Advance Your Lighting Expertise Through Lightapalooza Education Tracks

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.

Tim Ryan is the Vice President and a Senior Lighting Designer at Lighthouse Design Studio. With a background in landscape design and construction, Tim’s passion for lighting began early in his career as he integrated illumination into his landscape projects. By 2003, captivated by the transformative power of light in outdoor spaces, he transitioned fully into the world of landscape lighting.   

Since 2015, Tim has been an executive manager with Lighthouse, where he collaborates with top-tier professionals in landscape design, home integration, and architecture to continue to push the art of landscape lighting design. He is also deeply committed to the education and mentorship of future outdoor lighting designers, actively engaging with the industry’s leading educational organizations to ensure the continued growth and refinement of this specialized art form. 

Industry Leadership Engagement

·  BOD Member- International Landscape Lighting Institute

·  BOD Member- Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals

·  Technical Committee Advisor- IES, Illumination Engineering Society

Peter has over 30 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.

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.Our leadership development experts will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be an effective leader. We offer a full range of leadership development services including leadership training, executive coaching, and team building.

Mark S. Rea, PhD is a professor at the Light and Health Research Center (LHRC) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is an expert in human vision, lighting engineering, human factors, photobiology, psychology, and light and health. He is the author of more than 100 scientific and technical articles related to vision, lighting engineering, and human factors and was the editor-in-chief of the 8th and 9th editions of the IES Lighting Handbook. His current research projects include the study of the effects of light on circadian disruption, the use of ultraviolet light for disinfection and to fight plant pathogens, and the development of bias-free pulse oximetry technology . Dr. Rea has conducted groundbreaking research in the areas of human visual performance, visual efficacy at nighttime light levels, and light and human health.

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, the IES Medal 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ryan Lee is a leading voice in the landscape lighting industry, with 18 years of experience and a track record of building and selling a multi-million-dollar lighting business. He’s the founder of Landscape Lighting Secrets, a coaching program that helps lighting professionals grow, scale, and achieve financial freedom. 

Since 2021, his clients have generated over $55 million in trackable revenue using his proven systems. Ryan’s program combines business strategy, technical training, and accountability to turn hands-on operators into confident business owners.

He’s also the host of Lighting for Profits, the #1 podcast in the landscape lighting space.

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.” She has watched lighting technology evolve from incandescent to LED, which now allows us to shape light in ways previously unimaginable.

With hands-on experience including 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, bringing deep understanding of both aesthetic and practical aspects to every project.

Jason Sayen, founder of I am Sayen is a Process Architect who helps businesses get unstuck by redefining how they operate using his G.U.I.D.E. Framework.  

Through his workshops and consulting, Jason guides companies in transforming chaos into clarity, turning tribal knowledge into documented, scalable processes that align teams and unlock growth. His practical, workshop-style approach empowers business owners to visualize how work flows through their organization, identify operational gaps, and create a single source of operational truth for everyone to follow. 

With over 30 years of experience in the Consumer Electronics and Integration Industry, Jason has held key leadership roles with leading CEDIA manufacturers, a national distributor, and an award-winning rep firm. This blend of technical insight and process expertise makes him a sought-after speaker and trusted advisor for companies navigating growth, mergers, and operational scaling.  

Kendall Clark is the Senior Director of Sales & Marketing at One Firefly, where she drives strategy and execution across both teams to fuel growth and strengthen the company’s market presence. Previously, she led One Firefly’s web department, guiding the creation of hundreds of industry-focused websites for integrator clients. Kendall has also played a key role in the development and launch of several award-winning products that have shaped the company’s service offerings. With more than a decade of experience in the custom integration industry, she brings deep expertise and passion to her work and is an active member of Women in Consumer Technology.

Ron Callis Jr is the CEO and founder of One Firefly, LLC, an award-winning and 6-time Inc. 5000 recognized marketing agency. With over 20 years of experience, he has built a reputation for helping custom integration businesses grow and succeed through innovative marketing strategies and top-notch website design. In 2023, Ron expanded One Firefly’s impact by launching Amplify People, the company’s dedicated hiring division that helps technology businesses attract, evaluate, and retain top talent. A well-known speaker and educator at industry events, Ron is also a regular contributor to industry publications and host of the AV and integration-focused podcast, Automation Unplugged. 

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.

Jason Sayen, founder of I am Sayen is a Process Architect who helps businesses get unstuck by redefining how they operate using his G.U.I.D.E. Framework.  

Through his workshops and consulting, Jason guides companies in transforming chaos into clarity, turning tribal knowledge into documented, scalable processes that align teams and unlock growth. His practical, workshop-style approach empowers business owners to visualize how work flows through their organization, identify operational gaps, and create a single source of operational truth for everyone to follow. 

With over 30 years of experience in the Consumer Electronics and Integration Industry, Jason has held key leadership roles with leading CEDIA manufacturers, a national distributor, and an award-winning rep firm. This blend of technical insight and process expertise makes him a sought-after speaker and trusted advisor for companies navigating growth, mergers, and operational scaling.  

