NEMRA Announces Jeff Bristol as Vice President of the Newly Formed Lighting Division
Creating a Lighting Division at NEMRA marks a bold and transformative step for the organization. This initiative builds upon the groundwork laid by industry leaders Billy Hodges and Jay Andrews, who first launched AAiLA (Advocacy Association for Independent Lighting Agents). NEMRA continues this legacy by officially appointing Jeff Bristol as Vice President of the newly formed NEMRA Lighting Division.
Your humble editor caught up with Jeff yesterday. “NEMRA Lighting’s creation addresses the lighting industry’s need for a collaborative association between Agent, Manufacturer, and NEMRA,” explained Jeff. “Our mission is to provide targeted support, education, industry advocacy, and networking that will help drive growth and stronger partnerships across all our membership.”
A Proven Leader in Lighting
Jeff brings over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, and executive leadership within the lighting and controls industry. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for MaxLite. There, he developed and executed strategies across multiple business units and managed a 40+ agent network. His career includes leadership roles at Panasonic/Universal Lighting Technologies, Philips Lighting, Osram Sylvania, and Westinghouse Lighting.
Throughout his career, Jeff has cultivated strong partnerships with NEMRA agents, Specification Lighting Agents, and Design & Build Lighting Agencies. His philosophy of viewing agents as integral extensions of the manufacturers they represent aligns seamlessly with NEMRA’s mission.
“Jeff’s philosophy of viewing agent relationships as integral extensions of the manufacturers they represent aligns perfectly with NEMRA’s belief in the vital partnership between manufacturers and their representatives,” said Jim Johnson, President and CEO of NEMRA. ‘With over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing, and executive leadership within the lighting and controls industry, Jeff was the clear choice to lead this transformative initiative”.
Strengthening the Industry
As Vice President, Jeff will focus on advancing industry standards, fostering collaboration, and providing members with tools and resources to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace. His leadership aims to bridge the gap between manufacturers and their representatives. This will promote stronger partnerships that drive growth and innovation.
Jeff has also been a dedicated supporter of NEMRA, serving on the NMG Executive Committee since 2021. Johnson emphasized Jeff’s invaluable guidance to NEMRA’s board during this time.
Jeff’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for NEMRA.
Go Deeper
Read about the newly created Lighting Division at NEMRA.
