The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to Barbara Horton, FIALD, CLD, founding principal at HLB Lighting Design, at the annual LightFair tradeshow and conference in October. In IALD’s 52-year history, this marks the eighth time an IALD member has received the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is presented to an IALD lighting designer whose body of work over their lifetime supports lighting design while raising the profile of the profession and is extraordinary and worthy of special honor.

As an IALD member since 1982, Barbara has served as a leader and mentor in the lighting design profession over the last 40 years. During her tenure, HLB grew to 15 Principals/Owners, with over 90 team members located in seven offices across North America, serving clients world-wide. She has guided the firm through a successful ownership transition, its first acquisition, and created a culture of design excellence with a focus on the business of design.

She has been working side-by-side with firm leadership and now-CEO Carrie Hawley for the past year-and-a-half in preparation for her recent retirement and the continued legacy of HLB.

Many of you know I have a second career writing fiction, with books published by major publishers like Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and Blackstone. My latest, THE AVIATOR, is a military thriller that takes you aboard a modern aircraft carrier and into the cockpit of an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter.

In THE AVIATOR, the U.S. has fought a short, sharp war with China over Taiwan. In a prison cell in Beijing, Navy fighter pilot Jack Knapp tells his story about the war and how he ended up in a Chinese show trial, accused of crimes against humanity. With his life in the balance, Jack will have to choose between survival and participating in his captors’ lies, and ultimately learn the true meaning of heroism in a war between superpowers where even stories are weapons.

In the sequel, THE WARFIGHTER (coming June 22), peace has returned to the Pacific, but it doesn’t last. War breaks out on the Korean peninsula, drawing America into a fresh conflict that sees use of some of the world’s deadliest weapons. In the aftermath, Jack Knapp tells a news reporter about the war and how he helped prevent a nuclear attack that could have destroyed an American city. As the media simultaneously cheers and questions the war, Jack sets out to explain the truth of its heroism and horror—so that all might understand war’s true cost.

These were a lot of fun to write, and I certainly learned a lot as I did a ton of research to make them as realistic as possible, including using a former TOPGUN instructor as a consultant.

The books are available in eBook (Amazon Kindle), trade paperback, and audiobook (Blackstone). Click here to check them out.

Today, the Illuminating Engineering Society announced its Executive Director, Timothy Licitra, has accepted a new Executive Director position at an engineering association based in the New York Metropolitan Area.

The IES announcement stated:

During his tenure at the IES, Tim Licitra’s contributions in support of its vision and mission were many. With a progressive approach to association management, Tim helped the IES modernize its internal systems and operations. He expanded the IES education program, and, coupled with the rollout of a new learning management system, the IES is now able to provide its members with access to over 240 educational programs. Also during his time with the Society, Tim oversaw the establishment of a Global Access Affiliate membership program, welcoming the IES Australia New Zealand (IESANZ) as its first such member and thereby expanding the IES global footprint. He most recently led the organization in transitioning all of its nearly 100 lighting standards and guidelines to an interactive, digital platform now known as the Lighting Library.

Not to mention building an all-star team of management talent at the organization over the past 5.5 years.

Over the next few weeks, Licitra will work with the Board of Directors on a succession plan. An Executive Search Committee will be appointed, which, in turn, will conduct an organizational assessment and prepare a transition plan.

Lytei produced a series of seven short videos about legendary lighting designer Howard Brandston. You’ll learn about his life as well as sound advice about lighting design.

Click here to check it out.

Ted Konnerth, PhD recently joined Merrimack Group as Managing Director to assist electrical industry companies with mergers, acquisitions, and investment capital.

Konnerth has more than 35 years of industry experience, including five years as Global VP of Sales at Cooper Lighting. He subsequently founded Egret Consulting Group, which grew into the largest executive search firm dedicated to the electrical industry, amassing a database of 120,000 industry executives across 12,000 companies. He sold the company to Brooke Ziolo in 2019 and has remained as an individual contributor to the business focused solely on C-level retained search. Ted will continue his C-level search activities with select clients.

Merrimack Group is a merger and acquisition advisory firm specializing in lighting and other electrical products. The principals have advised on more than 20 successful M&A transactions. The firm is currently working with three lighting manufacturers.

I’ve long been an admirer of Ted as an industry analyst and colleague and wish him well with his new role. Congrats, sir!

Effective July 1, 2019, Jennifer Jaques assumed the office of President of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and Antonio Garza the office of Vice President (President-Elect).

Jaques has been a member of IES and part of the lighting community for over 20 years. In 2000, she founded Lighting Application Sciences, LLC to provide lighting manufacturers, sales representatives, and others access to high-quality photometric calculation and rendering services.

Garza has been a member of IES since 1998. He is a mechanical and electrical engineer with more than 25 years’ experience in lighting, including a Master of Science degree with an emphasis in Lighting from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Residing in Monterrey, Mexico, Garza is a partner in Iluminacion Total, a firm that offers design, specification and sales work for all types of lighting projects.

IES Board of Directors (2019-2020)

President: Jennifer Jaques, LC (Lighting Application Sciences, LLC)
Vice President: Antonio Garza (Iluminacion Total, SA de CV)
Treasurer: James Radi
Past President: Lance Bennett (Eaton Lighting)
At-Large Director: Frank Agraz, LC (SLS Energy Solutions)
At-Large Director: Carl Bloomfield (Intertek)
At-Large Director: Wilson Dau (Dau Design and Consulting, Inc.)
At-Large Director: Naomi Miller, FIES, FIALD, LC (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
At-Large Director: James Potts (Eaton Lighting)
At-Large Director: Susanne Seitinger, Ph.D. (Verizon)
Regional Director: Antonio Giacobbe, LC (Form Lighting and Controls)
Regional Director: Rick Paradis (Synergy Investment)
Regional Director: Michelle Prew (Eaton Lighting)
Regional Director: Billy Tubb (Theatre Consultant)

The National Lighting Bureau recently announced that John Bachner, Founder and Executive Director, is retiring after 43 years.

John started the NLB in 1976 in response to the energy crises. His initial goal was to focus less on energy consumption and more toward quality of light—a goal that is even more important today. John has published hundreds of press releases, magazine articles and handbooks on High-Benefit Lighting, which is defined as efficient lighting designed to optimize human performance, health, safety, and commerce.

Randy Reid, Editor of the EdisonReport, will replace Mr. Bachner as Executive Director.

As long as I can remember being in lighting, John was the face of promotion of quality lighting aimed at end-user audiences. I applaud him for a long, distinguished career and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

The National Association of Electrical Contractors (NECA) recently announced that T. David Long has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Long will officially join the NECA staff on April 1.

With more than 40 years’ experience in electrical contracting, David currently serves as the President of Miller Electric in Jacksonville, Florida. He brings demonstrated experience in strategic planning and organizational growth, as well as leadership and mentorship of substantial teams. A dedicated NECA volunteer, David has held many roles within the association, including serving on the Board of Governors, Executive Committee and Council of Industrial Relations and most recently culminating as President of the Association.