminating the need for significant capital expenditures. Additionally, they evaluate new smart city and IoT technologies to determine their potential value in enhancing business productivity and sustainability.

Since 2010, his division has successfully secured and executed lighting energy retrofit projects totaling over $700M across various markets including K-12, higher education, healthcare, and other public sectors. They have extensive experience navigating regional market requirements and have completed projects throughout North America, including in Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada.

Xingying Peng

Lighting Designer II

The Lighting Practice

Xingying Peng joined The Lighting Practice’s Philadelphia office in 2018 as an intern while she earned her Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from Parsons School of Design. In 2019, She rejoined the team as a full-time lighting designer in TLP’s New York office. Before attending Parsons, Xingying worked as a theatrical lighting designer, taking part in the production of several theater festivals in Asia including the Beijing Fringe Festival, Singapore M1 Festival, and others. She also worked as a lighting fellow at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. In addition to her work as a designer, Xingying is a Mandarin-English translator and a certified mixologist. Since joining TLP, her project experience has grown to include corporate and academic environments as well as exterior façades.

Michael Royer, Ph.D.

Human Factors Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Dr. Michael Royer joined PNNL in 2011 and primarily works on the Advanced Lighting Science and Technology Research program, with an emphasis on human factors. He conducts experiments to help refine metrics and specification guidance, with the ultimate goals of advancing lighting quality to improve building occupants' satisfaction and increasing the use of energy efficient lighting technologies. He has been instrumental to the development of ANSI/IES TM-30-20, IES Method for Evaluating Light Source Color Rendition. He has authored over 70 journal articles and government reports covering many aspects of light and its application in architectural environments.

Michael is chair of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Vision Science committee and a member of the IES Color Committee. He is an associate editor for the journal Lighting Research & Technology. He has a joint appointment as Courtesy Faculty at Oregon State University.

Prior to joining PNNL, Michael earned a Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering from Penn State University, receiving the 2013 Taylor Technical Talent Award from the IES for his published work, which focused on tuning optical radiation for visual and nonvisual effects.

Andy Powell

Vice President

Lighting Design Alliance

From his architectural engineering education to his professional experience as a lighting designer and electrical engineer for over 35 years, Andy has acquired a rare set of skills which serve him well in his capacity as Vice President and studio director at LIGHTING DESIGN ALLIANCE. Thorough communication during all phases of design and construction is vitally important to the success of any project. In addition to careful collaboration with the owner and architect to enhance their vision, Andy’s unique background and experience allows him to communicate equally well with other technical consultants.

Since joining LIGHTING DESIGN ALLIANCE in 1995, Andy’s domestic and international project experience has expanded to include single and multi-family residences, sports complexes, entertainment centers, convention centers, retail centers, restaurants, and theme parks. Most recently Andy has headed up a national campaign on behalf of JP Morgan Chase Banks to upgrade their branding image through architectural lighting and to update safety ATM lighting.

LECTURES & SEMINARS
Andy has been a guest lecturer at the University of Colorado, University of Kansas, University of Southern California, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach City College and Orange Coast College. As well as industry associations, IES Los Angeles and Atlanta Sections and LightShow West.

Phat Quach

Director

Domingo Gonzalez Associates

Phat joined DGA in 2011 after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from Temple University’s School of Art. With 13 years at Domingo Gonzalez Associates Phat’s contributions have become integral to the firm’s mission. His experience on a broad range of institutional, park and transportation projects supports DGA’s efforts on such commissions that are characterized by varied and stringent standards, procedures and critical project requirements. He brings a high standard of care and insight to all project types, small and large, from primary schools to large-scale bridge infrastructure. DGA benefits on many fronts from Phat’s membership on the IES Transportation Committee, his strong sense of detail, and he has become a sought-after mentor to emerging lighting professionals, focusing on technical training and internal process improvements.

Rita Renner

Director of Marketing

mwConnect (formerly McWong International)

Seasoned in cleantech and energy efficiency, Rita A. Renner has held senior marketing and outreach positions in the lighting controls industry, including WattStopper, Echelon and mwConnect. As a consultant, she has served clients in pre-IPO lighting controls companies, electrical/data construction, professional services firms, and policy making organizations. Rita has a B.A. summa cum laude from Mount Mary College and a J.D. cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law.

