As a manufacturer, the need to maintain quality products is a no-brainer. But a quality “experience?” It’s Steve’s job, as “Director of Quality” at Touché to ensure that BOTH of those things are maintained. Steve and Touché support and like to get feedback from both end-users - the contractor and the day to day user. Basically, Steve makes sure it all works and everybody’s happy. Steve’s experience in and around the lighting control industry began as a teenager working as a residential finish...

Are Lighting Controls in their adolescent period? Can we be blindsided by the shortcomings of lighting controls systems? These are a couple of questions that come up while chatting with Shoshanna Segal. Clearly written intent is how Shoshanna thinks we can get to better lighting controls. If you want a “multi-layered, visually compelling environment,” Shoshanna can help you design it with a thorough specification. Also, if you want hydroponically grown tomatoes in your pantry, she could...

In this episode Ron and Webster hit the big 5-0! In this milestone episode they're turning the spotlight on their producer, Scott Griffin, the 'Expert Layman.' Yes, you read that right! Take a listen to the questions Scott has after listening to 49 episodes of lighting controls conversations and maybe find out how better to reach end-users on your next project. After all, it's not just about the switches and buttons; it's also about the people who use them. Scott spent many years in the...

It’s hard to get to the end-user. When you’re designing a lighting system for a space, wouldn’t it make sense to talk to the people who will be using that space, like a teacher in a classroom? Mark Olerud, a sales agent for Kore Controls, is always striving to find that path through the Architects, General Contractors, Lighting Designers, and Engineers. It’s not always easy but often you can save hours of meetings and work by just talking to the people who will be using the space. Mark...

Listen up Project Managers: Casey has no skin in the game. If DMX or DALI or even 0-10V is the right choice, he’ll put it in the specifications. That’s what you hire these people for, to make sure it’s done right. Casey is a proponent of the DALI protocol because, in many cases, it makes sense. It is available in North America, so all you specifiers, take a look at it and if it’s right, specify it!Casey has created hundreds of architectural spaces and interactive environments, as well as live...

Advanced and interoperable. That’s McWong’s thing when it comes to controls. So when the L-Prize came along, looking for those exact values, McWong was a shoe-in! Not so fast. It’s not easy to win an L-Prize. It requires a serious commitment, hard work, and a talented team. McWong won the Prototype Phase Lighting Prize with a Bluetooth mesh wireless lighting control solution. It took a team at McWong 16 months to put together the submission, so you better get started! Stephen is Executive...

Renovations aren’t just for kitchens! We’ve talked a lot about system integrations in new projects, but don’t discount retrofits. Daniel tells us that much of the work that comes his way lately is from existing projects. As he says, if you want to test your mettle, take on a renovation project. But don’t forget, good relationships and communications with the rest of the team and the owner are still vital!Daniel Salinas has been in the electrical industry since 1978, beginning as a residential...

First of all, Lyn won the Benner award from The Building Commissioning Association. That’s a big deal! So she is someone worth listening to. Lyn talks with Webster and Ron about looking at the industry as a team sport. As Lyn likes to say, it’s not about how fast you get across the finish line, it’s about how many people you bring along with you. Lyn is an MEP Coordinator for DPR Construction. She uses her 20+ years of experience to start up and build quality into integrated systems for HVAC,...

Paul has been nicknamed “The DALI Lama” for good reason. He’s a big proponent of the DALI (that's Digital Addressable Lighting Interface if you didn’t know). That’s no surprise as he is the General Manager of the DALI Alliance. Paul talks with Webster and Ron about interoperability, misconceptions, and the challenges of DALI gaining traction in North America. Maybe he'll be able to challenge your own views on DALI! Paul is a highly qualified and experienced management professional with more...

Emergency Lighting Controls primary purpose is to provide sufficient illumination during emergencies for building evacuation and maneuvering. So just transfer the circuitry from utility power to emergency power. But wait, it’s not that simple. As Steve reveals in this episode, there are many considerations, like what kind of emergency is it? Power failure? Fire? Security? Steve points out the irony of the “bug-eye” security light at an emergency exit that blinds anyone who is approaching that...

Illuminart and Peter Basso Associates collaborated and integrated very successfully 7 years ago. Robert discusses, with Webster and Ron, the advantages of being part of both a lighting design firm and a larger MEP consulting firm. Are you sensing the “collaboration” theme here? Here’s a direct quote from Robert in this episode: “The controls people out there - they are worth their weight in gold, times ten!” Kinda makes you feel all fuzzy inside, doesn’t it? Robert has been practicing...

From a European perspective, breaking into the North American market is daunting unless you’ve got someone like MJ and Global Lighting & Controls on your side. They're helping North American projects take advantage of European systems and they know how to sell it on this side of the pond. North America is a unique market with lots of quirks and GL&C has a network of local sales agents that ensures European ecosystems are supported just like other systems. With MJ's business model,...

