LM&M - November 2023

1 THE MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTING MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, NALMCO®

NOVEMBER 2023

VOLUME 51 | ISSUE 3

A SITE TO BESeen

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CONTRIBUTORS SHIRLEY COYLE Shirley Coyle is an independent consultant and principal of Relevant Light. She has worked in specification sales and executive leadership roles for several lighting manufacturers over the past 30 years. Lighting Certified since 2000, Shirley is a Past President of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and is active on several IES technical and service committees.

Editor and Publisher Randy Reid

Assistant Editor Parker Allen

VP, Associate Publisher, Advertising Cliff Smith 917.705.3439

Production and Design Coordinator Angie Hullfish

Art Direction Seraphine Morris

RANDY YOUNG Randy Young is the Director of Marketing and Data Solutions at BriteSwitch, a company that specializes in finding rebates. He boasts a rich background in the electrical industry spanning nearly two decades. His passion lies in seamlessly integrating technology with sales strategies, particularly in the field of rebates for commercial lighting and EV Chargers.

Lighting Management & Maintenance (LM&M) publishes information for the benefit of its members and readers. The sponsor (NALMCO), publisher and editor of LM&M cannot be held liable for changes, revision or inaccuracies contained in the material published. For detailed information on the products, programs, services or policies covered, it is recommended readers contact the appropriate person, company agency of industry group.

LM&M is published by EdisonReport (ISSN 2835-821X). Statements and opinions expressed in articles and editorials in LM&M are the expressions of contributors and do not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of the EdisonReport. Advertisements appearing in the publication are the sole responsibility of the advertiser.

Kurtis Magargee began working in high school and through college in the family’s exterior lighting maintenance contracting company. In 2014, he and his family started Light Pole Systems to create products to solve many of the common problems they were seeing as contractors in the industry. He currently serves as the company’s COO and Head of Marketing and Manufacturer Rep Management.

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THE MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTING MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, NALMCO®

KURTIS MAGARGEE

NOVEMBER 2023

1

VOLUME 51 | ISSUE 3

A SITE TO BESeen

JR Motors RV & Marine Photo Credit: Keystone Technologies

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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PRESIDENT RANDY ALLEN, CALT Facility Solutions Group

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT SCOTT W. MENDELSOHN, CLMC Imperial Lighting

PRESIDENT ELECT/TREASURER ERIK J. ENNEN, CLMC, CLCP, CLEP Center for Energy and Environment

VICE PRESIDENT BRIAN BAKER, CLMC, CLCP, CLEP Energy Management Collaborative

VICE PRESIDENT PATTIE CAGLE A&K Energy

VICE PRESIDENT MONICA KRISTO, CALT, CLMC, CLEP Rea Lighting

VICE PRESIDENT LISA ORLOFF Imperial Lighting

ASSOCIATE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE JEFF SEIFERT SnapCount

ASSOCIATE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE DAVID R. ERRIGO, CLMC Acuity Brands

ASSOCIATE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE WAYNE CALLHAM Linmore LED

ASSOCIATE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE MCINTYRE Acuity Brands

EX OFFICIO RON HUGHES Lighting Resources, Inc.

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The magazine of the International Association of Lighting Management Companies, NALMCO®

Volume 51, Issue 3 ■ November 2023

Message from the President

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From the Editor

12

BEFORE AND AFTER

A Beacon of Light

14

Not Your Average Retrofit

18

The Hassle of Approved Product Lists for EV Charger Rebates

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By Parker Allen

By Randy Reid

By Randy Young

THE BUSINESS OF LIGHTING MAINTENANCE

The Industry’s Charge into EV Infrastructure

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What’s New

24

By Randy Reid

ON THE COVER

A Site To Be Seen

26

Problematic Poles

By Kurtis Magargee

28

NALMCO New Members and Certifications

30

2023 Annual Convention and Trade Show Wrap Up

32

By Parker Allen

SUPPLY CHAIN UPDATE

Regional Variation, Global Stability

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Up Close with Rob Wilson

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By Parker Allen

By Shirley Coyle, LC

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President's

MESSAGE

Dear

NALMCO Members,

LM&M // NOVEMBER 2023 // PRESIDENT 'S MESSAGE

And that’s a wrap….

RANDY ALLEN, CALT

Another successful event is in the books! I’d like to give a shout out once again to our platinum sponsors, Keystone Technologies, Acuity, and LEDVANCE, for battling it out and delivering three memorable evenings. The bar has been set high, and I’m excited about the prospect of future events.

I would also like to thank all exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees for participating in this year’s event.

NALMCO had an incredibly busy and productive year. Our strategic focus was targeted at driving NALMCO forward to be at the forefront of our rapidly changing industry. A few highlights from the past year include an established succession plan that will secure NALMCO’s future, growth, and sustainability, investment into the CALT/CSLT refresh, and the development of (3) GUV and (1) Lighting Auditor certifications. We signed an MOU with the IUVA increasing our visibility in the industry in support of our GUV certification, and an MOU with the IES solidifying our industry relationship and allowing us to reciprocate attendance and exhibit at each other’s conferences. The publication of LM&M was successfully relaunched, and we’ve seen a 26% growth in membership. None of this would be possible without the help and support of the many committee volunteers and the leadership of the VPs. I would like to thank NALMCO’s Board of Directors for their support, hard work, and dedication to the success of the Association. They are the driving force behind every successful event, opportunity, and strategy that continues to push NALMCO forward by positioning the Association for success well into the future.

And, behind every successful event, meeting, and strategy is the motivated, hard-working, and dedicated team of professionals at Amplify. You all are the glue that keeps us together. Thank you for keeping us on track and for taking our thoughts and ideas and making them a reality.

In closing, I would like to wish you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season, and I invite anyone that is interested in learning more about NALMCO to reach out or attend one of our industry events.

Cheers,

Randy

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EDITOR

ROM THE EDITO

From the

L M & M / / N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / F R O M T H E E D I TO R

Last month, NALMCO marked its 70th year with a notable convention at the Hyatt Regency in Indian Wells, California. NALMCO President Randy Allen expressed gratitude to event sponsors and highlighted the success of the 'Battle of the Brands' competition, made possible by the hard work of Keystone, Acuity, and LEDVANCE. Industry veteran Mark Lien captivated attendees with insights drawn from his extensive engagement in over 20 committees and over 100 lighting-related organizations. Lien's address to the assembly was both cautious and optimistic, recognizing new opportunities in an evolving industry. Echoing the sentiments of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, he stressed the anticipated acceleration in technological advancement, potentially doubling by 2038, and emphasized the importance of staying informed to maintain client trust.

