Industry Veteran Paul Hafner Presents Transformative Workshop at NAILD Conference

Industry Veteran Paul Hafner Presents Transformative Workshop at NAILD Conference

Timely Session Explores Four Different Business Models For Changing Landscape

 

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J. — Jan. 15, 2018 – Prominent lighting industry veteran Paul Hafner will lead a transformative workshop, “Who Moved My Light Bulb: Adapting Your Business for the Future,” at the National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD)’s conference next month.

NAILD Innovation 2018, “Unlocking the Future of Lighting,” will be held Feb. 13-16, 2018 at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. Register by clicking here or by calling 609-297-2216.

“Paul has been instrumental in developing NAILD’s signature training programs and he continues to innovate in our ever-changing industry,” said NAILD President Robin Watt. “The combination of market changes, technological advancements and customer demands means no one is immune from evaluating their business model and adapting for future success.”

As lighting technology and market dynamics change, so has the role of the smaller, independent lighting distributor. Some join larger distributors seeking to expand their market reach and grow their influence. Some business owners are retiring and still others have discovered that the nature of the work has changed. Distributors have moved from a supplier role to a project developer/implementer and many have taken on the job of a one-stop project design, development, supply and delivery/construction provider.

Faced with the rapid pace of change, this workshop will help attendees evaluate their business to remain relevant.  Hafner will explore four different models that represent the diverse ways in which companies have adapted to the changes in the lighting business. The panelists will include:

  • Randy Johnson, President, U.S. Lamp
  • Craig Meadows, President, CTI Energy Group
  • Cory Schneider CEO, Lighting Unlimited
  • Steven Spitzer, Principal, Monterey Lighting

Panelists will provide an inside look at how each of these businesses has changed during the past five years, as well as the effect on employee retention, sales, growth, profitability and training. The half-day workshop will include small group breakout sessions and interactive group discussions, as well as opportunities to ask specific questions of the panelists. In addition, Hafner will conduct follow-up meetings with conference participants 30, 60 and 90 days post-conference.

Hafner’s workshop will be one of many educational sessions that will be part of NAILD Innovation 2018. The conference offers lighting professionals top-notch educational sessions, workshops, golf and other networking opportunities, as well as a first-hand look at the most innovative lighting products on the market. The organization will also present its second annual Forces Under 40 awards, recognizing the next generation of rising stars in the industry.

The 2018 educational sessions will include:

  • The Lighting Industry: Today’s Landscape and Tomorrow’s War for the Ceiling, John Curran, U.S. Department of Energy
  • Lumens as a Service, Iain Campbell, Rocky Mountain Institute
  • Indoor Horticulture: Learn How to Navigate This Budding Market, Dave Inman, ProGrow Tech
  • Light and Health: What We Know, What We Don’t Know and What We Need to Know, Mariana Figueiro, Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • The Rise of Autonomous Buildings: How AI and Sensors are Transforming Buildings, Dan Ryan, VergeSense
  • Removing Barriers to Market Adoption, Brady Nemeth, DesignLights Consortium

The Product Sprint offers exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their most innovative products and member voting will determine the winners in six categories: Best Luminaire, Best Lamp, Best Control, Best Ballast/Driver, Best Accessory/Service and Best Overall.

Organized Casual Conferences (OCCs) give members a chance to get in front of new customers in an organized networking format. Distributors will have an opportunity for one-on-one introductions with vendors.

NAILD members are lighting distributors and manufacturers of lighting equipment, products and supplies used by MROs, contractors and facility end-user customers. Members also include full-line electrical distributors, energy service companies and lighting sales reps.

For more information on NAILD Innovation 2018, click here.

 

About The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD)

Founded in 1977, the National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD) is a nonprofit trade association that helps its members grow their businesses with cutting-edge education, conferences, awards and sharing of best practices. Its timely Lighting Specialist educational & certificate programs serve as a pillar in the lighting industry, while its annual conference unites lighting professionals in an evolving industry. For more information, visit www.naild.org.