Scott Roos

VP Sustainability and Business Optimization, Specialty Lighting

Acuity Brands

Scott Roos is the Vice President, Sustainability and Business Optimization, Specialty Lighting Group at Acuity Brands. 2024 marks Scott's 46th year in lighting, a career that has encompassed product design, marketing, product management, strategic planning and lighting education. Products Scott has worked on have earned numerous patents and awards including the Industrial Design Excellence Award and LightFair's Most Innovative Product and Technical Innovation awards. He has also developed the concepts and lighting design for numerous facilities, showrooms and tradeshow booths including the acclaimed Des Plaines, IL Center for Light and Space.

Scott has always been involved in pushing the envelope for critical topics of the time, from developing the first miniature low voltage accent lighting fixtures and systems in the 80’s to helping advance CFL general illumination downlighting in the 90s to driving the development of the first commercially viable LED track and recessed solutions in the early 2000s. Most recently Scott has been a grain of sand in the oyster to encourage us to embrace wellness and sustainability as fundamental elements of good lighting and has been a regular speaker on both topics at national and regional industry events.

He is currently serving as a member of the IES Sustainability Committee, which is updating the LP10 Sustainable Lighting Practice document, the NEMA Lighting Sustainability Task Force, the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) addressing the Environmental Aspects of Lighting and with Smart EPD to develop Product Category Rules for conducting luminaire Life Cycle Assessments in North America.

Scott has a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois and an MBA from De Paul University.

Norm Russell

Principal Consultant

NV5

Norm’s background is lighting for theatre and for TV Studio productions, experiences that inform his work in architectural lighting design in parallel with production lighting, recognizing that in both disciplines, lighting is a means to reveal, enhance, engender mood, and convey story in all its guises. Norm is Co-Chair of the IES RP-38 Videoconference & Presentation Lighting Committee. Norm brings five decades of lighting design experience to NV5 Consultants, leading the company’s lighting discipline.

Brennan Schumacher

Principal

Mazzetti

Brennan leads Mazzetti’s growing global Lighting Design Studio which delivers dynamic lighting solutions that are technologically-advanced, environmentally responsible and promote human health. He has presented for the Smithsonian Institute, the Department of Energy, at Green Schools conferences, Sustainable Living Fairs and several branches of USGBC. He continues to educate clients and colleagues through accredited presentations and classes on Sustainable Lighting Design and Human Health.

Lauren Schwade

Associate Principal, Healthcare Lighting Lead

Mazzetti

Lauren is Mazzetti’s healthcare lighting lead, boasting over 18 years of expertise and a distinguished portfolio with notable clients such as MD Anderson, St. Jude, and MSK. Specializing in healthcare and smart design, she delivers tailored lighting solutions that promote health and wellbeing for patients, families, and staff. Actively involved in industry advancement, Lauren sits on the IES Healthcare Committee and is an affiliate member of the Center for Health Design. Passionate about her work, she integrates the latest research into her projects, particularly focusing on circadian rhythms and biophilic aspects of lighting design, ensuring they adhere to the most current principles and methodologies.

Leela Shanker

Sustainability Director, Design Lab

WAP Sustainability Consulting

Leela Shanker leads the Design Lab with WAP Sustainability. Synthesizing architectural design, sustainability analytical frameworks and speculative material investigations, the Lab implements strategies that progress decarbonization, circularity and material health in the built environment. Based in New York, with collaborators globally, Shanker and WAP's team develop pilot initiatives between leading stakeholders from design, manufacturing and real estate.

Through the GreenLight Alliance - an international network of lighting professionals progressing industry-led standards, research and advocacy - she founded the Lighting Industry Life Cycle Assessment Incubator while practicing as a lighting designer with consulting engineering firm BR+A. She holds a M.Arch (Hons) and MFA - Lighting Design from Parsons School of Design and Bachelors of Law and Commerce from Sydney University.

Shanker continues to advise the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (U.S. Department of Energy) as technical expert to their Life Cycle Assessment and light research team and is a Steering Committee member of the American Institute of Architects’ Decarbonization Subcommittee and Carbon Leadership Forum NY chapters.