Lien’s comments revealed critical industry developments. The burgeoning electric vehicle market presents new challenges for urban grids, yet lighting energy retrofits emerge as a possible mitigating factor. With the controls market expected to grow substantially and the Department of Energy tightening regulations on incandescent bulbs, the industry is poised for a transformative shift. He also noted a decline in traditional lighting innovation, while control technologies are emerging from unexpected quarters, including major tech and manufacturing companies.

Sustainability and regulatory compliance remain at the forefront of industry concerns. Europe's leadership in decarbonization and the looming financial implications of New York City's Local Law 97 for buildings that do not comply with carbon emission standards were highlighted. The convention also underscored the importance of understanding the nuances between operational and embodied carbon.

The convention also served as a platform for recognizing individual contributions.

David Errigo was honored with a Service Award, while Chris Frank received the Lumina Award. Additionally, this editor had the privilege of presenting the NLB Lighting Transformation Award to Rob Wilson of Stones River Electric for the retrofit of the Nissan Production Plant in Smyrna, TN.

The 70th NALMCO Convention served as the perfect opportunity to not only reflect on the industry's past achievements but also set a visionary course for the future, emphasizing knowledge, sustainability, and the importance of keeping pace with the rapidly changing landscape of lighting technology.

The next event on the calendar will be the 2024 Spring Seminar in Dallas, hosted by Saylite. I hope to see everyone there! In the meantime, you can always reach me at editor@nalmco.org.

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ROM THE EDITO

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BEFORE AND AF TER // NOVEMBER 2023 // LM&M

BEFORE AND AFTER

A BEACON OF LIGHT EiKO Transforms Garber Automall with a Comprehensive Lighting Retrofit Photo credit: VEDAIR Drone Services

In the world of automobile dealerships, first impressions are paramount. Garber Automall, a prominent dealership in Green Cove Springs, Florida, found a way to overhaul its aesthetic, as well as address safety issues and save on energy costs, through a strategic lighting upgrade.

Clayton Rix, outside sales representative at local distributor Lamp Sales Unlimited, initially approached Garber with the idea of doing a comprehensive lighting retrofit. Garber’s external lighting infrastructure had been neglected for years, leading to an 80% outage of the old metal halide fixtures across the entire property.

Rix’s pitch to Garber focused on two key points. The first was the issue of safety. Customers were hesitant to shop at the dealership at night due to the lack of adequate lighting.

The second point was the issue of aesthetics. Garber wanted to make their cars “pop.” The inadequate lighting was hindering the dealership’s ability to showcase its vehicles

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By Parker Allen

effectively during nighttime operations.

Rix and Casey Hogue of EiKO met with Garber to discuss the scope of the project and identify specific lighting needs. EiKO then took these notes to their engineer to create a detailed lighting layout, ensuring the lighting solution would meet their specific requirements.

They came back to Garber with a detailed project proposal, which Hogue noted was more competitive than bids from several “tier 1” manufacturers that Garber had received. Their analysis revealed a payback period of less than two years. The quick ROI was crucial, as Garber was fully funding the project themselves.

Garber gave them the green light to proceed, with the requirement that they didn’t want the project completed in stages. They wanted a full turnkey solution.

To ensure this, Rix connected EiKO with Dobson Electric, a trusted local electrical contractor, to handle the installation.

BEFORE The old lighting system was spotty at best, resulting in dark spots and discoloration across the facility.

BEFORE AND AF TER // NOVEMBER 2023 // LM&M

The team installed a total of 535 fixtures across Garber’s facility, all of them EiKO’s VERT area lights, replacing the existing metal halide fixtures on a 1:1 basis. Although the dealership did not incorporate controls upon installation, as most of the fixtures operate on photocells, EiKO’s Control Ready products allow for controls (standalone or networked lighting controls) to be added at any time.

The project faced the added challenge of commencing during the height of the pandemic, when lead times on products were notoriously long. However, the team adapted to the circumstances by making custom orders and expediting delivery. The entire project, from the initial contact to completion, took approximately six months.

The installation of LED fixtures not only met safety requirements but also made the dealership's lighting more vibrant. It helped their vehicles "pop" and significantly improved the overall appearance.

A few months after project completion, Hogue happened to be travelling through Jacksonville on a work trip. He spotted what looked like a new, brightly lit sports field in the distance, standing out among the surrounding darkness. As he got closer, he realized it was a car dealership. Then it hit him – that’s our car dealership. That’s Garber. The project had transformed the automall into a beacon of light, a stark contrast to the darkness-plagued facility that had been there several months prior.

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BEFORE AND AF TER // NOVEMBER 2023 // LM&M

AFTER The new LED lighting system provides clean light to the entire lot while avoiding light trespass onto the surroundings, thanks to EiKO’s meticulous lighting layout.

The project is a testament to the power of innovative lighting solutions. The successful partnership between EiKO and Garber Automall exemplifies the potential benefits of investing

in advanced lighting solutions tailored to the specific needs of businesses, ultimately resulting in a safer, more attractive, and sustainable environment. ■

PROJECT CREDITS MANUFACTURER

Casey Hogue, EiKO Global, LLC

DISTRIBUTOR

Clayton Rix, Lamp Sales Unlimited, Inc.

CONTRACTOR

Keith Dobson, Dobson Electric, Inc.

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L M & M / / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / PA R K I N G GA R A G E R E T R O F I T

NOT YOUR AVERAGE RETROFIT The Project that Saved 68% Energy Without Changing the Luminaires, Lamps or Drivers.

By Randy Reid

Images courtesy of Casambi

A five-story parking garage in Texas, built for 5,000 people, sat mostly unused and dormant, except for a few security guards who patrolled the property. One evening, at the height of the pandemic, there was a crash in the parking garage due to poor lighting. This incident served as a wake-up call for the property owners, who realized that they needed to upgrade the lighting system to ensure the safety of their tenants and guests.

Camelot, the property management group in charge of the garage, tasked Carl Burleson from Mayer Electric with finding the best lighting control solution for the existing structure. Burleson, a seasoned electrician known for his expertise in challenging projects, quickly realized that the existing system, which consisted of over 1,700 fixtures and outdated circuitry, was not up to the task.

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Parker, known for his innovative approach to lighting projects, proposed a wireless lighting control system from Casambi.

Casambi's system, which uses nodes that are designed with an astronomical clock, eliminates the need for sensors to dim the lights based on the time of day, thereby simplifying a highly complex situation.

The property owners were skeptical at first, but Parker and Burleson convinced them to give Casambi's system a chance. They demonstrated the system's capabilities, highlighting its simplicity of installation, dimming capabilities, level of customization, ease of use, and ability to remotely troubleshoot, program, and adjust the lights.

