Illinois-based Crescent Electric Supply Company, one of the largest independent distributors of electrical hardware and supplies, has appointed Penny Cotner President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Cotner joins Crescent after a 12-year tenure at Infinite Electronics, a global supplier of electronic components, including the past seven years as CEO and member of…
DMF Lighting, the leader in modular lighting in the technology integration channel, today announced the appointment of Charlie Derk as Senior Director of Product Strategy. In this new role, Derk will lead DMF’s product roadmap and innovation strategy, driving the continued development of cutting-edge lighting solutions designed to elevate performance, aesthetics, and integration for the smart…
AFX has just released a series of ceiling fans, its first entry into this category. “Expanding into ceiling fans was a natural step for AFX. Our portfolio is strongly aligned with the multifamily channel, and this expansion gives us the opportunity to provide our customers with a more complete overall solution,” noted Greg Weiss, vp/product…
By David Gordon, Channel Marketing Group From a tech viewpoint, AI is what companies talk about. Distributors are implementing it or at least discussing it. Not much gets shared within the manufacturer environment, but it is well in use. In fact, Zekelman just hired a VP AI and Innovation, and he was the #2 person at…
By Geoff Marlow The debate is over. Artificial Intelligence isn’t coming to the lighting and electrical industry — it’s here, working, and delivering measurable results today. While industry professionals continue discussing whether AI represents evolution or revolution, the AI in construction market is projected to reach $22.68 billion by 2032, with AI at the center…
According to an article by Mike Cham, CTO of Encentiv Energy, the transition to smart building technology represents one of the most significant opportunities for property owners to reduce operational costs, improve tenant satisfaction, and enhance asset value. He tackled that very topic in a recent blog post on the company’s website. While the benefits…
By Luis Valls, President & Co-CEO, Turtle In the next five years, U.S. data centers may consume more electricity than the entire state of California. Across the electrical infrastructure landscape, one reality is clear: the grid was not designed for the demands of artificial intelligence, electrification, and continuous digital growth. AI workloads, cloud platforms, and…
Atlanta-based Acuity Brands, Inc. has announced that nine Acuity Brands Lighting solutions were selected for the 2025 Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Progress Report, which showcases the year’s most significant advancements in the art and science of lighting. Selections were made by an impartial committee that evaluated submissions based on uniqueness, innovation, and significance to the…
The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) is accepting self-nominations through October 3 from small lighting manufacturers, lighting specifiers, and lighting distributors interested in serving on the DLC Industry Advisory Committee (IAC). An advisory body that meets quarterly, the IAC supports the mission and strategic direction of the DLC to promote the adoption of quality lighting and controls…
Pine Brook, N.J.-based MaxLite has announced that its AE Switch Area Light Remote Control and its Versamax 8′ Modular T8 have been listed in the IES Progress Report for 2025. Each product accepted in the 2025 Report is recognized for its unique and significant advancement to the art and science of lighting. A summary of…
Peachtree City, Ga.-based Cooper Lighting Solutions has earned recognition in the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Progress Report for the 15th time in 17 years. This year’s achievement celebrates six innovative products — each one reportedly advancing efficiency, adaptability, and design in ways that deliver tangible benefits for lighting professionals. The IES Progress Report is published…
Tucson, Ariz.-based DarkSky International, a global authority on light pollution, has launched a new certification program to bring responsible lighting to industrial-scale ports. The DarkSky Approved Port Marine Terminal Lighting program is designed to significantly reduce light pollution, safeguarding sensitive coastal ecosystems and nearby communities, while enhancing safe and efficient working conditions. Initiated in 2023…
According to an announcement the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) made on August 19 – citing a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau – single-family housing starts experienced a modest gain last month. Before you break out the champagne flutes, there are other factors you…
In the evolution of lighting trends, offering smaller apertures and form factors for a truly unobtrusive appearance are among the industry’s most popular trends — and it wouldn’t be possible without advances in LED. Award-winning LED lighting manufacturer USAI Lighting recently unveiled several innovations across its product families, including ultra-narrow beams for precision highlighting;…
The Light and Health Research Center’s (LHRC) is offering two online professional certificate courses for 2025. These interactive educational offerings will be led by LHRC faculty and staff who are the foremost experts in their fields. Courses begin in September, and registration for the classes will close soon. Dan Frering, the LHRC’s Education Program director…
As of September 1, ELA + Synergy will represent Lutron Electronics in the New York Metro, Long Island, and Northern New Jersey markets across the electrical distribution, lighting showroom, commercial integrator, and commercial window systems sales channels. For the past 31 years, the brand was represented by Thea & Schoen of Clifton, N.J. According to…