CE Pro May 2023 - 22

Lighting
FIXTURES | CONTROLS | MOTORIZED SHADES
CE Pro's new Lighting department
will cover architectural downlights,
linear, accent, specialty track,
landscape, small aperture,
decorative categories, as
well as lighting design
concepts and
advice.
Lightapalooza
Sequel Outshines
Original Hit Show
Second-year event draws 700+ to
Phoenix to delve into lighting design,
fixture selection, and how to develop
solid business models. By Jason Knott
IF LIGHTAPALOOZA 2023
is any indication, more
integrators than ever are
" seeing the light " in regard
to the potential business
benefits of specifying and
installing lighting fixtures
for their clients. Indeed, the
second annual Lightapalooza
event, held in late
February in Glendale, Ariz.,
attracted more than triple
the number of attendees
compared to its inaugural
conference last year.
More than 700 industry
professionals packed into
the Renaissance Phoenix
Glendale Hotel & Spa for
three-and-a-half days of
intense lighting business
education and product
training. The event was a
mix of in-depth multiday
training courses, expert
panel discussions, and a
trade show. Lightapalooza
is the brainchild of Tom
Doherty, special project
coordinator for the Home
Technology Specialists of
America (HTSA) buying
group. Doherty, with the
22 | CE Pro May 2023
support of HTSA executive
director Jon Robbins and
the board of directors, conceived
of a focused event
on the blossoming category
of lighting fixtures.
Last year's inaugural event
in Dallas was put together
quickly, but still drew more
than a dozen sponsors and
more than 200 attendees.
For 2023, the team had
one year to plan and the
results did not disappoint.
It is important to note that
the conference is not solely
an HTSA event, but is open
to any custom integration
professional. This year's
Phoenix event drew buying
group members from HTSA,
ProSource, Azione Unlimited,
Nationwide Marketing
Group along with unaffiliated
dealers.
Attendees had the opportunity
to participate in
several multipart sessions
covering lighting layout by
Peter Romaniello of Conceptual
Lighting, lighting design
by David Warfel of Light Can
Help You, and landscape
Lightapalooza is the brainchild of Tom Doherty, special projects
coordinator at HTSA. Look for coverage of education
sessions in the CE Pro Lighting Deep Dive later in 2023.
lighting by noted designer
and author Jan Moyer.
The keynote was given
by Warfel and sponsored
by WAC Lighting/AiSPiRE.
Warfel told attendees that
lighting " changes everything "
about a custom
integrator's business
because it not only brings
in new potential clients
that would not have otherwise
engaged with the
traditional AV dealer, but
because it also brings an
additive sale to existing AV
clients who will now buy
lighting fixtures.
" Lighting gives you
the opportunity to grow
your business while other
integrators who are not
doing lighting will see their
business potentially follow
the general economy and be
down, " he notes. " If lighting
fixtures are a disruptive
technology, then you need
to act quickly. "
Key sessions at the
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http://www.cepro.com
CE Pro May 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CE Pro May 2023
