A New Direction for NAILD
The National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors is entering a new chapter. The new direction of NAILD reflects both respect for its recent history and a clear‑eyed focus on what comes next.
Today, NAILD is no longer associated with the Get‑a‑Grip on Lighting podcast or its longtime co‑hosts, Greg Ehrich and Michael Colligan. That transition matters. However, the context matters even more.
Before looking forward, it is important to acknowledge the past—and to do so positively and accurately.
Giving Credit Where It Is Due
When Greg Ehrich and Michael Colligan stepped in nearly a decade ago, NAILD was struggling. Membership was shrinking. Financial stability was uncertain. In candid conversations with current leadership, one point came through clearly: without Greg and Michael, NAILD likely may not exist today.
They took on risk. They brought energy. Most importantly, they stabilized the organization at a moment when it was close to failing. For that, NAILD leadership is unequivocally grateful.
This recognition is not symbolic. It is foundational. The new direction of NAILD builds on the fact that Greg and Michael kept the association alive long enough for the next evolution to occur.
New Leadership, Shared Purpose
That evolution is now being led by Chad Palmer, Energyficient Systems Inc, and President of NAILD and Bill Hurd, of Lightserve, President-Elect of NAILD.
Both leaders speak candidly about the responsibility they have inherited. They also speak with optimism. The goal is simple but ambitious: strengthen professionalism, rebuild engagement, and position NAILD as a credible, future‑focused resource for innovative lighting distributors.
Importantly, this is not about erasing the past. It is about building on it.
From Survival to Sustainability
For many years, the association’s energy centered on visibility and survival. That approach worked when it needed to. Now, the focus is shifting.
Under the new direction of NAILD, the emphasis is on education, meaningful programming, and long‑term financial health. A new management structure replaces revenue‑sharing models with a flat‑fee approach, allowing more resources to stay within the organization and be reinvested in members.
To support this shift, NAILD has partnered with Amplify, a management firm with deep experience in nonprofit associations. Amplify is the same management company that superbly manages NALMCO.
The goal is consistency, transparency, and credibility.
Redefining the Modern Lighting Distributor
The lighting distributor of 2026 looks very different from the distributor of 2006. LED retrofits, controls, labor coordination, rebates, and energy codes have reshaped the business.
NAILD leadership understands this reality. The new direction of NAILD recognizes that distribution is no longer just stock‑and‑flow. Many members now offer turnkey solutions, often in partnership with electrical contractors. Bill explained, “The NAILD distributor is not competing with the electrical contractor on labor, the distributor is hiring that contractor.” When done correctly, everyone wins—the distributor, the contractor, and the end user.
At the same time, smaller and regional distributors remain central to the association. These companies value face‑to‑face relationships, access to vendors, and education they cannot easily get elsewhere.
That balance matters.
Raising the Bar on Education and Events
NAILD’s annual meeting is becoming a centerpiece of this transition. Tentatively scheduled for late April in the central United States, the 2026 event is being designed to be accessible, relevant, and practical.
Speakers will be chosen for subject‑matter expertise. Sessions will focus on real‑world challenges—controls, labor models, codes, AI tools, and market shifts. The objective is value, not noise.
This approach aligns directly with the new direction of NAILD: fewer distractions, more substance.
Professionalism as a Differentiator
Another important theme is verification. NAILD already turns down prospective members. That practice will continue.
Leadership wants vendors to see NAILD membership as a signal—a confirmation that a distributor is legitimate, engaged, and committed to best practices. In a crowded and sometimes confusing marketplace, that credibility has real value.
It also reinforces NAILD’s role as a steward of the industry.
Looking Ahead to 2027 and Beyond
NAILD will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027. That milestone adds urgency and opportunity.
The new direction of NAILD is not about reinvention for its own sake. It is about relevance. It is about supporting distributors who care about lighting quality, dark skies, controls, and integrity in how products reach the market.
Most of all, it is about building an organization that serves the next generation—while respecting those who ensured it survived long enough to get here.
Greg Ehrich and Michael Colligan played a critical role in that survival. Chad Palmer and Bill Hurd are now focused on what comes next.
In Chad’s words, “NAILD comes from a very long line of traditional lighting distributors, but in the future, traditional is going to be redefined,” underscoring the need to evolve.
Bill offered a candid view of the LED revolution: “Up until about 2010, it was all stock and flow … LEDs came around and we’re not quite to the world where it’s a stock and flow business,” he explained, emphasizing that smart distributors now embrace labor partnerships.
He also reminded members why the annual meeting matters: “A lot of these guys are more local, regional folks … they love going to the convention, not only to learn, but to get the key top vendors in to support the organization.”
The transition is thoughtful. The tone is respectful. And the direction is clear.