IES25 Day 1: Silent Slides and Loud Tabletops

After a buoyant day at IES25, your humble editor attended the Progress Report feeling genuinely optimistic.

Earlier in the day, Executive Director and CEO Colleen Harper noted that attendance is running about 15% ahead of forecast. You could feel it—new faces who don’t typically attend the conference and a steady buzz throughout the venue. Moreover, the conference sold 30 tabletops, and early indications point to a financial surplus. Additionally, Colleen reported strong registration for the Street and Area Lighting Conference, which could see a small surplus as well.

Financial Wins Under Colleen Harper

It’s worth recalling a few recent financial wins under Colleen’s leadership. First, the Society sold LD+A, which had been financially unsustainable. Second, the Society exited the 120 Wall Street lease—roughly a $60,000-per-month expense. Third, the conferences no longer appear to lose money. Collectively, these actions address three major financial drains she inherited, and the results now show.

The New Progress Report

Even so, one program needs help: the Progress Report. Vice President Jared Smith explained that the 2025 review began in July, when 27 members of the Progress Committee met in Indianapolis for two days to evaluate 130 submissions. Afterward, the committee selected 87 items for the report, many of which appeared at the tabletops. I thought 130 submissions was a good number of submissions, and 87 products seemed promising.  

We were prepared for the new format, but the presentation format fell flat. A slide deck cycled through company, product, description, and image—without sound. As a result, the format drained energy in the room, and attention drifted. It ran exactly counter to the lively Progress Report we know. Even a simple AI voiceover would have improved it. I felt bad for the companies receiving recognition.

Beyond the slides, I missed the skits—the industry’s only real humor. There’s something about seeing people you know on stage trying to stay in character. That human element was sorely missed. Your humble editor hopes that the Society and Progress Report Committee can reach a compromise to bring some kind of entertainment for 2026.

Tabletops Delivered the Value

Fortunately, the tabletop exhibits delivered. Exhibitors showed many of the Progress Report recognized products, and attendees could handle, aim, and compare fixtures. In many ways, that hands-on time proved more informative than a photo on stage; the ability to touch the gear matters.

Overall, the conference is trending positive—attendance, energy, and finances all move in the right direction. With a few format tweaks, the Progress Report can match the momentum elsewhere. 

Go Deeper:  A Different Kind of Progress Report