Insights from the IES Board of Directors Meeting at the Annual Conference

past IES President Frank Agraz
Past IES President Frank Agraz

Yesterday, your humble editor had the opportunity to attend the IES Board of Directors meeting held during the Annual Conference at the Renaissance Schaumburg. This is the second Board Meeting I have attended in person this year. 

My primary reason for attending was to gain a deeper understanding of the financial health and strategies of the organization.

Financial Update by Treasurer Ira Rothman

Treasurer Ira Rothman took the lead in presenting a comprehensive financial update to the board. While the intricacies of the discussion were moved to an Executive Session for a more in-depth  (approximately 4 hour) conversation, I did hear of several positive steps throughout the day:

  1. New Revenue Stream: IES has successfully integrated a robust revenue stream by managing the NCQLP.
  2. LEUKOS Restructuring: This strategic move has effectively reduced expenses, and it is expected that LEUKOS will at least break even.
  3. Lighting Library Sales: New sales initiatives related to the Lighting Library have already attracted a multitude of new customers.
  4. Sustaining Memberships: The revenue from this segment continues to show significant growth, year over year.
  5. eLearning Portal: The portal has generated over $100k in revenue.
  6. SALC Performance: The figures for SALC this year have exceeded expectations, showing a promising trajectory.

Exploring Grant Opportunities for Non-Profits

Mark Lien captivated the attendees with a discussion about various grants available to non-profit organizations. Drawing attention to the LHRC’s recent success – a notable $2.8M grant they received in 2022, as reported by the EdisonReport – he emphasized the potential for IES. Although IES and LHRC serve different missions, the message was clear: it’s high time for IES to explore these funding opportunities.

Responding to the discussion, Executive Director Colleen Harper expressed concerns about the organization’s expertise in grant writing. Mark’s solution was practical: outsourcing the grant writing process. Notably, he highlighted the DOE/BTO Lighting Grants, one of which aims to “Support Resilient and Efficient Building Energy Codes and Save American Families Money” with a generous offering of $90M.

IES’s Commitment to DEIR

Colleen Harper also shed light on the organization’s dedication to DEIR (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Representation). She shared about discussions she is having with other lighting bodies about potential collaborations. To further the cause, IES has put up a poster at the conference, allowing attendees to share their insights with the DEIR committee.

Understanding Technical Policies and Procedures

Brienne Musselman provided clarity on the organization’s Technical Policies and Procedures. She elaborated on the structure of the committees, emphasizing the balanced representation from three distinct groups: Producer (manufacturers and representatives), User (lighting designers and consumers), and General Interest.

In conclusion, the IES Board of Directors meeting was an enlightening experience. While the finances are very difficult because of the lack of LightFair revenue, it was reassuring to see that the Board of Directors is taking the matter seriously.

NEWS