A Conversation with Carrie Hawley: Merging for Growth and Innovation
At LEDucation 2025, Randy Reid, Editor of the Edison Report, sat down with Carrie Hawley, Senior Principal and CEO of HLB Lighting Design, to discuss the recent merger with Conor Sampson’s company. This merger, two years in the making, combines their strengths and sets the stage for exciting growth.
Carrie and Conor’s relationship goes back decades, with both working in New York in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Despite Conor’s move to Montreal in 2008, they remained close, exchanging ideas and maintaining strong ties within the lighting community. The merger aligns their shared values and creates opportunities for HLB’s team to grow, while allowing Conor’s nine-person team to integrate into a larger design framework.
Expanding Horizons with Diversity
Carrie explains that the strength of the merger lies in both teams’ diversity, with HLB now reaching approximately 150 employees. HLB prides itself on a diverse portfolio, spanning over 20 market sectors. This diversity fosters continuous learning and supports dynamic project needs worldwide. Carrie highlights the challenge of integrating lessons from different projects and ensuring that best practices are consistently implemented across the team. To manage this, HLB follows a 10-year strategic plan known as “Ideal 2030,” focusing on areas like technology, design, and client relations.
Expanding Influence and Goals
Carrie then dives into HLB’s ambitious goal of influencing billions of lives worldwide. While space-related lighting may seem far-fetched, it’s a concept that Carrie believes could one day become a reality. The firm’s global reach already extends to many corners of the world, with projects in places like the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. HLB’s expanding exposure to various cultures, market sectors, and codes allows them to continue growing with intention and purpose.
Innovating for the Future
A key player in HLB’s innovation is Matthew Tanteri, a principal at the firm who leads the daylighting studio and is heavily involved in exploring cutting-edge design solutions. Carrie hints at the future possibilities of space-related lighting and expresses excitement about the opportunities to design environments that simulate the best possible lighting conditions.
The Value of LEDucation
As the interview winds down, Carrie reflects on the value of education at events like LEDucation. She appreciates the scale and intensity of the show, emphasizing how it has evolved into a crucial event for the lighting industry. For HLB, attending LEDucation is more than just a networking opportunity—it’s an investment in the future. Carrie notes that their team brings 50-60 people to the event, highlighting the importance of community and learning together.
Conclusion
Carrie Hawley’s insights into HLB Lighting Design’s merger, growth, and future goals underscore the importance of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. As the lighting industry evolves, HLB is positioning itself to lead the charge with cutting-edge designs that reach far beyond Earth’s boundaries.
Carrie’s enthusiasm for education and global growth sets the stage for a bright future—one where the lighting industry will continue to shine in ways previously unimagined.