Lightapalooza Education Tracks

SHINE (Specialists in Home Illumination Natural Light and Energy Control) Lighting Fundamentals Certification is Designed for beginners eager to master the fundamentals of lighting, this 8-hour certification course, presented by expert lighting professionals and designers, dives deep into the technical aspects of lighting, performance fixtures, and control basics. Spread over two consecutive days with hands-on lab sessions, participants will gain practical experience to complement the in-depth lectures. Offered twice during the conference, attendees who pass the final exam will earn the Lightapalooza Lighting Fundamentals Certification. Seats are limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your lighting knowledge.

Led by certified lighting design professionals, this track delves into advanced lighting techniques and strategies. Participants will explore fixture selection, placement, and quality differentiation, while learning about human-centric lighting and scene-setting approaches. Through hands-on sessions and expert guidance, attendees will gain practical skills to defend their fixture choices, correctly space recessed lights, and illuminate artwork. Ideal for those ready to refine their lighting design expertise, this track equips professionals with essential tools to enhance every lighting project.

This new series at Lightapalooza 2025 introduces esteemed university professors and researchers to the program, offering cutting-edge insights into lighting design. Attendees will explore topics such as circadian-effective lighting, the evolution of residential illumination, photometry, and the science behind optics. With a focus on both historical context and future innovations, this track provides a rare opportunity to learn directly from respected academic experts, ensuring participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to elevate their lighting projects.

Led by industry experts specializing in marketing, business analysis, and operational improvements, this comprehensive track offers practical strategies for expanding your business in lighting, shading, and power management. Across five focused sessions, business owners will learn how to optimize sales processes, develop a growth-driven marketing plan, enhance financial efficiency, and streamline operations. Participants will also gain insights into building and retaining a high-performing team. This track equips you with actionable tools to boost profitability, improve business processes, and secure sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Led by professionals with real-world expertise in luxury residential construction and technology, this track covers the essential knowledge needed to navigate modern electrical systems. Attendees will dive deep into advanced topics such as solar power, battery backups, and generator systems, while mastering electrical fundamentals like voltage, current, and power types. Sessions will also cover renewable energy system design, offering practical guidance from concept to execution. This track equips participants with the skills and confidence to design and implement efficient, reliable power solutions for residential projects.

Dive deep into the world of advanced lighting control systems with this comprehensive track focused on DMX and DALI 2.0 protocols. Begin with an introductory overview of both systems, followed by detailed design strategies tailored for DALI 2.0 and DMX-based lighting projects. Hands-on sessions will offer practical experience with system configurations, equipping participants with the skills to implement these protocols in luxury residential and commercial projects. Perfect for professionals looking to master modern control technologies, this track provides the expertise needed to handle sophisticated lighting control challenges.

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.

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.

Kelli Hernandez: 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.

Brady’s eagerness for storytelling through the use of light and the collaborative atmosphere of design has guided him through a career in theatrical lighting into architectural lighting and his current role as Lead Lighting Designer with Light Can Help You. Brady has designed for entertainment, residential, retail, and hospitality projects and has a lengthening list of luxury residential projects across the continent. Brady completed his Masters of Fine Arts at the University of California-Irvine in lighting design.

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.

Meghan’s interest in bettering the relationship between human life and the built environment led her to Light Can Help You. Informed by degrees in Psychology and Interior Design and a Masters in Architectural Lighting, Meghan’s design solutions focus on how light positively shapes the human experience. She is especially passionate about helping others with projects that are socially responsible and sustainable by design. Meghan is a Lead Lighting Designer with Light Can Help You.

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.

Peter has over 20 years of experience in both architectural and theatrical lighting design. His company, Conceptual Lighting, LLC, is a diverse architectural lighting design firm that develops lighting systems for a variety of commercial and residential spaces. Houses of worship, restaurants, educational facilities, health care facilities, and exterior landscape lighting are all common project types handled by the firm. The small size of the firm assures attention to detail and a personal commitment to each project. Peter Romaniello’s theatrical lighting design background allows for an approach to lighting that is both aesthetically pleasing and technologically correct.