After a thorough demonstration, the property owners and Camelot gave the green light to the Casambi system. The 1,700 nodes and one gateway were ordered and arrived within six weeks. Parker and Burleson traveled to the garage to train the electricians on the installation process, which involved simply connecting the leads in the A2D node to the leads in the fixture.

Jordan Mills, RSM, Casambi said, “The original design included zone controllers and motion sensors attempting to create a path of illumination as cars drove through the garage. The intent was to conserve energy and dim the lights behind the cars. With coverage of sensors, each sensor would have been limited to three or four fixtures around that zone to project a traveling pathway. The installation would have been twice as tedious.”

getting brighter per row as they work their way in towards the center of the structure. At night they do the opposite, so the structure looks bright and safe from the outside, saving energy by dimming the interior lights significantly.”

The electricians were initially hesitant, but after the first 100200 nodes, they quickly grasped the mechanics and were able to create an efficient assembly line to install and program each fixture. The installation process went smoothly, and the entire project was completed in under two months, with only two faulty nodes out of 1,700.

Once the installation was complete, Burleson and Parker met with Camelot to assist with the programming of the lights.

They wanted to achieve a cascading dimming effect, with the rows of lights on the outermost rim of the garage set at the lowest dimness to conserve energy during daylight hours and incrementally ramp up in brightness as the sun went down.

To their surprise, they discovered that Camelot had already programmed the lights to brighten and dim based on the astronomical clock using the Casambi app. This was an impressive feat, as the app is known for its ease of use and intuitive interface.

L M & M / / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / PA R K I N G GA R A G E R E T R O F I T

Burleson consulted with Shea Parker from Hossley Lighting and Power Solutions to explore the options. They considered several different approaches, but the complexity and cost of rewiring the entire garage to take advantage of the 0-10V dimmable LED fixtures quickly became apparent.

The results of the lighting upgrade were remarkable. The garage reduced its electrical load by around 68%, significantly lowering energy costs.

The parking garage project was a testament to the power of innovation. By using a wireless lighting control system, Camelot was able to upgrade the entire system without the need for extensive rewiring, saving time, money, and resources.

He continued, “Instead, the sensor idea was scrapped in favor of controlling each luminaire together, allowing ultimate controllability of each luminaire, utilizing the time clock features, and, overall, conserving energy in a simpler way.”

Casambi's system proved to be an invaluable tool, providing Camelot with the flexibility and control they needed to create a safe and efficient lighting environment. The ease of installation and programming made it a breeze for the electricians to handle, and the astronomical clock features helped reduce energy consumption even further.

Peter Augusta, Casambi’s VP of Sales, added, “To drop the sensors from the equation, they decided to create a day scene with the fixtures on the outside of the garage dimmed and

The project serves as an example of how innovative technology can help businesses save money and improve their operations. ■

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By Randy Young

THE HASSLE OF APPROVED PRODUCT LISTS FOR EV CHARGER REBATES Increasingly, lighting contractors are looking at Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), more commonly referred to as EV chargers, as an opportunity to diversify their offerings and grow their businesses. Rebates play a crucial role in the sales process for these products, helping to offset the high cost of installing these solutions. While 74% of the country boasts a rebate for EV chargers, navigating the landscape to get these incentives can be challenging. Even contractors who are familiar with lighting and energy efficiency rebate programs can struggle with these new incentives.

Why EV Charger Rebates Are Important

As the country strives to build up the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, incentives play a crucial role. It's a chicken and egg scenario; people won't buy EVs if they can't charge them somewhere, but companies won't install chargers if no one will be using them. Rebates bridge this gap, alleviating the financial burden of charger installations.

The relatively high incentive amounts can help cover a significant portion of the installation cost. For Level 2 residential chargers installed for personal use, the average rebate across North America stands at a respectable $544. On the commercial side, the average rebate for Level 2 chargers is currently $3,128, and for Level 3 / DCFC charging stations, it skyrockets to $24,379. This substantial financial support aims to accelerate the deployment of fast-charging solutions nationwide.

Average EV Charger Rebate in North America Level 2 Charger Residential

$544 per charger

Level 2 charger Commercial

$3,128 per charger

Level 3 / DCFC Charger Commercial

$24,379 per charger

Source: BriteSwitch RebatePro for EV Chargers Nov 2023

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The Approved Products List Dilemma

While the promise of rebates is enticing, the process to get these funds is not as straightforward as it should be. One pain point is the use of approved product lists (APLs), which adds a layer of complexity that can be best described as a hassle.

According to RebatePro for EV Chargers, 20% of incentive programs across North America have an APL. That percentage is consistent across residential and commercial rebates, Level 2 and Level 3 (DCFC). The number of programs with their own approved lists has remained consistent since we first started monitoring EVSE incentives in 2021.

20% might seem modest compared to other technologies – for instance, around 80% of commercial lighting rebates hinge on a fixture's inclusion in a standardized list like the DesignLights Consortium (DLC). However, many of the major metropolitan areas have Approved Product Lists, and overlooking them could significantly impact projects in those regions. Not being on Southern California Edison's approved list would mean missing out on sales in 1/3 of CA. For example, Southern California Edison (SCE), the second largest utility in California, maintains an APL for its Charge Ready program. If a charger isn't listed by that program, it won't receive the valuable incentives in nearly one-third of California.

In addition, roughly 15% of the commercial programs have an Approved Network List (ANL). These lists don't necessarily care

about the charger itself, but instead, they list which network the charger must be connected to.

Why Not Just Use the ENERGY STAR List?

ENERGY STAR has a specification for EVSE and maintains a list of certified ENERGY STAR chargers, so why don't the rebate programs just use that? The ENERGY STAR specification regulates certain measures, a key one being standby power. According to ENERGY STAR, EV chargers are typically in standby mode (not actively charging a vehicle) for about 85% of the time. ENERGY STAR-certified ENERGY STAR certifies Level 2 and Level 3 EV chargers use / DCFC chargers for both residential and 40% less energy commercial applications. in standby mode, reducing their impact on the environment.

EV Charger Rebate Programs It's not easy for rebate programs either, as the sheer number of manufacturers and chargers available is skyrocketing. SCE's Charge Ready program's APL already includes more than 382 eligible chargers from 60 manufacturers. Staff at these programs must review chargers constantly and update their approved lists.

Electrical Distributors / Installers Distributors selling chargers also have a problem due to APLs. Since customers rely on them to provide useful product information, they must make sure the specific models they're offering are listed on applicable APLs. Also, they don't want to stock chargers that aren't eligible with the local rebate programs, or they end up with inventory they can't move.

