Mike is a member of AAILA and he’ll tout the benefits all day long, from assistance and support to education, just like NAILD does for independent lighting distributors. AAILA brings together independent lighting agents and makes them “stronger together.” When he’s not volunteering for AAILA, he and his company are working on projects like lighting the longest enclosed pedestrian bridge in the world. (https://www.durhamregion.com/news/lighting-up-the-pickering-skyline/article_008e7f09-f2f4-5d10-96bc-0601ce2c4f33.html) The vision for Mike’s company, Visionz, is simple: be dedicated to the customer experience, partner with premier brands, and support the design community on their projects from start to finish. You’ll have to listen to the end to hear what Michael and Greg think is the best explanation they've heard for what an agent is. A Canadian with over 24 years in the lighting industry, Mike Hamilton’s experience in the lighting specification community is extensive, having been a part of the 12V LED lighting market, from its inception. Mike has led national sales teams and participated in their product design & development initiatives. All prior to entering the lighting specification market in Toronto. Mike has participated in a number of media attention grabbing projects, like the lighting of the longest enclosed pedestrian bridge in the world. Mike is currently the principal of Visionz Inc. a prominent Toronto based Architectural Products agency, that is focused on the creation of specifications in the areas of Architectural Lighting, Landscape Furnishings, and integration of Architectural Elements. 

Luminaire Level Lighting Controls. Is it time? Bruce and Angela think so. With wireless and Bluetooth maturing, the time may be right to NOT rip out walls and old control boxes, and just install LLLC. Now lighting controls are accessible to contractors and end users. Everybody’s happy. Okay maybe it’s not quite that simple. Listen to this one to hear about the promises and the challenges of LLLC. Angela Pilant has more than 25 years of experience working within the lighting and energy industries. She has a diverse background as a utility specialist, manufacturer’s representative, and consultant. She has worked at Evergreen Energy Partners since 2009 and specializes in market and trend analysis, utility program development, client engagement strategies, and training. She is a certified instructor for the Building Operator Certification Program (BOC) and has earned a Lighting Certified Professional designation from NCQLP. Bruce Hemmelman has more than 30 years of experience in the lighting and lighting controls industries. He has worked for lighting and lighting controls manufacturers as a Product and Sales Manager, as a manufacturer's representative and currently as a consultant. His current focus is promoting market transformation and adoption of Luminaire Level Lighting Controls working with the electrical specification, distribution and contractor market segments. 

We’ve all heard about AI by now. But probably not everyone really understands what it’s about. Pete Grett is kinda counting on that a little. As he says, using AI is pretty simple, but people just want others to do it for them. That’s where Pete steps in. He wants to help individuals be more efficient by taking away tasks and giving them to AI to perform. But don’t tell the boss. Just produce your usual level of productivity, then with your spare time watch or listen to Get A Grip On Lighting episodes! Pete started in supply chain 25 years ago as a temp worker in a warehouse. He rose to operational leadership in a variety of roles before moving to system implementations and support. Eventually, Pete took on leadership responsibility at what became FedEx Supply Chain. Pete oversaw system solution design, sales, and implementation for the two largest verticals at FedEx. Pete took that experience and many key resources and started his own consulting firm, The Blackrock Group, offering Supply chain management and system consulting. The Blackrock Group now has clients and uses resources all over the globe With a keen eye for innovation, Pete is now steering into the future with Blackrock Software Company, where he’s embracing the transformative power of generative AI. Under his #TechSherpa brand, he’s dedicated to guiding businesses through the evolving landscape of technology, ensuring they stay ahead in today’s digital ascent. Join Pete as he unpacks the complexities of supply chains and explores the frontiers of artificial intelligence. 

You will remember Dr. James from episode 291 in December 2022. She’s written a couple of books about light and health since then (see below). Light and its relation to circadian health keeps popping up on this podcast. There’s no doubt there’s something to it. But even Dr. James will tell you, the best way to deal with it is to go outside and let the rays from that big light in the sky hit you. Dr Shelley James is an international expert on light and well-being, TEDx and keynote speaker, Author, WELL Advisor and Visiting Lecturer at the Royal College of Art. She is also a trained glass artist and electrician. Shelley is on a mission to inspire others to harness the power of the humble lightbulb to be healthier, happier and help to save the planet too. Clients include global lighting and technology brands and regulators, healthcare and education trusts, architects and designers, academic institutions and museums. A recent social media campaign to raise awareness of the impact of light on teens was translated into three languages and reached over 2.5 million people around the world. Her TEDx talk was the third-most watched in the world in the month following the launch.