As Founder of non-profit, Flint Collective NYC Inc, her work has been awarded by the IES with a Special Citation for Lighting as a Tool for Social Impact. She is a current member of the Social Architecture track of the New Museum’s NEW INC incubator.

Tom Shearer

Product Manager - LED Retrofits

Lutron

Tom Shearer joined Lutron Electronics in 2001 as an electrical engineer with a background in power electronics. After developing fluorescent dimming ballasts, he led the development of Lutron LED driver products to achieve the same control performance as standard light sources on the market. Tom has been awarded patents in the areas of LED driver technology, and control of tunable white lighting.

Tom works with industry-lighting designers and lighting fixture manufacturers to develop innovative control options for indoor and exterior lighting. He has worked on projects from high-end homes to museums to multi-building campuses to ensure effective control by coordinating specifications and control types from design to owner occupancy.

As fluorescent lighting becomes obsolete in North America, Tom has worked with industry partners to create solutions to support lighting upgrades from fluorescent to LED that can be implemented without disrupting the use of the space.

Tom is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has presented at technical seminars and conferences on LEDs, LED drivers, and lighting control.

Aura-Nat Sirikanokvilai

Lighting Designer

Cooley Monato Studio

Aura-Nat Sirikanokvilai has been creating captivating and functional lighting environments since her early days as an interior architecture student at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. With 5 years of experience working as a lighting designer in Thailand, her passion for the interplay of light and space led her to pursue an MFA in Lighting Design at Parsons School of Design in New York, where she excelled as a student assistant, teaching assistant, and research assistant.

After finishing her master's degree with a thesis and departmental honors award, she joined Cooley Monato Studio as a full-time lighting designer in July 2024.

Ryan Smillie

Director of Sales, West

EnOcean, Inc.

Ryan Smillie is a 16 year veteran of lighting and lighting controls manufacturing. He has experience in many areas of Sales and Marketing during his career with focuses on the Internet of Things (IoT), Sustainability, and Building Automation. He is now the Director of Sales, Western US for EnOcean Inc. The pioneer of energy harvesting IoT systems globally since 2006.

Robert Soler

Chief Scientist

BIOS Lighting

Robert Soler is the Founder and Chief Scientist at BIOS Lighting. Prior to his work at BIOS, his most prominent work was at Kennedy Space Center, where he helped design and build the first LED light for use on International Space Station (ISS). Additionally, he served as Subject Matter Expert for NASA’s circadian lighting system to synchronize astronauts to a 24-hour cycle on board ISS. He received a fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for investigation in circadian lighting paradigms. He currently serves on the light advisory committee for the International WELL Building Standard.

Charles Stone

President | Founder

Fisher Marantz Stone

Charles joined Jules Fisher & Paul Marantz, Inc. in 1983 and helped found FMS in 1997. The firm has received over 225 awards and successfully completed over 5000 projects on six continents, including Carnegie Hall, the Washington Monument, the New York Armory, the Tribute in Light, the Hong Kong International Airport, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, the US Embassy in London, the Peninsula Hotel in Paris, the reimagining of 41 buildings on the Shanghai Bund, the world’s tallest building - the Burj Kalifa, the 2nd tallest - Merdeka Tower in Kuala Lumpur, the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. Charles’s Traveling Light lecture tour features explorations of light and culture and has visited universities and conferences in 25 countries. In addition to teaching visits and practical workshops worldwide, Charles is active in education as a member the Advisory Board for the Architectural Lighting program at Oregon State University, the IESNA Lighting for Outdoor Nighttime Environment Committee, and is a core member of the Lighting Detectives. Mr. Stone is a graduate of Princeton University, a Fellow and Past President of the International Association of Lighting Designers, and a 2022 recipient of the Edison Report’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Yun-hsuan Tsai

Designer

HLB Lighting Design

Yun-Hsuan Tsai is a New York-based lighting designer with a wide-ranging portfolio encompassing architecture, theater, exhibitions, and photography lighting. With a background in theater and drama from Taiwan, she honed her craft at Parsons School of Design, graduating from their renowned lighting program. Yun-Hsuan's work reflects her deep passion for storytelling through light, drawing inspiration from her astute observations of the world. Now, she brings her expertise to the forefront with a presentation focused on lighting for the end-of-life journey, leveraging her combined experience in architectural and theatrical lighting. Through her extensive background and ongoing exploration of light's interplay with humanity and the environment, Yun-Hsuan seeks to provide innovative insights and solutions aimed at enriching the final moments of life through thoughtful lighting design.

