Last week’s American Lighting Association conference celebrated the lighting industry in the historic city of Louisville, Ky. The conference agenda delivered new speakers, new content designed to bolster lighting businesses, and a new direction for the ALA itself, delivered by ALA’s new CEO and President, Jon Melchi.
“We really put a lot of thought and work into planning a new experience for attendees,” said Raelle Bell, ALA’s vice president of marketing. “We didn’t recycle any content and brought in all new speakers for a fresh perspective.”
The conference kicked off with the President’s Report, delivered by Melchi and the association’s Government Affairs Consultant Palmer Schoening. It focused on where business is headed in the U.S. and Canada, and the most pressing policy issues shaping the lighting business. Melchi also shared a bold, new future for the ALA and the industry.
Riveting Keynotes
Economics continued to take center stage with the first day’s keynote, delivered by economists Jeremy Bees and Patrick Luce. “Navigate the Economy: Preparing for Takeoffs and Landings” put attention on a top-of-mind topic for many — where the economy is headed. Bees and Luce noted that they don’t think the economy is as weak as some headlines make it seem, and that retail sales are holding up reasonably well.
Through data-driven insights and actionable management solutions, Luce and Bees talked about planning for what’s ahead. “From our perspective, this is a time for business owners and leadership teams to stay focused on growth for 2026 as we pull out of a slump in new construction,” they said. “The economic data might be mixed, but it doesn’t point to a collapse. There’s enough strength in the consumer to justify staying engaged and looking for opportunities.”
Tuesday morning’s keynote address was delivered by Tamara Day, designer, product designer and host of Bargain Mansions. She shared her path to success, along with the bumps along the way. As she gets ready to launch her first book at this fall’s High Point Market, Day has been building her product design business alongside her design career. When she started Bargain Mansions, Day was responsible for everything including finding the houses and financing them. When she decided to open a retail showroom, it was right before COVID. Day, however, never gave up and rose above these and other challenges in her early business. Now, she is enjoying the fruits of her tenacity and flexibility.
Today Day is known for her show, her design business and her product development in multiple home furnishings categories.
“From the outside looking in, my business looked fabulous. However, the perception was not the reality of my struggles at the time,” Day said, adding that we need to persist. Her takeaway is that we have to understand what we bring to our businesses. “Recognize that you are your most valuable asset in your business,” Day concluded.
Continuing the topic of change, in the afternoon keynote, Steven Turner, founder and CEO of Turnertime Management, shared how ALA members can leverage AI to stay connected with customers and communicate with potential clients familiar with your business, a.k.a., “warm leads.” Programs such as OVO AI, for example, can reliably relay pertinent information via email, text or phone. Focusing on an AI “real world” application, Turner said, “You can leverage AI to increase your warm outreach, bringing prospects closer and communicating with clients.”
Drilling Down in Breakout Sessions
Breakout sessions allowed attendees to choose topics for further review in two morning and three afternoon sessions.
On Monday, Sept. 8, breakouts began with “What Designers are Looking for When Sourcing Lighting for Client Projects,” with interior and product designer Lisa McDennon. Monday morning’s second option — Shedding Light on the Science of Illumination — explored the science of photometry and its practical applications in lighting with Bob Henderson, LC, CLEP.
Later in the day, attendees chose from three breakout sessions: “A Deeper Dive into the Economic Future of the Lighting Industry,” bringing back keynotes Bess and Luce; “The Power of Every Interaction,” a discussion on strengthening brand presence in a competitive market, delivered by Gene Hoffman, founder & president of Branding Essential; and ALA focused conversation, “Ceiling Fan Technical Update,” an in-depth discussion on the key technical points affecting the category.
On Tuesday, morning breakout sessions included a “Gen AI Tools Workshop,” a hands-on practice hosted by Lauren Abney, business strategist for AI at Google, and “The Future of the Industry” by Mark Lien.
Afternoon breakouts on Tuesday featured “The Seven Pillars of Productivity,” with Turner; “The Future of Marketing, Advertising, Education and Social Media,” with Lien; and “AI As Your Business Multiplier,” with Abney.
The Fun Stuff
No conference is complete without awards, networking and events that bring everyone together. From the opening party to the awards reception and following wrap-up party, “Shine On: ALA Closing Blue Grass Bash,” ALA attendees enjoyed spending time together and exploring Louisville. In addition to gatherings, attendees had a chance to tour the Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum and the Louisville Slugger & Bourbon Experience.
Women in Lighting hosted a series of short presentations — Pecha Kucha style, rapid-fire visual storytelling sessions — featuring four industry leaders: Laurie Gross, president of Gross Electric; Cathy Choi, president and CEO of Bulbrite; Maria Mullen, CEO of Hubbardton Forge; and Martha Graham, owner of Martha Graham and Associates. The women talked about their career-defining moments as well as the challenges they’ve faced.
At the ALA Awards, Troy Lee was inducted into the ALA Lighting Hall of Fame. CEO of Progressive Lighting, Lee Lighting and Savoy House, Lee also serves as the chairman of the Dallas Market Center Lightovation Board, chairman of the ALA Finance Committee and is a member of the ALA Board of Governors. “Troy represents everything the ALA Lighting Hall of Fame was created to celebrate,” said Melchi. “His commitment to the lighting industry and to ALA has had a lasting impact.”
Fun fedoras and fascinators, awards and connection defined the well-attended conference alongside educational insights designed to help lighting industry professionals elevate their businesses.
