The final installment of Paul Pompeo’s 25 Most Influential People in Lighting series explores how 19 industry leaders believe lighting should be valued, from human health to architecture and environmental sustainability. Sonepar restructures its U.S. operations from three regions to two, and the Light Middle East Awards announce 59 finalists with winners to be celebrated 14 January in Dubai.

Randy attends a 200-plus person celebration for Domingo Gonzalez’s firm’s 40th anniversary and sits down with him to talk early years, mentors, and why technique matters more than technology. Team members share what it’s like working at DGA, and the IESNYC Merit Scholarship celebrates a decade of supporting emerging professionals, including current section president Zachary Pearson.

On Veterans Day, Sonepar highlights more than 680 veteran hires, six employer honors, and free LED upgrades for 14 VFW posts nationwide. Lepro disputes Signify’s supplemental damages and royalty demands following the $410,544 verdict and plans to appeal, and LEDucation 2027 launches the LEDawards, recognizing innovative products across 13 application categories.

Randy reports from Phoenix after attending the IES Board of Directors meeting, where he came away confident in the society’s strategic plan and global influence. Orion Energy Systems posts a 9% revenue increase to $21.7 million in Q2 FY2027 on 40% LED growth, and WAC Architectural introduces FUEGO Compact, an in-ground outdoor luminaire with IP68 protection.

Randy reports from the New York Stock Exchange after one of the darkest days for the market in memory, with the NASDAQ down around 5%. Dallas Market Center posts a 3% rise in buyer attendance with first-time buyers up 24.4%, Alliance Lighting names Marissa Klink Principal and Equity Partner, and DMF Lighting’s True 1 one-inch aperture downlight is now shipping.

A federal judge appoints William B. Dyer III as special master in the Signify–ETI patent litigation to oversee discovery and pretrial disputes. Signify seeks to triple ongoing royalty rates in its Lepro case, though potential recovery remains well below its requested legal fees, and Linda Farha explores how manufacturers can win specifications as hybrid work reshapes designer relationships.

Seoul Semiconductor affiliate Seoul Viosys begins mass production of WICOP 3, a white micro LED technology that eliminates rare earth materials and traditional packaging — a potential game-changer for manufacturing costs and future applications. Glamox appoints Jon Ringvold as CFO effective no later than 1 February, and ZHA’s immersive Take a Moment installation at LiGHT 26 explores climate volatility through three chambers representing drought, flooding, and hurricanes.

Acuity reaches a definitive agreement to acquire Perimeter Technologies — a data center leak detection company with $100M in annual sales — for $675 million. Brandon Industries partners with British manufacturer C.U. Phosco to expand U.S. access to roadway and infrastructure lighting, already supporting a project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and HLW appoints Fantina Barrera as Director of Spark Studio Lighting Design.

Artika fires back at Signify, alleging Philips Hue products infringe two patents in a two-way patent battle. An Oxford-led analysis of 50 lighting projects finds 74% achieved financial benefits through circular approaches, and Available Light names Matt Zelkowitz as CEO effective 1 January following founder Steven Rosen’s retirement.

DALI Part 151 establishes surge protection requirements for connected outdoor lighting controls, with TE Connectivity’s LUMAWISE Endurance bridge assembly as an early certified example. NeoCon opens its 2027 Call for Programming on 28 October with new lighting opportunities through Illuminate at NeoCon, and Dauer Manufacturing introduces Morpheus — a landscape fixture with a patent-pending liquid crystal lens offering 10,000+ beam configurations via app.