Facility Owners For a facility owner looking to install an EV charger, an approved list complicates an already complex rebate process.

Sometimes, it's not just an approved charger or network but both, leaving someone unfamiliar with EV charging to struggle to find a rebate-eligible solution. Page 18 of Atlantic City Electric's 26-page program manual provides a confusing matrix of approved networks and chargers.

But that's not the primary concern rebate programs have. For many EV charging programs, transparent reporting is much more important. Some utilities may offer time-of-use or special EV charging rates, while others have a demand-response component that dials back charging during power events. For those initiatives, two-way communication with the charger essential. Some rebate programs use the ENERGY STAR list as a basis for their APL, but they narrow it down from that master list to their own approved list.

Approved Product Lists Are a Hassle for Everyone The use of APLs creates a challenge for nearly everyone in the EV charging channel. Each player has different pain points when it comes to these lists.

EV Charger Manufacturers/OEMs For EV charger manufacturers, first, they must find which programs have an approved list of chargers. That in itself can be a pain as it requires sifting through pages upon pages of applications and user manuals. Once they find which programs have an APL, they need to figure out how to get on the list by trying to contact the program. Many programs don't have direct contacts, just a generic email address to send an inquiry to. In addition, the guidelines for chargers are often not published on the website, and even once a charger is approved, lists can take months to be updated.

Top 5 Brands on Approved Lists Level 2 – Residential

Level 2 – Commercial

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

ChargePoint Enel X Autel Flo Blink

ChargePoint Enel X Blink Flo BTC Power

Level 3 / DCFC – Commercial

Approved Networks

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

ChargePoint ABB Tritium BTC Power Tellus Power

ChargePoint Blink EV Connect Enel X Flo

Look at the above excerpt from page 18 of Atlantic City Electric's guideline. They list it first by network and then by charger, and a charger can be included under multiple networks. While that might make sense to someone in the EVSE industry, a restaurant owner looking to get a charger on his property will definitely struggle with this cumbersome requirement.

Hoping for a Better Future

EV charger incentives play a crucial role in shaping the infrastructure for the ongoing electric vehicle transition.

Presently, the complexity surrounding these rebates, particularly due to Approved Product Lists (APLs), creates challenges for manufacturers, distributors, installers, and facility owners. As these programs mature and focus on increased participation, hopefully, incentive programs will shift to a more customerfriendly approach. This could involve standardized lists shared across programs or a charger-agnostic framework based on minimum technical requirements, providing a more seamless experience for all stakeholders involved. ■

Randy Young is the Director of Marketing and Data Solutions at BriteSwitch, a company that specializes in finding rebates for energy efficiency projects, like commercial lighting, and also EV charging solutions.

Source: BriteSwitch RebatePro for EV Chargers Nov 2023

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MBBE R E R2/0O A N E W M A R K E TTH E M I NEDRUGS TERY S 'FSOCRH ALRI G G EH ITNI TO N GE VC O I NN F RT A RSATC R UT C OTRUSR E/ / / SNEOPVTEEM 2 3C/T/OLB ME&R M 2022 // LM&M

THE INDUSTRY'S CHARGE

THE BUSINESS OF LIGHTING MAINTENANCE

into EV Infrastructure

By Randy Reid

The lighting industry, a cornerstone of urban infrastructure, is now illuminating a new path by integrating electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions into their business models. I sat down with Stephen Mitchell, MaxLite’s Vice President of Business Development - Energy Solutions, to discuss this significant pivot.

Mitchell discussed strategies behind lighting companies' foray into the EV market.

Mitchell recalled the genesis of this shift, a couple of years back, when ESCOs and their subcontractors started to diversify their service offerings. Originally focused on performance contracts for energy savings in large projects, these entities began eyeing the lucrative EV charging market. "Before, a company like Honeywell would win a big school district, and, as the performance contract owner, go hire lighting subcontractors to help them execute projects," Mitchell explained, setting the scene for why these ESCO contractors are now pivotal customers in the EV charging sector.

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THE BUSINESS OF LIGHTING MAINTENANCE The shift from traditional lighting to EV was not subtle, noted Mitchell.

"All of a sudden, we were getting less phone calls about lighting projects as the ESCOs were starting to focus on EV." This observation prompted a strategic re-evaluation within his company.

The company's response has been a dual approach that caters to different market needs. Mitchell introduced EV Max, a basic line designed to meet the competitive pricing demands, and EV Max+, a premium offering prioritizing service and uptime. He delineated their intention not to be just another name in the market but rather a comprehensive resource, assisting customers with the installation complexities and ongoing service demands that EV charging entails.

In offering their EV Max+, they have partnered with LynkWell, a company renowned for its robust software and customer support. This partnership is central to their strategy, as Mitchell emphasized their commitment to supporting local talent and jobs. "This product is put together in Schenectady, New York... with a team of 25 plus American software engineers," he pointed out, underscoring the significance of homegrown expertise and employment.

However, the transition to EV is not without concerns. I brought up the issue of warranty and the fear of equipment failure. To this, Mitchell assured that their chargers are built with reliability in mind, and they back this up with their unique warranty offer. He also touched on vandalism concerns, clarifying that while their warranty is comprehensive, it logically excludes such damages.

One groundbreaking service model they have introduced is a lifetime warranty on the hardware. "If you upgrade to the pro level of the software, we are providing lifetime warranty on the hardware as long as they keep their subscription going from year to year," Mitchell shared, addressing one of the industry's significant pain points—longevity and reliability.

Mitchell introduced a feature that resonates with my own experiences on the road: the EZ-Swap Faceplate™. This ingenious solution, crafted for their premium EV charging service, is born from a need I've encountered firsthand. As a hybrid driver who regularly uses public EV chargers, I've found that roughly 20% are out of commission. The easy swap feature promises to streamline repairs, dramatically cutting down on the downtime that can leave drivers like me stranded and searching for a working charger. It's a valuable innovation that speaks directly to the serviceability and long-term value of EV charging investments, addressing a real-world issue that impacts drivers every day.

I asked Mitchell the question that I ask everyone in the EV charging field: What is being done for security and safety in EV charging? He did talk about the importance of lighting at the charging station but was not aware of any company offering breakaway chargers for emergency situations.

Mitchell envisions a steady increase in the uptake of electric vehicles, suggesting it may take five to ten years to observe significant changes in the market.

MaxLite is not just chasing a trend but is strategically positioning themselves to be at the forefront of a sustainable future. With a firm belief in the long-term potential of EVs, and an unwavering commitment to service and support, lighting companies like MaxLite are redefining their role in an ever-greening world, ensuring they remain a beacon of innovation and reliability for their customers. ■

MaxLite is not just chasing a trend but is strategically positioning themselves to be at the forefront of a sustainable future.