Connect with Dr. James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shelley-james-53592229/, https://www.facebook.com/DrShelleyJames/ https://twitter.com/DrShelleyJames/ https://www.instagram.com/drshelleyjames/ www.ageoflightinnovations.com

What exactly is the National Lighting Bureau? Well, Tom can tell us because he is now the Executive Director. He gives us a sneak peak on what's ahead for the Bureau. Tom also explains three personal goals he has as Director: increasing member benefits, outreach to like-minded organizations, and public outreach. The topic of transformation comes up between Tom, Michael and Greg. Is it coming? Listen to this episode to find out. 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. 

From billionaires’ butler to very successful owner of 3 hair salons with 77 employees (which also meant 77 headaches) to lighting designer and decorative lighting store retailer. William has always had a knack for what looks good and that has served him well as a lighting designer. When he’s not out designing the interior and exterior lighting of a home, he’s minding the store in Santa Barbara (lightandhome.com). William George has been a photographer, interior designer, art historian, theatrical set and lighting designer, and successful entrepreneur in the beauty industry. He has always loved lighting and design and brings his fresh perspective and design sensibility to Light + Home 

Two interesting perspectives on the lighting distribution industry: Sean Valliere who knew nothing about the lighting industry when he became an owner of Lamp Sales Unlimited, and Miranda Shepherd, who worked at Lamp Sales Unlimited for 23 years and also became an owner. Sean and Miranda discuss how they keep customers coming back by carefully choosing the right stock and having better customer service than the other guys. Sean Valliere moved from Pennsylvania at the age of 19 to Jacksonville FL where he worked in Supply Chain and Logistics management for 20 years. He spent 9 years at UPS, 4 years at Grainger and 7 years in Medical Logistics. In November of 2021, Sean’s family along with Miranda Shepherd acquired Lamp Sales Unlimited Inc. A 40-year-old Lighting Distributor with locations in Jacksonville FL and Orlando FL. Sean serves alongside Miranda as a VP to oversee operations and day to day business functions in both Jacksonville and Orlando FL. Miranda Shepherd, a Jacksonville, FL native, has 37 years of experience in the wholesale lighting industry, 23 of those years with Lamp Sales Unlimited. Her lighting career began with a 22-branch multi-state firm in inside sales selling residential lighting, and after 3 years was promoted to outsides sales and later to Branch Manager. Miranda started at Lamp Sales Unlimited in 2001 in outside sales and over the years served in multiple roles including Sales and General Manager. Miranda became one of the managing partners in 2021 and currently serves as Lamp Sales Vice President and General Manager. 

Omar is so knowledgeable about the Internet of Things that he’s written a book about it. He talks to Michael and Greg about the future of smart sensors and cloud data. Imagine a smart sensor that can see where, when and why people gather in a particular spot in a retail establishment. But, as Michael points out, a downside of collecting all this data is that it has to be stored on physical drives that take enormous amounts of energy and cover acres and acres of land around the planet. Omar A. Rivera is an industry-leading product development professional with more than 30 years of experience working with Osram/Sylvania, General Electric, and Orion Energy System. He has expertise in advanced energy-efficient lighting systems, where he led a product development team to launch the most efficient industrial light fixture in the world in 2017. This record-breaking efficacy still stands today. Omar A. Rivera has authored numerous articles and white papers on energy efficiency that have been published in various magazines and blogs. Omar is also an expert in the application of the Internet of Things “IoT technologies.” He was an early adaptor of this technology and led the effort to integrate advanced sensor technology into lighting systems. These sensors collect data to help organizations run more efficiently, save energy, and increase asset security. Omar served in the United States Air Force with distinction for 13 years. He has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from California Coast University, MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Business Executive Programs.

Michael and Greg continue their conversation in Frankfurt Germany. This time Michael is the “guest.” Greg asks Michael what he thinks about the organizers of Light + Building taking over LightFair. Is this a trojan horse? Is this a way for European companies to worm their way into the North American market?

Entschuldigung! Greg is Michael's "guest" on this one, reporting from Light + Building in Germany. But mostly they talk about LightFair in America. It seems Light + Building will be organizing the next LightFair. Greg is a little more ambivalent than Michael about it. But they both agree LightFair needs to be shaken up. Maybe some Europeans can do that.