Jeffrey Leffeld Versakos

Principal

LEDspin, LLC

For nearly three decades, Jeffrey Leffeld Versakos has specialized in the design, engineering and installation of state-of-the-art LED and fiber optic lighting systems for museum collections featuring objects, artifacts and documents of significant cultural heritage throughout North America.

Abhay Wadhwa

Founder and Design Principal

AWA Lighting Designers

Abhay Wadhwa, founder and design principal of AWA Lighting Designers, sees lighting beyond its conventional purpose. Here, he crafts a story using lighting design and technology to create moments of experience, which factor into the psyche and emotions of those who work, live, or visit the spaces designed by AWA. While doing so, he is seeking innovative solutions that challenge convention while augmenting the integrity of the architects’ vision. In doing so, pragmatic lighting design nestles comfortably with artistry. He has also served as an adjunct professor for the Graduate Lighting Design Program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s (RPI) esteemed Lighting Research Center (LRC) from 2003 to 2020. He is also the author of the recently released book “Contextualizing Light.”

Abhay founded AWA Lighting Designers in 2002. Abhay has been quietly focused on questioning the lighting zeitgeist ever since. Based in Hudson Yards, NY, he works extensively with the world’s leading architecture and design firms in the fields of commercial and mixed-use developments, urban planning, transportation, infrastructure, hospitality, and healthcare. He is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, educator, and author of numerous advanced light engineering and cultural lighting articles. He has worked with the United Nations Foundation on projects that address issues that marginalize many of the world’s population. Recently, he was invited to work with the Rural Haiti Project and Ethiopia’s Mary Joy Aid Through Development to improve the infrastructure, and in turn, the lives of its residents. He has also been referred to as the “Poet of Light” by a Canadian journalist and in lighter moments takes this title very seriously.

Andrea Wilkerson

Senior Lighting Research Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Andrea Wilkerson is a Senior Lighting Research Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, focusing on the evaluation of emerging lighting technology in support of the U.S. DOE SSL Program. She earned her doctorate from Penn State and her BS and MAE from the University of Nebraska in the respective architectural engineering programs. Andrea serves as an Associate Editor of LEUKOS (journal of the IES), on the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) Exam committee, the Oregon State University School of Civil and Construction Engineering Industry Advisory Board. Andrea has served on the IALD Education Trust Board and on many IES committees.

Chris Wolgamott

Senior Product Manager, Technology and Product Manangement

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA)

For over 25 years Chris Wolgamott has worked in the utility business in the Pacific Northwest, as a program manager, energy efficiency engineer and product manager. Mr. Wolgamott is recognized as a subject matter expert (SME) for LLLC (Luminaire Level Lighting Controls). He works extensively with lighting manufacturers on where the future of lighting and controls are headed. His work in the utility business has allowed him to gain vast knowledge on how incentive programs are developed and run.

As the Senior Product Manager for Commercial, Residential Lighting and Commercial HVAC including Efficient Rooftop Units (eRTU) and Very High Efficient DOAs (VHE DOAs) with NEEA, Chris works with manufacturers on increasing the efficiency of lighting, lighting controls and commercial HVAC units and controls. Chris leads all emerging tech research on lighting products to support transformation of the commercial and residential lighting markets, as well as emerging tech research for all aspects of commercial HVAC.

Chris started his energy efficiency career at NW Natural Gas Co. working with residential and commercial customers to find ways to more efficiently use natural gas. After 6 years in the natural gas industry he decided to fuel switch and went to work for Eugene Water and Electric Board, a local public utility. Chris worked with the commercial energy efficiency department to promote electric conservation. It was during this time that he found his passion for lighting. Seven years later he moved to Portland OR to work as a contractor for Bonneville Power Administration. During his 3 years at BPA Chris was the commercial lighting energy efficiency engineer for the Energy Efficiency department. His time as the lighting engineer was spent working with the utilities of the Northwest to promote high quality and efficient lighting.