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WHAT'S NEW LED EXIT/EMERGENCY COMBO The EMEC, an LED exit/emergency combo light from Lumenfocus, provides energy efficient, long-life red or green LED exit sign illumination.

The ultra-bright, long-life, white LED lamp heads are adjustable, allowing for optimal center-to-center spacing. The EMEC possesses a 3.6V long-life, maintenance-free rechargeable battery. A fully automated solid-state, two-rate charger initiates battery charging to recharge a discharged battery in 24 hours.

PB10Q EASYLED LIGHTHOUSE POST TOP WAVELINX CAT Cooper Lighting Solution’s new WaveLinx CAT is a distributed wired lighting control system for single room and connected spaces that helps significantly reduce the building’s energy consumption using category CAT5 cable for applications that require occupancybased, daylighting, or manual light control. Devices automatically discover each other and self-commission. A secure mobile application provides the ability to customize installations for your education, office, and healthcare applications.

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The LEPG PB10Q Lighthouse Architectural Decorative Post Top from QSSI is designed to replace HID lighting systems up to 100W MH or HPS. The post top is available in Type II, III, IV or V distributions and multiple wattages. Typical area lighting applications include parking areas, walkways, and street lighting applications.

Mounting heights of 8 to 16 feet can be used based on light level and uniformity requirements.

PAC-WM U.S. Architectural Lighting’s PAC-WM is a contemporary sculptured wall mount that rounds out the Pacifica™ family and supplements the cohesive finishing touch of design consistency. The PAC-WM, with its lens free design, offers excellent fixture brightness control for the optical system. The fixture features a precision cast aluminum body, stainless steel hardware, and a polyester powder coat finish.

X22 The X22 series from RAB Lighting offers 144 SKUs in a single floodlight. The X22 features the flexibility of controlling beam angle, wattage, CCT, and photocell, as well as two mounting options right out of the box. It is available in both white and bronze with an adjustable distribution that makes the X22 the optimal floodlight for a large variety of generalpurpose applications. All models also come standard with 0-10V dimming.

LE-MS3W-BLAUX-HB1 The LE-MS3W-BLAUX-HB1 from Barron Lighting Group is a DCpowered, external sensor for highbay and other indoor or outdoor luminaires. Equipped with LiteLogic wireless Bluetooth® mesh technology and a user-friendly interface that can be programmed using just a smartphone, setting up lighting control becomes a breeze. LiteLogic sensors are easily installed on-site and are compatible with a variety of Trace-Lite fixtures.

Equipped with a highbay lens for mounting heights up to 40 feet.

DELPHI IKIO’s Delphi Fuel Pump Canopy Light promotes safety in commercial and industrial spaces while proving to be a high-performing, energy-efficient alternative to traditional lighting. It comes with CCT & power selectable technology and a low profile, which make it suitable for a variety of applications. The luminaire features a sturdy design and powder coat finish and supports both pendant and surface mounting.

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ON THE COVER

L M & M / / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / A S I T E TO B E S E E N

A SITE TO BE SEEN A SITE TO BE SEEN A SITE TO BE SEEN New Lighting from Keystone Puts Focus on an Arizona Boat and RV Dealer

By Parker Allen

Jim Carlo founded JR Motors RV & Marine in 2010. When the dealership outgrew a rented building, Carlo drew up plans for a $7 million, 30,000-square-foot facility on 9 1⁄2 acres abutting a local highway. He wanted more than basic interior and parking lot lighting for his new building in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He wanted a bright, welcoming showroom and a little dazzle—some color around the top of his building.

“I get an idea in my head, and I want to make it happen,” said Carlo.

He turned down the first design he was presented with. The look was downscale, and Carlo—a former custom home builder— disliked the fixtures the architect proposed. Carlo turned to Art Diemer, Outside Sales Representative at Independent Electric Supply.

Diemer led Carlo to a variety of Keystone fixtures, including high bays for the service department, high bays and wraps for the showroom, area lights for the parking lot, and—most notably— the Mistik DMX Linear Wall Washer.

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Photo Credit: Keystone Technologies

Neon lights are banned in Lake Havasu City, and Diemer had been looking for an alternative that offered the same vibrancy and splash. Diemer came across the Mistik fixture at LightFair in 2022 and quickly realized it would be perfect for adding the exterior color Carlo had envisioned.

“I knew the customer was headed this direction,” Diemer recalled. “When I saw a prototype of Mistik, I knew it was the answer. It was the icing on the cake.”

John Davies, Keystone’s Director of Sales and their lead on the project, sent samples to Carlo so that he could try out the fixtures in real time. Davies cited this as one of the keys to the project’s success—when Carlo saw the fixtures in action and experienced their ease of use and versatility, he was sold.

Carlo opted for Keystone round high bays in his shop area, and round high bays and wraps in his showroom. Amid exposed ductwork painted a bright red, the lighting gives the area an expansive, vivid ambience—a friendly first impression for visitors who come inside.

ON THE COVER something I hadn’t done before.”

Keystone tech support in Pennsylvania were readily available to help him through the process.

The parking lot fixtures have also provided exactly the light Carlo wanted. He has high praise for the company’s free outdoor lighting layout.

“For the parking lot, Keystone came to the rescue through Andy,” he said. “My background was residential, so I hadn’t done a lot of parking lots. Andy went to Keystone, which did a whole study, offering recommendations on where to position the lights so the lighting would be directed where we wanted it. I was really pleased with how that turned out.”

Right now, the dealership is using the wall washers only in red and blue. But Ganas, the electrician, has plans.

Andy Ganas of 1 Arizona Electric handled the installation. He was tasked with setting up the lighting for the dealership, including installing and commissioning Mistik. Setting up the RGBW light, he said, was “much easier than everybody thought.”

“Jim likes the red and blue, but I sent him all the pictures of the different colors, because I think what he'll end up doing is changing them periodically. Once we get into it more, I think he's going to start playing with that stuff,” he said.

In the meantime, the look has started a trend, he said.

Ganas has had inquiries from other local businesses and imagines he’ll be installing a lot more of Mistik.

“It’s a new opportunity for me,” said Ganas. “As easy as it is, this solves a lot of issues with RGBW lighting. You can program almost any color people want just by using your phone.”