David Warfel is founding designer of Light Can Help You, author, and educator at the crossroads of architecture, light, and integration.  He is former head of the graduate lighting design program at the University of Illinois.

David’s company, online at lightcanhelpyou.com, built the revolutionary Signature Custom Lighting Design service to be an affordable, easy, and highly professional option for lighting design.  The LCHY team partners with custom integrators nationwide to help them grow in lighting fixture sales and navigate the complex and rapidly changing world of light. 

His design credits range from projects at Carnegie Hall and Las Vegas’ Luxor to Chicago’s Hyde Park Arts Center and multiple themed spaces for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.   His work and writing have been featured in Technology Design, Fine Homebuilding, Lighting Australia, and multiple times on Houzz.com.  David blogs at languageoflight.blog and lives in Madison, WI.

Greg Barrett is an industry veteran with over 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 Ecosense and USAI Lighting, where he specialized in product management and marketing, driving innovation in both lighting and control technology.

Prior to Savant, Greg spent three years at USAI Lighting, managing and marketing lighting products while overseeing their market positioning. At Ketra, Greg honed his product management skills, leading product development and sales enablement for their lighting and control portfolio. His 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.

Biographical Sketch – Craig A. Bernecker, Ph.D., FIESNA, LC

Dr. Bernecker has been a lighting educator for over 40 years. He is founder of The Lighting Education Institute, providing education to practicing professionals, and Professor of Lighting Design and Director of the Masters of Fine Arts in Lighting Design program at Parsons School of Design, The New School.  Prior to founding The Lighting Education Institute, he directed the lighting education program within the Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State University. He has published more than fifty articles on research and education in lighting design and illumination engineering and is known for his work on the psychological aspects of lighting.  He also maintains an active consulting practice, providing lighting design services and serving as an expert consultant on many projects and as an expert witness on many legal cases.  He regularly serves as a peer reviewer for lighting research proposals and projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

He further served for 15 years as Educational Facilitator for LIGHTFAIR International, coordinating the development of the annual conference program, and regularly taught the IES online lighting certification review course in preparation for the NCQLP LC exam.

Dr. Bernecker has served the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) as Vice-President for Technical and Research Activities (1991-1993) and Vice-President for Educational Activities (1993-1995).  More recently, he served the Society in its highest office, as Senior Vice-President for 2003-2004, President for 2004-2005, and Immediate Past President for 2005-2006.  As a result of his contributions to lighting education, the Society named him a Fellow in 1991, and for his service to the IES, the Distinguished Service Award in 2017.  In 2021 he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the LIT Lighting Design Awards program, and in 2024 received the Edison Report Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Bernecker is currently President (2023-2027) of the United States National Committee (USNC) of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), and U.S. Technical Representative to Division 3: Interior Lighting..

Program Director

Light and Health Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Jennifer Brons earned her bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of California- Berkeley (cum laude) and her MS in Lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Since 1997, her work has focused on lighting design applications and human factor studies for new lighting technologies. Over her more than 20-year career, Ms. Brons has developed lighting designs and specifications for a wide variety of commercial and residential clients. After practicing lighting design on sabbatical in London, she taught lighting design as part of the MS in Lighting degree program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for more than 10 years. In addition to her design and research activities, she develops educational material about the more effective use of light.

Professor and Director

Light and Health Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Mariana Figueiro, PhD, is among the world’s leading experts in the area of light and health, with a focus on bridging science to practical applications aimed at improving human quality of life. She has made a significant impact on this developing field and continues to actively expand her influence through translational research and teaching. She is the Director of the Light and Health Research Center and serves as Principal Investigator of various research projects at the Center. She regularly collaborates with lighting designers and manufacturers, through her work with the Center’s Light and Health Partners program. Dr. Figueiro previously served as the Director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Kevin Houser (PhD, PE, FIES, LC, LEED AP) is a Professor at Oregon State University, Chief Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, co-founder of Lyralux, Inc., and former editor-in-chief of LEUKOS, the journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). He has published more than 150 publications about light and lighting, has been awarded 5 patents for innovations in light source spectral design, and has shared his insights and discoveries globally through more than 135 presentations delivered across six continents. He’s won the CIBSE Leon Gaster and Walsh Weston Awards, three IES Taylor Technical Talent Awards, an Edison Report Lifetime Achievement Award, the IES Presidential Award, and is a Fellow of IES. His work focuses on human perceptual and biological responses to light, endeavoring to balance human needs with planetary health.