Matthew Zakreski

Founder

The Neurodiversity Collective

Matthew "Dr. Matt" Zakreski, PsyD is a professional speaker and clinical psychologist who specializes in working with neurodivergent (gifted, 2e, ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, etc.) people. He has spoken over 600 times all over the world about supporting neurodivergent people in all walks of life, from schools to college to the workplace. Dr. Matt specializes in taking knowledge of the brain, human behavior, and clinical psychology and making that accessible and practical for people to improve their lives. When it comes to working with organizations, Dr. Matt is an expert at helping everyone to grow in a meaningful, authentic way based on skills that stick with you well after he’s left the stage. Everyone deserves to have a better life; the more we know about ourselves and our brains, the better we can meet those goals.

Fabio Zaniboni

Chief Vision Officer

BubblyNet

Fabio Zaniboni brings a distinctive and multifaceted perspective to the lighting industry. Born in Italy and raised across South America, Europe, and Africa, he is fluent in four languages and has lived and worked in over forty countries. His immersion in both the arts and sciences, coupled with a Master’s degree in Engineering, provides him with a rare blend of creativity and technical expertise.

Throughout his career, Fabio has shared his vast knowledge and experience with Fortune 500 companies worldwide, leading to the establishment of several successful ventures, including Zaniboni Lighting, Zaniboni Indoor Well-Being, Effective Lighting and BubblyNet. These companies, which span multiple time zones, reflect his global vision and entrepreneurial spirit.

For over a decade, Fabio has collaborated with renowned designers around the world, contributing to the design and development of architectural lighting and lighting systems. His deep insight into the lighting industry led him to explore building automation and controls, where he has emerged as a leading expert in wireless controls. Envisioning the future through Bluetooth® Mesh technology and the integration of Artificial Intelligence in architecture, he continues to push the boundaries of innovation.

Stephen Zhou

Executive Vice President

MW Connect

Stephen Zhou is Executive Vice President at mwConnect, a pioneering lighting and IoT company headquartered in Sacramento, CA. He is responsible for overseeing the company’s daily operations and managing its subsidiaries across Asia. He leads a cross-functional R&D team that has developed cutting-edge wireless lighting control and IoT products, earning prestigious industry accolades, including the IES Progress Report, Sapphire Award, Brightstar Award, Lightfair Technical Innovation Award, and the DOE L-Prize.

Stephen has deep technical expertise in lighting technologies such as LED drivers and advanced controls, including sensor technologies and wireless network platforms like Bluetooth Mesh, Zigbee, and Thread. He is a frequent presenter at industry events and is actively engaged in various lighting industry groups including the IES, Lighting Controls Association, Zhaga Consortium, and DALI Alliance. Stephen holds an MBA from the Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University and a B.S. from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai.

Ardra Zinkon

President

Zinkon Creative Studio

Ardra Paige Zinkon, CLD, IALD is the President of Zinkon Creative Studio, a lighting and technology design firm located in Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Zinkon is recognized as a Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) by the Certified Lighting Design Commission and is a Professional member of the IALD. Ms. Zinkon is also an active member of the IES where she contributes to the following committees to maintain her expertise in the industry: IoT Connected Lighting Committee (Co-Chair) and the IES Progress Report Committee. Ms. Zinkon regularly serves as a guest lecturer at the Ohio State University in the Theatre, Architecture and Interior Design Departments. Prior speaking engagements include: Lightfair International, IALD Enlighten Americas Conference, LEDucation, IES Annual Conference, NeoCon, and NeoCon East and GovEnergy.

Anna Zuercher

Lighting Designer

Stantec

Anna Zuercher, an alumna of Kansas State with a degree in Architectural Engineering, specializes in architectural lighting and electrical design. Her engineering background informs a methodical approach to her projects, ensuring that design solutions are both integrated and efficient. At Stantec's Specialty Lighting studio, Anna collaborates with architects and interior designers to strategically implement lighting systems that elevate architectural spaces. Her portfolio showcases a diverse range of projects across multiple sectors such as corporate offices, government buildings, and aviation facilities. Anna's expertise reflects a harmonious blend of technical proficiency and creative vision, contributing to the enhancement of environments through the thoughtful application of light.