Carlo may have also given Lake Havasu City another tourist attraction. “The first time my wife and I drove out there after Andy lit them up, both our jaws were wide open,” he said. “It was beautiful.” ■

FIXTURE SCHEDULE

L M & M / / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / A S I T E TO B E S E E N

For the exterior, Mistik was a perfect fit, he added. "I wanted people to drive down the highway and go, 'Holy cow, there's a dealership there.' Mistik looked like it would grab everybody's eye and attention,” he said. The Mistik DMX Wall Washer combines the beauty and range of RGBW light with the simplicity of Keystone’s SmartLoop Wireless lighting system to create easy-to-use, flexible, and vibrant specialty lighting.

High Bays KT-RHLED150PS-12C-8CSB-VDIM-P Wraps KT-WLED44PS-4-8CSA-VDIM In an unconventional use, the 195 fixtures were mounted directly on the building, creating a rim of neon-like accent lighting around the upper edge. Mistik is a plug-and-play system, so all Ganas had to do was plug in the fixtures, download the SmartLoop app to his smartphone, and use the intuitive app to commission the Bluetooth mesh-connected fixtures. Next, he used the app to set the color and with a few button taps, he was done.

Area Lights KT-ALED290PS-L2-OSA-NM-8CSBVDIM-B Mistik DMX Linear Wall Washer with SmartLoop controller KT-WWLED12-L2A-M-RGBW-DMX KT-WWLED24-L4A-M-RGBW-DMX

“It was easy to download the app and to turn the fixtures on and off,” he said. “But to get them to where you can have them turn on and off at a certain time with the color you want, that was

I get an idea in my head, and I want to make it happen.

— Jim Carlo

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PROBLEMATIC POLES

How To Identify Rusted and Damaged Light Poles Before It’s Too Late

P R O B L E M AT I C P O L E S / / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / L M & M

By Kurtis Magargee

COO, Light Pole Systems, Inc.

Light Pole Systems, Inc. was founded in 2014 with the goal of making problem solving products for the exterior lighting maintenance industry. Taking the problems we experienced replacing stolen wire and repairing/replacing rusted poles, we started with our Universal Locking Hand Hole Cover and Pole Repair Kit. The following information came from our time repairing and replacing poles, inspecting poles for customers like CBRE, LAUSD, and IHG, and what we hear from our customers in the field today.

Light poles are commonly overlooked when upgrading or repairing parking lot fixtures. Many technicians are focused on their task working to finish the job as efficiently as possible, or contractors don’t have their own crane, so the poles are not top of mind. This is a disservice to their customers and opens the contractor to the liability of a rusted pole. Whether or not the damage or rust had anything to do with the new fixture or lamp, if a pole falls, the last contractor on site is going to be held accountable. The simple solution it to at least take a look at the condition of the pole and report it to the property manager or owner. Here, we will discuss the common indicators of a rusted pole and how to identify potential problems.

There are many common indicators to look for when identifying a potential rusted pole. Only steel poles rust. The

Poles located in shrubbery are susceptible to rusting.

This pole was stabilized using a pole repair kit.

same logic applies to aluminum and fiberglass poles; however, they corrode and deteriorate much more slowly, so most of our focus will be on steel poles.

Look for poles in locations that can be impacted by irrigation, like along walkways, near grass, or surrounded by bushes in planters. City parks with a lot of dog traffic will see higher rates of rust due the acidic properties of dog urine or reclaimed water used for irrigation.

The location of a pole can accelerate rusting. A rusted pole needs to be tested to determine if it is still structurally sound.

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Poles set in planters and low footings can have dirt build up around the base, which will cause early rusting. Look for poles moving in the wind, either due to vibration or from loose or missing hardware. Some vibration is normal, but excessive vibrations will cause cracks at the base.

Common install issues can cause early rust. Look under the base plate for dry-pack concrete; there should be an air gap under the base plate allowing the pole to breathe. Dry-pack concrete under the pole base is one of the most common factors causing poles to rust pre-maturely. Water will get into the best sealed poles from condensation, and it needs a way to get out. The anchor bolts and hardware are plenty strong enough to support the load of the pole and do not need concrete underneath. Most engineers are trained to automatically add non-shrink grout under columns when designing a structure like a building, and this mistakenly gets pulled over to light poles.

When looking at the poles themselves, be sure to lift the base cover. Poles are often painted and look great 8” from the base; however, they might have rusted holes at the base. Check the pole bases for cracks, commonly found just above the weld seam, specifically in the corners of square poles. Look at the top of the pole – missing pole caps will let in excess water and debris, even bird nests. Check the hand hole – the same applies to missing hand hole covers. Finally, check the anchor hardware for rust and tight nuts. Most of this hardware is galvanized and is fine, but captured water and debris will rust the bolts under the base plate and between the leveling and top nut.

In addition to rust, vehicle impacts are another common source of structural damage. Poles set on footings flush to the ground and poles in high truck traffic areas like distribution centers or near trash enclosures are commonly hit. Structural damage to the pole should be examined to determine if intervention is needed.

Lifting the base cover reveals significant rusting, which must be addressed.

The ideal time to identify a rusted or damaged pole and repair/replace it is before you begin installing new lighting fixtures. In future articles, we will discuss how to inspect the poles, common repairs, and how to incorporate pole repair/ replacement into a LED retrofit. We will supplement these discussions with case studies of repairs using traditional methods and new repair techniques.

P R O B L E M AT I C P O L E S / / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / L M & M

The integrity of this pole has been compromised. It needs to be repaired or replaced before changing the light fixture.

HOW TO

IDENTIFY A DAMAGED POLE 29

NEW CERTIFICATIONS Certified Apprentice Lighting Technician™ American Wholesale Lighting Daniel Tem, CALT Vannak Kang, CALT

L M & M / / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / N E W M E M B E R S A N D C E R T I F I C AT I O N S

Brighter Solutions Donald Stine, CALT Douglas Poole, CALT

Candela Systems Corporation Medalit Carasi, CALT

Centrica Business solution Serjio Navarro, CALT

Abby Cartier, CSLT

Unaffiliated Abu Omar, CSLT

Certified Lighting Controls Professional™ Valley Lighting Zachary Dalton, CLCP

Certified Lighting Management

Control Smart Lighting, LLC

Consultant® (CLMC®)

Ashley Woodberry, CALT Thomas Shanks, CALT

Linmore LED

Lumatech Jackson Drewry, CALT

Pacific Energy Concepts (PEC) Sam Karpowicz, CALT

Superior Lighting Andrew Caylor, CALT

US LED, Ltd. Brennah Hartmann, CALT

World Electric Supply Timothy Ansell, CALT

YESCO, LLC Deyber Jimenez, CALT

Certified Senior Lighting Technician™ Energy Management Collaborative Corey Willett, CSLT Stephanie Kinney, CSLT

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Pacific Energy Concepts (PEC)

Lawrence Ryan, CSLT, CLMC

National Efficiency Supply (NES) Michael Goldenberg, CLMC

ProStar Energy Solutions Valerie Moore, CLMC, CLEP

Certified GUV Management Professional (C-GUVMP)*

Acuity Brands Lighting Michael Krueger, C-GUVMP

AeroMed Bill Palmer, C-GUVMP

American Ultraviolet Sam Guzman, C-GUVMP

Center for Energy and Environment Erik J. Ennen, CLMC, CLCP, CLEP, C-GUVMP

Energy Management Collaborative

NEW MEMBERS

Mark Thomsen, C-GUVMP

Far UV Technologies, Inc. PJ Piper, C-GUVMP

Final Approach Inc.