Amer Maleh boasts over 17 years in the architectural lighting sector, currently serving as VP of Sales-Strategic Accounts at Delta Light Group North America. He initiated his career at L’Observatoire International, collaborating with renowned architectural firms. In 2010, he established his own NYC-based lighting firm specializing in high-end residences. Maleh's extensive roles span design, manufacturing, sales, sourcing, and distribution. From 2019-2021, he led Sourcing and Supply Chain of Lighting at WeWork, before joining Delta Light in 2022. An Electrical Engineering graduate, he holds master's degrees from Pratt Institute and Parsons the New School of Design. Maleh has contributed as a critic and part-time lecturer at esteemed institutions, has been honored with an IES Illumination Award, and featured in notable industry publications.

Matt Bernath is a consumer electronics veteran with more than two decades in retail, wholesale, custom integration, and business coaching.  He started his CE career in the late 90’s in Car Audio retail management, then moved on to rep several major brands in the So Cal territories and went on to start a CI business in 2006.  Matt successfully grew and sold his CI business, owing a large part of his success to the principles learned as a client of VITAL management.  VITAL asked Matt to join their team as an executive business coach in 2019, and he went on to purchase the company in 2021 with a group of industry partners.  Today Matt is known for thought-leadership in the area of business excellence and speaks around the country on this topic.  He hosts a highly successful monthly webinar series and has been a guest speaker at events such as the CEPro Total Tech Summit, Regional Tech Summits, OneFirefly Podcast, Smartprenuer Podcast, and many others.

Ron Callis Jr is the CEO and founder of One Firefly, LLC, an award-winning and Inc. 5000 recognized marketing agency. With over 20 years of experience in the field, he has built a reputation for helping custom electronics businesses grow and succeed through innovative marketing strategies and top-notch website design. Ron is a well-known speaker at industry events, a regular contributor to industry publications, and host of the AV and integration-focused podcast, Automation Unplugged. He’s been a Certified CEDIA Instructor since 2010, a past elected member of Crestron’s Advisory Board, and he currently serves on the Azione Unlimited Advisory Board. In 2021, he was recognized as a CE Pro Masters due to his contributions to the custom electronics Industry

Jason, the founder of I am Sayen, is a Process Architect and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt who helps companies define “HOW” they operate and eliminate the Process Void through Workflow Documentation.  Jason guides teams in transforming undefined processes into clear, scalable operations.

Drawing on over 30 years in the Consumer Electronics Industry, Jason has held key leadership roles with top CEDIA manufacturers, a national distributor, and an award-winning rep firm. His deep industry knowledge, combined with his expertise in process improvement, positions him as a go-to authority for companies seeking to align their teams, streamline operations, and build a solid foundation for growth.

Beyond consulting, Jason actively contributes to the industry delivering CEU courses that elevate industry standards to Architects and Designers around the country.  

Bruce Clark launched Kaleidolight Lighting Design in 2020, a practice focused on the Custom Integration industry. Early on, he was asked to describe his approach to lighting and design to potential partners. Rather than limiting his role to just “design,” Bruce embraced the title "Lighting Sherpa," someone who helps guide others through their lighting challenges. Whether through design services, educational content, or clarifying specifications, Bruce is committed to making lighting more accessible and actionable for both industry partners and clients. He doesn’t do the work for you but works alongside you to ensure successful project outcomes and a deeper understanding of lighting.

Bruce has developed and delivered training, led coaching groups, consulted on projects, and advised trade groups and rep firms, helping integrators nationwide build effective lighting strategies. Now, with the Illuminated Lighting Design Services team, Bruce continues to share his passion and expertise with a broader audience.

