Like most people I’ve met in this industry, my journey to lighting wasn’t a straight line. It started with a journalism degree from the University of Kansas and a first job out of college with ESPN. After six very fun years punctuated by long hours and grinding travel, I made a pivot: first to corporate communications, and eventually, in 2015, to a digital marketing role at Legrand. That’s where I got my first taste of the lighting world, through Wattstopper lighting controls. As Legrand built its lighting portfolio, I gained exposure through the brands we rapidly acquired.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2021 that I found myself immersed in lighting. As everyone was returning to the office, I assisted Focal Point in rebuilding an automated drawing tool. While working on that project, Jimalee Beno – then-president of Focal Point and an influential force in the lighting industry – saw something in me. Jimalee invited me to join the team full-time, taught me about lighting, encouraged me to earn my LC, and pushed me to join groups like WILD. I now sit on the IES Healthcare Committee and have fully embraced what it means to be part of this industry.
Since then, my roles have continued to evolve. I’ve led the healthcare vertical at Focal Point and collaborated with an incredible team to develop a new, high-comfort patient overbed luminaire. I’ve worked on enhancing the digital experience for our agents across Legrand’s lighting brands. And most recently, I stepped into a new role as IT leader for the Kenall and Pinnacle brands. Every step adds new depth to my understanding – of the business, of the customer, and of myself.
My colleagues used to tell me that if I stayed in lighting for two years, I’d be a lifer. It’s easy to see why.
It’s the people who make our industry special. My Legrand colleagues, people with deep industry roots like Jimalee, Pete Lena, John Dellorto, Dave Michals, and Jim Young… They’ve always been generous with their time and happy to answer my many questions. So many colleagues outside Legrand have been wonderful as well, and I rapidly made friends across lighting. This is a community built on relationships. Agents, designers, architects, contractors, even other manufacturers – everyone is willing to lend a hand or share what they know. By my second LEDucation, I was running into familiar faces throughout the show floor.
Grow WILD
WILD has been a huge part of my growth experience. I’ve been a member for a few years, and I was lucky to be part of the pilot Mentorship program. That small group became truly special to me. We still meet regularly, long after the pilot program ended. We’ve helped each other navigate job changes, work challenges, and even celebrated life milestones – like a new baby! Some of us have been able to meet in-person through work travel, and it’s always a highlight.
I’m now also serving as a Mentorship Liaison for a new Mentorship cohort, and I’m seeing the same magic happen again. The WILD mentorship program has shown me how powerful shared experiences can be, and how much we grow by lifting each other up.
One of my favorite WILD events was last year, when Legrand teamed up with WILD, DLF, and our Exposure Lighting (our Boston rep). Together, we hosted a women’s swing clinic (golf, not dancing). We wanted to help demystify the game and encourage more women to feel comfortable playing. It was fun, inclusive, and empowering – exactly the kind of event that makes WILD so special.
I never imagined I’d end up in lighting, but now I’m one of the industry’s biggest advocates. The intersections of dynamic and meaningful work with mentorship and community have made lighting one of the most rewarding and impactful career paths I’ve taken. As I approach my four-year anniversary in the industry, I’m starting to believe my colleagues were right: I might just be a lifer.