Associate Company Member WALTERS WHOLESALE

JOIN DATE: 10/02/23

Paul Jensen, PhD, C-GUVMP

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health David Sliney, PhD, C-GUVMP

Lumalier Ashley Shipley, C-GUVMP

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Stephen Martin, C-GUVMP

Rolf Bergman Consulting Rolf S. Bergman, PhD, C-GUVMP

University of Maryland Mary J. Dorman, C-GUVMP Glynnis Bowman, C-GUVMP

General Company Member LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

JOIN DATE: 11/08/23

Unaffiliated Danny Hornberger, C-GUVMP Katja Auer, MA, MBA, C-GUVMP

Certified Apprentice GUV Technician (CA-GUVT)*

Noble Electric Solutions Jeff Engelmann, CA-GUVT

University of Maryland Shengwei Zhu, - CA-GUVT

*For more information on the new GUV certifications, please visit the NALMCO website.

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2023 70TH ANNUAL 2023 70TH ANNUAL CONVENTION AND TR ADE SHOW WR AP UP // NOVEMBER 2023 // LM&M

CONVENTION AND TRADE SHOW

WRAP UP

QUICK HIGHLIGHTS

236 19 44

REGISTERED ATTENDEES

SPONSORS

EXHIBITORS

GENERAL SESSIONS ˍ Emerging & Converging Trends & Technologies

with Mark Lien LC, HBDP, CLMC, CLEP LEED AP, Augmented Illumination

ˍ Better Thinking vs. More Effort: Overcoming the Undisciplined Pursuit of More with Eric Papp, Agape Leadership, LLC

ˍ Manufcaturers’ TIPS: Technical, Installation,

Product, Support with Gene Lindemann, Keystone Technologies; George McIntyre, Acuity Brands; Erich Bockley, LEDVANCE; moderated by Brian Baker, CLMC, CLCP, CLEP, Energy Management Collaborative

Save the date for the 2024 Spring Seminar, hosted by Saylite. ˍ March 5-7, 2024

NALMCO thanks our exhibitors and sponsors for making it such a great show.

ˍ The Westin Dallas Park Central 12720 Merit Drive Dallas, TX 75251

ˍ For more information, click here.

Battle of the Brands LEADERSHIP Effective at the beginning of 2024, David Errigo will be stepping away from his role on the Board of Directors.

George McIntyre will be joining the Board as an Associate Member Representative.

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This fierce competition brought together three battling companies, each battling to see whose evening reception was the boldest and brightest. Keystone Technologies kicked off the convention with their reception Sunday night. Acuity Brands took the stage on Monday, and LEDVANCE closed things out on Tuesday night.

Congratulations to the inaugural winner - LEDVANCE!

KEYSTONE

2023 70TH ANNUAL CONVENTION AND TR ADE SHOW WR AP UP // NOVEMBER 2023 // LM&M

ACUITY

LEDADVANCE

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CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS 2023 70TH ANNUAL CONVENTION AND TR ADE SHOW WR AP UP // NOVEMBER 2023 // LM&M

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NALMCO honored three new Certified Lighting Management Consultants®. From left to right: Michael Goldenberg, CLMC, National Efficiency Supply; Kevin Heid, CLMC, Unity Works Lighting; Larry Ryan, CLMC, Linmore LED.

ROB WILSON SHARES INSIGHTS ON NISSAN PRODUCTION PLANT RETROFIT PROJECT

The National Lighting Bureau’s Executive Director Randy Reid and NALMCO President Randy Allen, FSG, present Rob Wilson of Stones River Electric with the 1st ever NLB Transformation Award for the Nissan Smyrna Assembly Plant.

Editor Randy Reid extends his congratulations to Rob Wilson from Stones River Electric, who has been honored with the NLB Lighting Transformation Award for their remarkable retrofit of the Nissan Production Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Rob Wilson shares with the audience the project's details.

David Errigo, CLMC, Acuity Brands, is honored in recognition of his service and commitment to NALMCO.

MARK LIEN DISCUSSES THE FUTURE OF LIGHTING AT NALMCO.

President-Elect/Treasurer Erik Ennen, CLMC, CLCP, CSLC, CLEP, C-GUVMP, Center for Energy and Environment, Bill Palmer, Aeromed Inc., Paul Jensen, Final Approach Inc., and Vice President Brian Baker, CLMC, CLCP, CLEP, Energy Management Collaborative, have pioneered the new GUV certification program.

2023 70TH ANNUAL CONVENTION AND TR ADE SHOW WR AP UP // NOVEMBER 2023 // LM&M

Randy Allen, FSG, presents Chris Frank, Colorado Lighting Inc., with the Lumina Award, given to someone who has expressed willingness to give unselfishly their time and energy for their fellow NALMCO members and the betterment of the industry.

Randy Reid sat down with Mark Lien shortly after he delivered the keynote at the 70th NALMCO Annual Convention and Trade Show in Palms Springs. Much of the conversation focused on the future of lighting, including the importance of the Declare label and EPDs.

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SUPPLY CHAIN UPDATE

REGIONAL VARIATION, GLOBAL STABILITY Lead times are still elevated compared to where they were prior to the pandemic, but they continue to gradually decrease. Overall, the volatility we saw in previous quarters has continued to dissipate.1 The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index fell from -0.18 in August to -0.35 in September. As a reminder, values below 0 are indicative of an underutilized supply chain with reduced volatility.2 The European market was the main reason for the rise in idle vendor capacity. In a recent update, GEP noted, “Suppliers to the continent registered one of the highest levels of spare capacity since the global financial crisis between 2008 and 2009 amid considerable weakness in demand, thereby signalling elevated recession risks.”1 Things weren’t as subdued in North America. Excess supplier capacity rose by the smallest amount in the last six months, which is good news for those fearing a looming recession.

