Page 68 - enLIGHTenment Magazine - August 2017

under the radar

“Today more than ever before in lighting, you have to

continually improve just to stay still. Not keeping pace

with industry technology advancements has negative

consequences.”
—Steven Parker

a guide would be a helpful resource for others. “I Voice commands are the future and there are sev-

didn’t write this book to make a pro t; I believe in eral viable platforms,” he predicts.
giving back,” he states.
“While I wholeheartedly believe in controls, I

“My main concept was to explain the steps in do feel that collaboration may be a be er choice
starting a lighting business in terms that are easy for many companies rather than them investing

to follow for all levels,” he says. The 19 chapters so heavily in controls,” he notes. “There are only

are a step-by-step approach, from how to start so many engineering dollars to go around before
from scratch all the way to how to improve and the nancial picture is not as healthy as it could

measure the multiple of EBITDA at point of exit. be. Collaboration would allow the luminaire com-
The book covers building a team, compensation panies to focus on what they do best — which is

plans, logistics, where and how to source, nancial delivering lumens, controlling the light produced

reporting, safety and code compliance, evaluating by the luminaire, optimizing e cacy, plus ensuring
product performance, going to market, plus work- performance and life,” Parker explains. “The con-

ing with reps, media, and trade shows.
trol companies can focus on ensuring the systems
“Today more than ever before in lighting, you communicate with all platforms as well as keep up

have to continually improve just to stay still. Not with the updates in operating systems and new

keeping pace with industry technology advance- hardware options. The control companies are in-
ments has negative consequences,” Parker terested in code — not illuminance, lumens, wa s,

cautions. “To survive, we must evolve. As I a end beam spread, and chromaticity.”
trade shows and conferences, I see many new Along with the professional advice, Parker con-

company names and faces entering the lighting cludes his book by emphasizing a life balance in

industry. The bar is rising every day. As a long-term one’s personal life. Parker is an avid y sherman
lighting geek, I never thought I’d see Cisco and and a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain who do-

Sony as innovators in lighting. Times have changed, nates his time to veteran causes such as Project
and we must learn to embrace it,” he adds.
Healing Waters by providing trips to take veterans

“So how does a lighting company thrive in shing. He also donates his time as a chairman of

this challenging time? The answer is simple: col- the advisory board for Stay in Step (www.stayin
laboration,” Parker states. “In my opinion, lighting step.org), a spinal cord injury rehabilitation center

will always be very technical and experts who that was founded to help combat wounded vet-
understand how to deliver lumens will always be erans but is open to civilians for the treatment of

required.”
spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and

Today’s challenge lies in integrating so ware paralysis therapy.
(aka controls), according to Parker. “I love the “To quote entrepreneur and best-selling author

advances in technology [and what it means for] Daniel Priestley, ‘The book that changes your life
the future of lighting. So many lighting compa- the most is not the one you read, it’s the one you

nies are embracing and investing in controls. We write,” Parker comments. “This is so true. I think

were one of the rst beta testers for the Amazon that we all have a great book or more in us that
Echo, and I have luminaires in my home that can others would love to read. I would encourage all

change chromaticity using the Echo. I also have to write a book and share your knowledge, experi-
a Harmony remote that works with the Echo.
ences, and advice.”


66 enLIGHTenment Magazine | august 2017
www.enlightenmentmag.com