Mark is an accomplished lighting professional with deep experience in electrical contracting, distribution, manufacturing, sales and design and is a Partner at Light Can Help You. After serving in the Navy’s nuclear power program, Mark became and electrical contractor and discovered his first framing project light fixture, kicking off over thirty years of industry leadership. Mark introduces hundreds of potential clients to the possibilities of lighting each year and is a key component of Light Can Help You’s dealer support programs.
Alessio’s deep knowledge for light and human wellbeing led to a chance meeting with the Light Can Help You team andthe discovery of a shared passion for improving lives. Alessio is a seasoned architectural lighting designer with substantial international experience. He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and is a Senior Lighting Designer and Studio Leader with Light Can Help You.
Dennis’s passion for custom integration began over 20 years ago when he founded Maverick Integration in 2003, building it into one of the nation’s leading design and system integration firms. Under his leadership, Maverick grew to a CE Pro 100 top-ranked company with operations across New England and Florida, specializing in whole-house audio, home theater, lighting control, and automation.
With extensive experience leading integration teams and developing comprehensive technology solutions for residential and commercial clients, Dennis has become a recognized visionary in the industry. Today, through his venture Maverick Lite, Dennis provides comprehensive lighting design services for leading integration companies and offers consulting services, leveraging his deep design and engineering expertise on the industry’s most challenging and valuable projects.
Greg Barrett is an industry veteran with 20 years of experience in lighting and control systems, holding an MFA in Architectural Lighting Design from Parsons School of Design. Over the last decade, his work has significantly shaped the industry. Currently the Director of Product Management for Professional Lighting at Savant Systems, Greg has held key leadership roles, including Director of Specifier Development and Product Category Director for Lighting and Shades. His tenure at Savant followed impactful roles at USAI Lighting and Ketra, where he specialized in product management and marketing, driving innovation in both lighting and control technology.
Greg’s early career saw extensive experience as a freelance lighting designer and theatrical electrician, working with clients such as Disney, BET, and The Public Theatre. Through his various roles, Greg has developed a strong expertise in integrating design, technology, and market education, all while maintaining his passion for how lighting influences perception, emotions, and health.
David Warfel is a passionate advocate for light, widely known for entertaining audiences with his legendary presentations, satisfying readers with countless articles and hundreds of blog posts, and teaching professionals with nationally regarded continuing education.
He has spoken internationally for the Illuminating Engineering Society, delivered presentations at LightFair, CEDIA, Fine Homebuilding Summit, BOND Custom, every Lightapalooza, and more. His writing has been featured multiple times in Fine Homebuilding, Houzz.com, Technology Designer, CEPro, Residential Systems, and Lighting Design & Application, among others.
David is founding designer and partner of Light Can Help You, a nationally-recognized lighting design firm specializing in custom residential lighting and known for supporting custom integration partners as they grow in the business.
Kelli began her lighting career in the theater, training at the University of California-Irvine before moving into architectural lighting in hospitality, retail, and commercial spaces. Kelli made the jump to residential lighting design when she joined the Light Can Help You team, where she now serves as Senior Lighting Designer and Studio Leader. Kelli’s residential experience now extends coast to coast with some of the most impressive luxury homes in the country.
Jessica is the longest-serving employee at Light Can Help You outside of ownership as a direct result of her incredible attention to detail and boundless creative energy. Jessica began her lightingcareer in the theater and designed lighting for plays, concerts, and opera for nearly a decade. Jessica made the switch to architectural lighting with a jump start as a graduate of the Master’s in Architectural Lighting Design program at the New York School of Interior Design and joined Light Can Help You, quickly rising to Senior Lighting Designer and now Senior Studio Leader.
Kim was a successful interior designer with over fifteen years of professional experience when she met the Light Can Help You team and recognized an opportunity to further hone her lighting skills. Kim is now an accomplished Senior Lighting Designer and Studio Leader and works on residential and commercial projects across a wide swath of the continent.
Having a great idea is only half the battle—getting others to understand it is what makes a project successful. In this interactive session, we’ll explore practical techniques for communicating your design vision, from quick sketches and inspiration images to AI-generated visuals, written notes, and formal drafts. We’ll also discuss how different audiences—clients, builders, trade partners, and designers—process information in different ways, and what strategies can help you adapt your approach for each. Alongside shared tools and tips, participants will have the chance to exchange what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in real-world practice. You’ll leave with new techniques and insights to help ensure that the ideas in your head come through clearly, confidently, and convincingly to everyone on your project team.
What does great lighting design look like when it all comes together? In this session, we’ll take a closer look at a completed residential project that delivered beautiful results for the client and valuable lessons for the design and build team. You’ll hear how collaboration among the client, integrator, interior designer, architect, builder, and lighting designer shaped the process—and how the right products, decisions, and communication strategies helped overcome challenges along the way. By walking through real-world choices and outcomes, this session highlights not only the design itself but also the teamwork and problem-solving that made it possible. Attendees will leave with inspiration, practical insights, and ideas they can apply to their own future projects.
