Lighting Controls Podcast

Thomas works at Color Kinetics. With a name like that, they obviously deal with color changing lighting, which also means they have to deal with lighting controls, and that has led to the cloud. Thomas explains that many people ask for the cloud solution. Why drive to the office to change the color on the outside of the building when you can just do it from home? Tom Barber joined Color Kinetics in early 2006, working in various roles spanning OEM applications, product management, and most recently product marketing for New England and Eastern US.

Connect with Thomas: www.colorkinetics.com https://twitter.com/ColorKinetics https://www.youtube.com/user/PhilipsColorKinetics https://www.linkedin.com/company/color-kinetics https://www.instagram.com/colorkinetics/ 

Jason joins us from the DLC. What is the DLC? In Jason’s words, the Design Lights Consortium is “a bridge between the lighting world and the energy efficiency world.” The LED revolution for energy savings is pretty much over, so what’s the next step? Lighting controls, naturally. The DLC just published an impact report on the use of LED’s over the last 10 years. Jason wants you to know that he misquoted the impact number as one hundred megawatt hours, when it is actually more like ONE THOUSAND TERAWATT hours. Imagine how much more we can save by adding lighting controls! Jason is a Technical Manager at the DLC with 25 years of lighting industry experience, most recently as director of lighting at a sales agency focused on the distributor and contractor markets. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatrical Lighting from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Architectural Lighting from Parsons The New School for Design, Jason spent 20 years as an architectural and theatrical lighting designer in New York City, focusing on lighting controls. He is Lighting Certified and a member of the IES Chicago chapter. 

Want to learn about lighting controls technology and applications? The Lighting Controls Association is offering that FOR FREE! Go to https://aboutlightingcontrols.org/EducationExpress. But, before you do, check out this episode with Craig DiLouie, Education Director at the association. Craig explains that the LCA has educated up to 46,000 students with over a million learning hours. Jump in and get some letters behind your name. Craig DiLouie, LC, CLCP is a journalist and educator in the lighting industry and serves as education director for the Lighting Controls Association, a council of NEMA dedicated to educating the public about lighting control technology and application. He is also lighting columnist for tED Magazine and Electrical Contractor. 

Peter explains that Casambi chooses to partner with hardware companies (like McWong who happens to be sponsoring this episode), so that they can focus on software. That has resulted in sophisticated controls that can handle DMX, DALI, 0-10V, PWM, reverse phase etc. And they’re big time into wireless. Entering the North American market from Sweden during the pandemic, Casambi has flourished. Contact Peter for your next project and you could have YOUR cake and eat it too. Prior to his 20 year career of leading teams and driving revenue in the lighting manufacturing and controls industry, Peter worked in software. It was this distinctive blend of experiences that fueled his passion for harnessing technology for innovative problem-solving—a passion he now brings to Casambi. 

Do you own a bowling alley? Bill will integrate strikes with lights! Hit the jackpot at a casino? Bill can make sure everyone in the building knows. Bill’s definition of an integrator is “the glue that puts the pieces together.” This kind of integrator isn’t needed on every project, but Bill and Candela Controls have found a niche pulling together the lighting designer, the electrical engineer, and the manufacturer on complex projects. Bill Ellis is an industry expert in lighting systems integration and is very proud of Candela Controls Inc.’s enduring history. He is a member of IESNA, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, and sits on its Theatre, Television and Film Advisory Committee and Museum Lighting Committee. Bill is also a member of Control Protocols Workgroup for ESTA, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association. He is a Certified Low-Voltage Systems Specialty Contractor in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, New Jersey, Mississippi, Louisiana and Rhode Island. 

Javid was with us way back when we started on the Conversation Series on Get A Grip On Lighting. Javid is back with some DMX512 standard updates (For all you geeks out there, here’s the link to all published ESTA standards mentioned on the podcast today: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/documents/published_docs.php). Javid also discusses the pros and cons of using wireless and the surprisingly positive case for using category cable in wired situations. Keep an eye out for his new book on DMX512. Javid Butler is a lighting designer and energy engineer who holds LC, CEM, and CMVP certifications. He has contributed to the development of many lighting standards including RDM and sACN, and chaired the task group for E1.27 DMX512 cabling standards. He presently chairs the E1.68 DMX512 Compliance task group. In addition to lighting standards Javid enjoys teaching Fundamentals of Lighting. He also writes science fiction under the pen name David Pax. 

Our hosts have asked many guests their take on the state of the lighting controls industry, but have they ever asked each other? In this special Short Edition, Webster and Ron do just that. They discuss how and when they are brought into a project and how to balance all the relationships when problems have to be pointed out. Webster asks Ron the scary question, “Have you ever turned someone down who asked for help?” C. Webster Marsh is the owner of Penumbra Controls, where he provides lighting controls design and specification for a wide range of project types. Ron Kuszmar oversees Port Lighting’s Architectural and Theatrical Lighting Design & Installation departments, as well as its Lighting Control Systems and Equipment Sales teams. Ron has been a Professional Lighting Designer for nearly 20 years. 

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 carpenter. The projects that he worked on did not have lighting control systems as we know them today, but very basic controls. Nonetheless, this experience sparked an interest in the construction process and specifically the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing aspects. After attending university, he worked his way up from Project Engineer to MEP Manager specializing in the start-up/commissioning of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. In 2017, he began working for Touché as the Technical Support Services Manager to grow and refine the on-site start-up and commissioning processes, along with streamlining technical support. In 2021 he began his current role with Touché as Director of Quality. In this position he oversees the quality of products and processes to ensure they provide reliable and simple to use systems that exceed expectations. 

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 probably help you there, too. Shoshanna Segal believes in the power of light to make the world a more equitable and accessible place. She uses both the artistic and scientific sides of her brain to illuminate the spaces where people live, work, and learn because this is the way she can effect change for the greatest number of people. Years of professional practice have taught her that lighting provides opportunities to realize synergies among technology, social interaction, and commerce. Ms. Segal practices creating these synergies as a Principal at Hartranft Lighting Design. She is among the first professionals in the world to achieve the international certification CLD and is serving currently as president of the IES-NYC. Shanna firmly believes that all lighting professionals should drink bourbon (or at least brown liquor). 

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 freelance video/audio world, but eventually settled at Get A Grip Studios where he produces The Lighting Controls Podcast, Get A Grip On Lighting and the Restoring Darkness Podcast. Do you have something to say about lighting controls? Want to be a guest on the podcast? Email us at [email protected].

Connect with Scott: [email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-griffin-463814232/