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.

Tim Fazio’s passion for power quality began over 30 years ago. He joined a surge protection company in 1993 and never looked back. Today, he is the Founder and Managing Member of Transient Protection Design, where he continues to deliver innovative surge protection and voltage regulation solutions across residential, commercial, and industrial markets.

With decades of expertise in surge protection, voltage regulation, harmonics, and grounding, Tim is known nationwide for his ability to quickly analyze complex power quality issues and deliver effective solutions. Over the last 17 years, he has focused on advancing power quality education and protection programs for the custom integration channel.

Those who know Tim recognize his passion for building reliable systems, solving the problem with the correct product, creating long-term solutions, and always prioritizing the client’s best interest.

Chad’s passion for consumer electronics began over 30 years ago selling car audio, sparking a journey that would take him through the golden era of custom integration at Showcase Home Entertainment in Arizona, where he sold more distributed audio, video, and control systems than anyone in the country at the time. His deep expertise in control systems and content delivery led him through leadership roles at industry pioneers including Kaleidescape, Crestron, Atlona, and Josh.ai.

With extensive experience in regional sales management, dealer development, and business transformation across both manufacturer and distributor perspectives, Chad has become a recognized influencer and CEDIA Certified Outreach Instructor for over 16 years. Today, as Director of Sales for Residential North America at SurgeX | AMETEK Power Quality Solutions, he oversees innovative power protection solutions for the custom integration market, leveraging his deep industry expertise to help customers proactively mitigate power quality issues and create lasting partnerships in an ever-evolving technology landscape.

Joe Piccirilli’s passion for consumer electronics and systems integration began over 40 years ago, leading him through an extraordinary career that has shaped multiple industries. As co-founder of Sound Advice, he built a publicly held retail company that grew to nearly $25 million in annual volume across 25 locations before transitioning to consulting in 1989, where he discovered his true calling in helping businesses and manufacturers succeed.

With extensive experience in product launch strategies, sales training programs, and distribution development for industry leaders including Sony, Denon, Polk, and Infinity, Joseph co-founded AVAD and grew it to over $200 million in sales before its acquisition by Ingram Micro. Today, at RoseWater Energy Group, he oversees manufacturing, sales, and distribution of residential power storage technology, leveraging his deep industry expertise and recognition as one of CE Pro’s Top 20 Most Influential People to advance innovative energy solutions for automated residences.

Jimmy Paschke is a seasoned sales and marketing executive with extensive experience in the consumer electronics and systems integration sectors. Currently serving as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Apex Technologies US since June 2022, Pashke leads initiatives in Gastonia, NC, focusing on innovative solutions in the technology landscape.

Prior to his role at Apex Technologies, Pashke was the Director of Residential Sales at SurgeX, where from May 2014 to June 2022, he championed the sales team and significantly contributed to the company’s dominance in surge elimination products within the CE space. His efforts were pivotal in reinforcing SurgeX’s foundation in the residential channel, enhancing product visibility and sales.

Pashke’s career is also marked by significant roles at Core Brands and Panamax, where he was Director of CI Sales. At Core Brands, from August 2012 to May 2014, and at Panamax, from August 2010 to September 2012, he led sales initiatives that deepened market penetration and expanded sales networks across North America.

Tony Fritts brings over 20 years of CI experience with more than a decade at Savant, where he started as a Technical Sales Engineer and spent many years as a senior product manager.  Tony now has a specialized focus on smart power technologies. He is leading Savant’s Power Application Engineering team, and has become a go-to expert in home energy storage, home energy management systems (HEMS), and smart panel technology. His extensive platform knowledge gives him unique insight into how power systems integrate seamlessly with whole-home automation. Tony is passionate about demystifying the complexities of energy management, helping integrators design smarter electrical infrastructures, and empowering them to confidently deploy and troubleshoot next-generation power solutions.

Eric Bodley has dedicated his career to working in nearly every aspect of the Consumer Electronics Industry.

Eric has, among many other accomplishments, developed the custom installation division for specialty electronics retailer Sound Advice; certified hundreds of sales associates with his IHAVS™ (In-Home Audio Video Specialist) program; launched a myriad of products and programs for Monster Cable Products; started Florida Home Entertainment Design (a CEPro Top 100 Integrator); and launched the revolutionary Perfect Path™ brand of Locking HDMI Cables for PPC®.

Eric has a wide range of experience in sales, marketing, management, product development, and brand management at the senior executive level, and in the field. Eric is a Past President and Fellow of the Custom Design and Installation Associates (CEDIA), has served on the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Board of Industry Leaders, is a Past-Chairman of the CTA Small Business Council, and currently serves on the CTA Smart Home Division Board.

Eric is also the recipient of the 2017 CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2015 CTA TechHome Leadership Award.

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.