There are several ports to keep an eye on as we move into the winter. On the East Coast, Montreal is experiencing reduced water levels, expected to continue into next year.

Further south, the Gulf is expected to enter its fog season in November, which could impact lead times from these ports.3 The situation is rosier on the West Coast, as ports up and down the Pacific continue to experience minimal wait times.3 In our last update, we highlighted problems caused by low water levels in the Panama Canal Zone. Since then, the situation has only worsened, described by some as being the worst they have seen.4 As the canal authority limits 1

By Parker Allen

the number of vessels, as well as imposing limits on vessel draft, we encourage those who rely on this route to seek alternatives.

The Asian-Pacific market witnessed an increase in spare capacity for the first time since the middle of the year. A recent update from global shipping and logistics company Maersk explained, “Opportunities to source at cheaper prices from Far East Asia, combined with the upcoming peak ahead of the Chinese New Year, might result in an imbalance of supply and demand in the coming months. Businesses with production in Far East Asia will need to plan and place orders in advance, as well as negotiate the 2024 contracts, to ensure their supply chain flows without disruptions.”5 Jagadish Turimella, GEP’s COO and co-founder, summed up the data from September and October, saying, “We’re now into our sixth consecutive month of notable excess supplier capacity globally, but the good news is it’s not getting substantially worse, except in Europe, where recession seems likely. By contrast, we expect U.S. suppliers and businesses to be steady for the rest of the year, unless the labor disputes in health care and the auto sector spread, or there is a price spike in oil, its derivates or agricultural commodities.”1 Overall, ocean freight remains relatively steady and predictable, and no major impacts on the global supply chain seem likely in the near term. Over-the-road (OTR) freight is readily available, and prices remain low, despite increases in diesel fuel prices.1 Disruptions could come along at any point, but for now, the supply chain looks stable. P

“Impacts on Global Supply Chain Logistics.” Border States. Updated 10/12/2023. https://content.borderstates.com/news/coronavirus-impacts-on-global-supply-chain/

“Odds of a Soft Landing for the U.S. Economy Are Rising as Manufacturing Stabilizes in September, but Recesssion Alarm Bells Ring for Europe.” (October 13, 2023). GEP. https://www.gep.com/newsroom/odds-of-a-soft-landing-for-the-us-economy-are-rising-as-manufacturing-stabilizes-in-september-but-recession-alarm-bells-ring-for-europegep-global-supply-chain-volatility-index 2

3

Serra, F. “Maersk North America Market Update – October 2023.” Maersk. https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/2023/10/25/north-america-market-update-october

Eavis, P. “Drought Saps the Panama Canal, Disrupting Global Trade.” (November 1, 2023). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/01/business/economy/ panama-canal-drought-shipping.html 4

5

“Maersk Europe Market Update (November 2023).” (November 8, 2023). Maersk. https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/2023/11/08/europe-market-update-november-23

COMING IN THE NEXT ISSUE

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•

Understanding the Changing Landscape of Fluorescent Lighting

•

What Role Do Contractors Play in Sustainability?

•

GUV Lighting

•

Case Study: Repairing vs. Replacing Light Poles

AD INDEX Page 2 and 3

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AD INDEX

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// NOVEMBER 2023

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ROB WILSON

L M & M / / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / / U P C LO S E

By Shirley Coyle, LC

Hanging off the massive scoreboard at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena while having an unexpected conversation with infamous boxing promoter Don King has been Rob Wilson’s favorite electrician story for years. Back in the day when he was still wearing a toolbelt, Rob was doing repairs to the board in advance of an evening boxing match when King walked in and struck up a conversation! Today, Rob Wilson is President of Stones River Electric in Nashville, TN, and although there are times when he misses handling tools, it’s clear he enjoys his position now, leading a company that is having great success in doing full energy conservation projects with large, multi-site clients, including K-12 schools, warehouses, and national account retailers, along with energy and service work.

Rob’s career path as an electrician was set early on, growing up as the son of a small business owner.

His mother, who retired a few years ago, had started an electrical contracting business. Rob’s late grandfather had been in the electrical business as well. Despite an early start as an electrician, Rob felt it was a must to go to college. He collected state electrical licences long before finishing college, and today, he has thirty-five state licences, with his company’s in-house technicians doing work from Florida to Iowa and Maryland to Texas.

Around 2000, Rob came in from the field to work as a project manager inside the family business.

Very much influenced by his mother’s way of leading the business, he combines his own technical background with her focus on running the business and taking care of the company and employees.

Asked for his thoughts on the roots of his success, Rob offers: “Say what you’re going to do, do what you say. Show up, and have good work ethic. I’m definitely all about leading by example.”

Speaking to current issues he sees facing the lighting industry, Rob notes that many of the large projects his company works on include higher-end lighting controls solutions that are becoming more of an IT function, with each luminaire a node with its own IP address – the projects are becoming very ITintegrated. It’s a different set of problems, standards and partners on the job, and often the IT team is not used to working with electrical contractors.

Rob also cites his big pet peeve for 2023: in this

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era of promoting environmental stewardship, large customers that have committed to achieve net zero emissions by a certain timeline are now looking at a popular new shortcut: buying x amount of kW of wind in someplace like Iowa, and meeting the net zero status “on paper” without doing the actual conservation projects that should be done to fix their own usage (lighting, HVAC, water, etc.). “It’s like your tailor would tell you – you’ve got to lose the weight to buy the new suit!”

Reflecting on advice for young people coming up in our industry, Rob immediately speaks from his own experience on the value of NALMCO: “Join NALMCO, show up, join a committee. For a little while, trade shows weren’t as popular, but now people realize you can’t replicate gaining the relationships without in-person contact, and NALMCO’s a great way to do that. You can educate yourself, create your own brand – even while working for a company. I did that a long time ago – committee work with NALMCO on courses and certifications – and it was some of my favorite stuff that I’ve done! NALMCO’s got some great new ones – especially in controls certifications. It’s non-stop for sure. You’ve got to keep learning.”

And what does Rob Wilson do for fun when he isn’t working on the business? Rob is a long-time drummer, and living in Nashville, is at the center of all kinds of great music. He and his family have also discovered the joys of yachting, chartering a yacht from Florida to go to the Bahamas – a great adventure they are planning to repeat again soon! P

UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON ■ UP CLOSE WITH ROB WILSON

UP CLOSE WITH

CONTINUE THE LEGACY BECOME A MEMBER TODAY BEGIN AT WWW.NALMCO.ORG

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SAVE THE DATE 2024 SPRING SEMINAR MARCH 5-7, 2024 Dallas, TX Sponsored By Visit Us at the NALMCO Convention & Trade Show Booth #307

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