At LEDucation 2026, I spoke with Pierre Legare, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Leviton, about where the company is finding opportunity despite ongoing market pressure.

While the broader lighting market continues to face delays and cautious spending, Legare said there is still strong activity in the pipeline. According to him, the challenge is often not a lack of projects, but the time it takes for final approvals and projects to move forward.

Advanced Manufacturing Creates New Demand

One of the fastest-growing opportunities for Leviton has been advanced manufacturing environments.

Legare pointed to clean rooms, pharmaceutical labs, and chip manufacturing facilities as markets where Leviton’s portfolio is particularly well suited. These highly specialized environments require dependable, performance-driven lighting solutions, making them a strong fit for the company’s capabilities.

Strong Agent Relationships Remain Key

Leviton continues to rely on its national agent network to build relationships and serve customers in local markets.

Legare explained that while the company often develops direct relationships with end users, agents remain essential to service, support, and long-term customer success. This combination allows Leviton to better understand customer needs while maintaining strong market coverage.

Millions of Retrofit Opportunities Still Ahead

Another major focus for Leviton is the ongoing transition from fluorescent lighting to LED.

Legare noted that millions of fluorescent fixtures remain installed, especially in office environments, and many property owners are seeking easier upgrade paths that avoid costly full replacements. Leviton has developed solutions that simplify these retrofits while minimizing disruption.

The Industry Returns to Quality of Light

As LED technology matures, Legare believes customer priorities are shifting.

He said lighting decisions are no longer centered only on lumens and watts. Instead, specifiers and end users are placing greater value on aesthetics, architecture, and overall quality of light. It is a change he sees as positive for the industry.

The Advantage of Scale and Agility

Legare described Leviton as benefiting from the best of both worlds.

Backed by the strength and trust of the larger Leviton brand, the lighting business is still able to remain nimble and responsive. He said that flexibility helps the company create tailored solutions rather than simply offering standard products.

Strong Energy at LEDucation 2026

Legare also praised the energy of LEDucation 2026, highlighting the steady flow of customers and project discussions throughout the show.

He specifically credited strong partner engagement and the ability to connect directly with customers who had active opportunities to discuss. For Leviton, it was another productive year at one of the lighting industry’s most important events.