ANNUAL LIGHTING FORUM 2025-2026

Follow along as leading industry professionals gather to discuss member-driven topics from the effects lighting has on the most powerful industries to the varying aspects of our daily lives.

Something About Sustainability and Controls

The 12th Annual Lighting Forum, hosted by Randy Reid, brings together leading voices in lighting and controls for a timely and thought-provoking conversation titled “Something About Sustainability and Controls.”

Joining Randy are Melissa Mattes, LC, LFA – Associate, DC Studio Manager, and Sustainability Lead at Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting Inc., and C. Webster Marsh, Lighting Controls Designer with Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting Inc., and Education Manager of the Lighting Controls Academy.

Together, they explore one of the most pressing issues facing the lighting industry today: embodied carbon. The discussion examines how the industry is evolving in its recognition of embodied carbon impacts—from materials and manufacturing to specification and lifecycle considerations—and what meaningful steps are being taken to reduce them.

The panel also dives into the critical role of lighting controls in advancing sustainability goals. From optimizing energy performance and extending product life to enabling adaptive reuse and smarter design strategies, controls are positioned as a powerful tool for designers seeking measurable environmental impact.

This engaging session offers practical insights, industry perspective, and forward-looking strategies for lighting professionals committed to designing a lower-carbon future.

Lighting Is Too Hard — A Candid Industry Conversation

Hosted by Randy Reid of the Edison Report, the Annual Lighting Forum brings together leading voices in the lighting industry for thought-provoking conversations.

In this installment, two lighting icons, Naomi Miller, Lighting Scientist Emerita at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Mary Beth Gotti, Chairperson of NLB join Randy for a conversation titled “Lighting Is Too Hard — A Candid Industry Conversation.”

The group discusses their recent workshop from the IES Annual Conference 2025. Topics include “Value Engineering,” the frustration with no set template for specification sheet information, the end of life for first generation LED luminaires, LED luminaire quality assurance as well as the incredibly pertinent “Right to Repair.”

AI Implications for the Lighting Industry

Hosted by Randy Reid of the Edison Report, the Annual Lighting Forum brings together leading voices in the lighting industry for thought-provoking conversations.

In this installment, Randy welcomes AI authorities Peter Brown of Electrical Transitions and Mark Lien of the IES and Augmented Illumination to discuss the penetration of AI into the lighting industry. The disruption is occurring. The opportunities, while positive, are still often opaque. The tasks AI can accomplish are truly incredible however, critical thinking skills are presently still in the auspice of humans. How is this exceedingly fast-growing tool changing the various market channels in our industry?

The Importance of Infrared on Light and Health

Scott Zimmerman of Silas, Jay Goodman of Après Illumination and Doug Steel of Neurosense join Randy to discuss the seemingly, to the general public, forgotten contribution of infrared wavelengths on our vision and health. Light effects more than our circadian rhythms, it effects all aspects of health. Randy’s guests explore opportunities and elucidate us on the importance of near-infrared and infrared energy. Are we really only looking at efficacy, lm/W?
Do you have an interesting topic that would engage and educate fellow lighting professionals? Or maybe you know the perfect panelist?
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