Dan talks about the need to focus on data management within building management systems and lighting controls. He emphasizes the significance of collecting and storing data, the potential for machine learning and predictive models, the need to break down data silos, and the importance of providing control and intelligence to various types of buildings. Daniel Hollenkamp Jr. is responsible for Toggled’s day-to-day operations; he oversees sales, marketing, manufacturing, and research &...

“Spec Rep” Anthony Guerriero started out as a sales rep then transitioned into controls which now puts him in the pretty unique position of being able to talk to engineers, architects, interior designers, and lighting designers. In this episode, Anthony talks with Webster about the need for clear responsibilities and intent in lighting control projects, emphasizing the role of a specification sales representative in ensuring project success and customer satisfaction. Communication and...

Mary Beth admittedly is not an expert on lighting controls, but when someone with her experience and knowledge of the lighting industry is in on the conversation, you should listen. Isn’t it interesting that Mary Beth, as someone from outside the controls section of the industry, has seen the same frustrations as insiders Webster and Ron? Perhaps people don’t know that behind color changing, color tuning, and video media, are lighting controls. Let’s get the word out! Mary Beth was the...

Kaleb is a Field Service Coordinator with ETC. What is a Field Project Coordinator you ask? Well, you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out, but suffice to say, it is a unique perspective on the industry. If you’re a designer, you’ll want Kaleb on your side. He doesn’t think you need to know “how the sausage is made” - that’s ETC’s job. Just tell him what you want and he and his team will figure out the electrical codes, the question of wired vs wireless and the challenges of...

Can’t we all just get along? Specifiers, integrators, engineers, manufacturers, contractors, end-users… Bryan, with Webster and Ron, decries the lack of communication between entities. And it’s not just people. Where’s the cohesion between the different types of controllers, control platforms, fixtures, and connections? And then there’s the lack of education and standards. How can anyone be expected to design a system? That's why you should have Bryan on your project, he’ll work with you to...

Who’s responsible for the lighting controls on a project? Who’s qualified? Who’s certified? We can tell you this - Darren is qualified! He brings up some interesting questions and he talks with Webster and Ron about communications between teams, education, the future of lighting controls, and much more. Darren Lapsley is a Business Development and Specification Sales professional with Clarus Lighting + Controls. His career in lighting began in the United States Marine Corps as an avionics...

Are you a landscape designer? A Contractor? Do you want to add “landscape lighting” to the services you provide? Then contact Justin and Zach at AMP. They’re shaking up the industry with their free design service. Send them pictures of your next landscape job and they’ll help you out. Listen to this episode to find out how they’ve partnered with Ring Doorbells to create some innovative controls. Justin Belz is an accomplished professional in the landscape lighting industry, currently serving...

David Robinson from Mecho has learned to harness the sun! Well, sort of. More like Mecho uses the sun for light in buildings by applying just the right degree of window shading along with artificial lighting for the optimal comfort of building occupants. And it’s all done automatically with… controls! David Robinson is the Director of Automation at Mecho with over 30 years experience in the lighting and controls industry. He is responsible for developing the sales and marketing strategies of...

Ruth tells Webster and Ron how PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratories) has focused for years on solid state lighting research, but has now seen the value of controls and is now focusing on that. They’ve gone into the field to see what happens in real time. Ruth expected that the research would be about the technology but she discovered that it’s really about people, or, more to the point, the intersection of people and technology. You know if PNNL is looking at it, it’s going to grow...

Check out Michal’s “Cadillac” - his Tron Dance Suits (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVt2OwMKiM8). How long does it take for him to make a custom suit? You'd be surprised! Listen to this week's episode where Michal chats with Webster and Ron about the challenges of attaching lights to suits then controlling them while dancers bounce around in those suits. Michal Pokluda has a background in mathematics, software development and computer graphics. He started as a laser show designer for small...

In case you missed the live stream from Lightfair 2023 in New York, here is an encore presentation of the segment featuring Szymon Slupik. Simon talks with Webster and Ron about the latest in Bluetooth controls. 

The stick is coming. Will HVAC controls become the dominant system, or will Lighting Controls pull ahead? Maury comes to us from the HVAC side of things but he thinks lighting has far more potential as an overall control system. Or perhaps AI will be the stick and replace it all! Maury is a tenured executive with 31 years of diversified experience in executive leadership, sales, marketing, sales management, business development, and operations/general management with demonstrated ability for...

Nathan tells Webster and Ron about his experiences with a “touring house,” working with “dimmer beach,” and getting off the road to be home in the evenings. He successfully took his “show must go on” attitude from theater to architectural installations and is now a lighting controls field service engineer with over 16 years of controls experience. Throughout his career, he has held certifications with 11 different lighting controls manufacturers, and he also holds NALMCO’s CLCP and CSLT...