Mitch Hefter has been working in lighting controls for over 45 years. He has played a major role in setting entertainment technology standards, developing certification for entertainment industry electricians, and is a 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 serves on its Technical Standards Council. He co-chairs the ESTA Electrical Power Working Group and is a member of two other Working Groups. Mitch was instrumental in the development of USITT DMX512 in 1986 and chairs ESTA’s ANSI E1.11 USITT DMX512-A Task Group.
Mitch chairs the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Lighting Control Systems committee and has worked on several IES standards. Mitch is an IES Fellow and a member of the IES Standards Committee.
Mitch is a USITT Fellow, a USITT Founders Award recipient, a past Engineering Commissioner, and was awarded Honorary Lifetime USITT Membership in 2014. Mitch is the recipient of USITT’s 2027 Distinguished Achievement Award in Engineering.
Mitch has worked on updates to the National Electrical Code® since 1981 and has been representing IES on NEC Panel 15 since 1997. He was appointed the USITT Alternate on NEC Panel 13 in 2022. He is also a member of UL’s Technical Committee for UL 924 – Standard for Emergency Lighting and Power Equipment.