4 minute read
Up Close with Kyle McClelland
By Shirley Coyle, LC
It was a part-time job during high school that introduced Kyle McClelland to the world of lighting management and maintenance.
Kyle started working for the Reno-based Have Lights Will Travel as a lighting technician. By the time he graduated from University of Nevado, Reno, Kyle had worked his way up through management in the company.
He recalled, “I went to Reg [Reg Willison, who had founded the company in 1979] and said, ‘Hey, I’m either going to buy your business or go use my degree somewhere,’ and he agreed to sell me the business. I started buying into the business in 2010, and in 2017 became 100% owner of the company.”
Born and raised in Reno, Kyle is all-in on his community. “I’ve lived here my whole life … we have every season, sometimes all in the same day. The dryness is amazing—it’s hot, but it’s totally bearable. The desert’s great, the mountains—beauty all around us. We have Lake Tahoe thirty-five minutes away.”
Kyle is very involved in the community, participating in several boards and organizations. “Someday I’ll go into politics,” he mused, “because I want to see things progress and make sure that we do the right things for the community, the people, and my children.
While Kyle describes Reno as the best place to be a business owner, he notes that they have expanded the Have Lights Will Travel business to Las Vegas, and he plans to expand further.
The biggest challenge faced by the business was getting new staff on board. “We started as a distributor back in the day and then started doing the install. We have a huge market share because of our name; we’ve been doing this forever. People see us as a lighting company, and it’s hard to get electricians.”
“So,” he continued, “we just kind of flipped it on its head and made it this great company to work for. I’ve got people graduating from electrical school. Last night I held a basic Excel training course for my team. I’ve purchased Audible books for them—they can download any book they want. The challenge was the culture and people looking at us like we weren’t a real electrical contractor … we overcame that and made it this amazing place that people want to work for.”
Expanding out to current issues facing the industry, Kyle sees the retrofit industry being challenged to make the pitch for LED-to-LED conversion, saying, “Most people were sold on the everlasting gobstopper of LEDs, that they’ll last forever, and unfortunately, that’s not the case. We’re seeing it, and we’re trying to have those conversations, so people are aware—that’s going to be an ongoing challenge.
Reflecting on the success he has had, Kyle offered, “I attribute my success to God, my family, the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), and lighting organizations like NALMCO. My family has been supportive the whole time. My wife is an amazing cheerleader—and she has no problem telling me when I’m wrong!”
“I joined EO about 10 years ago. It really helps you get into the idea of working on your business instead of in your business. Through NALMCO, I’ve made connections in the industry that have given me the ability to understand lighting in a different way, understand customers in a different way. There are so many great people I’ve been able to learn from—Cary Mendelsohn, Todd Mendelsohn, Scott Mendelsohn, Kevin Heid, to name a few—I wouldn’t be where I am today without those relationships and the imparted knowledge.”
Kyle’s advice to newcomers to the industry: “You never thought that this was a career, but it has the full potential to be a career that is fulfilling and engaging. There are so many intricacies in this industry. You’re learning new things every single day and challenging yourself every day. We really do have an impact and help make the planet better … taking lights that have mercury out of the field, we can save energy and reduce our impact on the environment. It’s something that I’ve come to really value. It’s powerful.
And what does Kyle do for fun when he is not working on his business? A diehard baseball fan, Kyle has a map of all the baseball parks he has been to [20 stadiums so far], along with something from each stadium to put on his baseball wall.
“I am a die-hard Braves fan. Raised in the nineties, I grew up on TBS— the greatest era of baseball with Tom Gavin, Greg Maddux and Chipper Jones. If I’m not watching baseball, I’m golfing, spending time with my four kids, doing church, doing work. We love to remodel.” There is no shortage of inspiration or activity here.
Kyle McClelland is all in…on family, community, baseball and lighting. ■
