Meet My Industry Crushes
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]lmost immediately after I entered this industry, I realized that what makes Lighting so different from other categories in the build environment is the amount of mavericks and trailblazers we have among us.
I have met some truly remarkable people over the past 25+ years in every area of our business – manufacturers, reps, and retailers – male and female, young and not-so-young. Some of them – such as the legendary Burt Burton of Casablanca Fans – are no longer with us, but many still are. These are the people I can sit and listen to for hours, not wanting to leave because I always learn so much.
I have nicknamed them my “industry crushes.” There are no implied romantic overtones here, just a wide-eyed infatuation for those who think differently, provide a unique perspective, have a thirst for knowledge, and who have become successful as a result.
I’ve also observed other common denominators among my crushes: they never see a dead end, only a wall to break through; they prefer spending non-working hours with a passion project or hobby; and they are patient in sticking with their goals, even when the road gets rocky.
In this issue, you will recognize these traits in the people profiled as well as among our content contributors such as lighting industry entrepreneur Steve Parker, award-winning lighting designer Mike Brannon, retail business consultant Mark Okun, and feature writer Mary Jo Martin.
In addition, I’d like to announce that we’re expanding our expertise by bringing industry veteran David Shiller, founder of the consultancy group Lighting Solution Development, on board to keep you up to date with emerging technology.
Our goal for 2019 is to continue to provide you with the helpful tools and lighting knowledge you need to excel in your market. I’m always on the look out for my next “crush” — so if you know of someone in the industry who meets the criteria I’ve described, please tell me so I can share their story with everyone!