Lynne's passion for lighting began over 35 years ago when she witnessed MR16 halogen lights transform a dull landscape into something magical, earning her the name "Lynne the Light Lady." Since then, she has watched lighting technology evolve from incandescent to LED, which now allows us to shape light in ways previously unimaginable. Lynne brings this rich experience to every lighting design conversation, and even after all these years, she still feels the same excitement for lighting as when she first discovered its power.

With a career shaped by hands-on experience, including earning her journeyman's credentials as an electrical contractor and serving as Kichler Lighting's national product manager, Lynne has also shared her knowledge as a founding member of the Advisory Counsel for the Interior Design School at Southwest Florida College and an affiliated member of ASID. In 2023, her studio was honored as Affiliate Member of the Year by the local AIA chapter.

Lynne's passion lies in how lighting impacts people's lifestyles and emotions. With her extensive experience, she brings a deep understanding of both aesthetic and practical aspects of lighting to every project she's part of.

Steven Girard, P.E., is a licensed electrical engineer with extensive experience in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry. His emphasis is power system design, protection and analysis; although he is well versed of all aspects electrical systems for residential, commercial, municipal and industrial facilities. 

Mr. Girard's career includes 10 years as a design consultant with a multi-national engineering firm, where his projects included educational facilities, airports, military bases, and high-end hospitality venues. He then took an opportunity to work for a large water / wastewater utility where he spent 4 years as a field supervisor of electrical technicians. His diverse experience has provided him a practical perspective on electrical systems, and he enjoys sharing his understanding with others. 

He currently works with Summit Technology Group in Santa Rosa, California, a leading company in renewable energy system design and installation. 

Larry Dashiell is the owner and CEO of Summit Technology Group, a company delivering electrical, technology, and renewable energy solutions across North Bay, CA. He took over the family business in 1986, after his father’s passing, and expanded its offerings by adding low-voltage services in 1990 and later integrating renewable energy. 

Summit now specializes in smart home automation, home theater systems, custom electrical installations, and off-grid solar projects.

Summit Technology Group’s mission is to change the way the industry operates by providing the highest quality products and services, all while creating a positive work environment for its 60+ employees. Their core values—Integrity, Support, Accountability, Urgency, and a Drive to Succeed—are reflected in every project.

Under Larry’s leadership, Summit has become known for innovative solutions, including sustainable energy systems like off-grid solar installations for remote living and custom home projects. His focus on quality, sustainability, and client satisfaction has positioned Summit Technology Group as a trusted leader in the technology and renewable energy sectors.

Brett Tallada is an Architectural Engineer by trade, who has built a dynamic career spanning architectural lighting control, project management, and technical sales. With over a decade of experience, Brett has managed dozens of lighting and automation projects for skyscrapers, museums, airports, luxury hotels, and high-end residential properties. His expertise extends into programming and lifestyle automation, where he now focuses on technical sales and engineering at Powerfull Systems, a Los Angeles-based home automation dealer in Los Angeles, CA.

Aaron Severtson is a product manager with Legrand’s Vantage Controls, focusing on emerging lighting technologies. He has been working in the custom integrator market for 21 years, including the past eight years with Vantage as part of field services, training, and product management. Aaron also has a background and experience in theatrical and performance lighting, where he has worked with digital lighting, control, and show design. His passion for delivering a quality lighting experience led him to help develop the Vantage KolorTune control solution and his goal is to provide custom integrators and designers with easy and capable control solutions that promote freedom of design with a wide coverage of architectural lighting options.

Cameron is a passionate educator and technology enthusiast with expertise in technology, automation, control, and lighting systems. As a technical trainer on many different subjects in the industry, Cameron has developed a deep understanding of innovative lighting solutions, including DALI systems. He is dedicated to empowering professionals with the knowledge and tools to excel in this dynamic field. Cameron’s approachable and engaging teaching style fosters interaction and practical learning, creating classes that are both informative and memorable for students.