Minneapolis-based Get a Grip Management (GAGM) has announced the conclusion of its management contract and the relinquishment of operational control for the National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD). According to a press release issued by GAGM, “this transition marks the culmination of a vision that took a technically insolvent organization and transformed it into…
After 32 years at the helm of his own rep firm, Michael Estrin has joined THEA Enterprises as director of sales. Years ago, when I first interviewed Michael Estrin, he was the principal of Estrin-Calabrese Sales (which later became Estrin-Zirkman Sales). While discussing a day in the life of a lighting rep, he mentioned that…
While 3D printing in mass production was once a dream, advancements in the technology have moved it more into the mainstream. The technique, which is also referred to as additive manufacturing, has rapidly evolved from a niche prototyping tool into a transformative production method for many sectors, including the lighting industry. As manufacturers confront supply‑chain…
By David Shiller Are you looking for fresh ideas on how to grow your business in 2026? There is a new resource to help. Lighting Industry Trends For 2026 is a free whitepaper covering many of the most important trends impacting the lighting industry right now. The white paper covers trends in lighting technology, controls,…
Costa Mesa, Calif.-based LINX Lighting + Controls has added to its executive leadership team with the appointment of David Komonosky, LEED AP, as Principal. Widely regarded an influential and forward‑thinking leader in the architectural lighting and controls industry, Komonosky’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for LINX. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Komonosky…
While most viewers of the recent Golden Globes® were watching the celebrities, lighting professionals were undoubtedly looking up at the crystal chandeliers lining the red carpet entrance to the Beverly Hilton hotel in Hollywood. Even the fashion magazines took notice, with Vogue writing: “Awards season aficionados will have spotted that the 2026 Golden Globes boasted…
Renowned New York City-based architectural lighting design firm Fisher Marantz Stone (FMS) has joined the late Paul Marantz’s family and friends in initiating a lighting design scholarship to honor the FMS founder, who died in June 2025 at age 87. In December, the Board of Directors of The Nuckolls Fund unanimously approved the proposal to…
Port Washington, N.Y.-based WAC Group has unveiled a new CEU course: Shaping LED Light – Technology and Trends for Decorative Luminaires. This dynamic course was created to help design professionals navigate the fast-changing world of decorative LED lighting. The course earns 2 HSW CEU credits through the IDCEC and AIA. According to the company, participants will discover…
Architectural lighting company Flos B&B Italia Group has tapped former Bed, Bath & Beyond President Dave Nielsen as the CEO for its San Francisco-based lighting etail division Lumens – which describes itself as an “online destination for design aficionados, architects, interior designers, and contract professionals” searching for luxury lighting. He will report to Piero Gandini, executive chairman…
By Geoffrey S. Marlow Consolidation is not strategy; it’s gravity. Like water finding its level, capital flows toward scale — particularly when private equity firms sit on record dry powder and interest rates finally stabilize after years of turbulence. The rebound we witnessed in 2024, with private equity deal volume up 22% and total announced…
Melville, N.Y.-based Leviton – the long-time manufacturer of electrical, lighting, data network and energy management solutions – is celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2026. Established in 1906, Leviton began as a small tinsmithing business founded by Isidor Leviton, where he produced mantle tips used for gas lighting. Since then, Leviton has grown from a single-product manufacturer into a…
Lutron’s RadioRA 3 represents a substantial upgrade to residential and light‑commercial lighting control, giving contractors a more capable, more efficient system to deploy across whole‑home projects. The suite of wireless dimmers, switches, keypads, sensors and shades work together to give homeowners centralized automated control of lighting and other devices. The platform’s redesigned architecture centers on Clear…
With its fully switchable panel, Lithonia Lighting’s CPANL LED Flat Panel gives crews the ability to fine‑tune performance on site without juggling multiple SKUs or worrying about last‑minute spec changes. It offers the kind of adaptability that keeps timelines tight and callbacks low. One of the biggest advantages for installers is the CPANL’s mounting flexibility….
The Metalux CBRK Center Basket Retrofit Kit from Cooper Lighting has become a go‑to option for contractors who want a clean, efficient upgrade path without the hassle of replacing entire troffers. Designed to fit standard 1×4, 2×2, and 2×4 fluorescent housings, it delivers a modern center‑basket aesthetic with noticeably improved optical performance. The CBRK’s custom…
As municipalities, campuses and park districts push for lower energy use and reduced site disruption, contractors are increasingly turning to solar lighting to meet project goals. Solera’s iSeries 4G Solar Area Light from Light Efficient Design is engineered with those pressures in mind, offering an integrated solar platform that installs quickly, performs reliably and minimizes…
For contractors looking to simplify luminaire‑level lighting control deployments, Leviton’s Intellect Wireless Fixture Controls can prove to be a solid option. The ZL0DS‑N00 model, designed for installation in a standard 1/2‑inch knockout, combines a DALI‑powered controller with integrated PIR occupancy sensing and daylight harvesting—reducing wiring, speeding installation and supporting code‑driven control strategies across commercial interiors….