IES Detroit

IES Detroit Follow this page for events, news, and everything Detroit Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society.

We are the Detroit based section of the Illuminating Engineering Society, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to all aspects of the ART and SCIENCE of ILLUMINATION. The IES is the recognized technical authority on illumination. For over a century its objective has been to communicate information on all aspects of good lighting practice to its members, to the lighting community, and to consumer

s through a variety of programs, publications and services. The strength of the IES is its diversified membership consisting of: engineers, architects, designers, educators, students, contractors, distributors, utility personnel, manufacturers, and scientists, all contributing to the mission of the society: to advance knowledge and disseminate information of the improvement of the lighted environment to the benefit of society. The IES is a forum for the exchange of ideas and information and a vehicle for its members' professional development and recognition. Through its committees, with hundreds of qualified members from the lighting and user communities, the IES correlates research, investigations, and discussions to guide lighting experts and laypersons via consensus-based lighting recommendations. SECTION OFFICERS
President: Michelle Prew, Cooper Lighting
Vice President: Marc Dyble, Acuity Brands
Secretary: Keith Irtenkauf, Pro-Tech Lighting
Treasurer: Robert White, Illuminart
Immediate Past President: Elizabeth Williams, Illuminart
Midwest Regional Director: Kelly O'Connor, SourceBlue LLC

PROGRAM CHAIRS
Golf Outing and Product Show: Michelle Prew, Cooper Lighting
Illumination Awards: David Pauwels, Gasser Bush Associates
Communications: Ron Steen, Lightheaded Lighting
Social Media/Website: Stacey Schwartz, Osborn Lighting Studio
Education: Nicholas Furgason, Integrated Design Solutions
Membership: Patrice Henderson, Osborn Lighting Studio
Emerging Professionals and Swag: Drew Barnes, Gasser Bush Associates

BOARD MEMBER
Eric Graettinger, Peter Basso Associates

04/08/2026

We are pleased to announce our May Virtual IES Detroit meeting! Ardra Zinkon, Illuminating "Current".

Created by world- renowned sculptor Janet Echelman, “Current” stretches an impressive 229’ across a busy downtown intersection in Columbus, Ohio. This is a permanent installation and is unique in it’s location. This session will focus on the challenges and solutions developed to illuminate the art piece within a challenging environment including historic building locations, city officials and a tight timeline. The session will explore the design process, dissect the construction challenges, examine the sequencing and programming and asses the final installation.

Learning Objectives:
Attendees will explore the collaboration of the unique project and understand the teaming required.
Attendees will be able to describe the challenges when working with historic building allowances.
Attendees will analyze the controls strategy utilized on the project based on the challenging location.
Attendees will be able to identify design process, staging and install of a complex public outdoor project.

Presenter: Ardra Zinkon, CLD, IALD
Ardra Paige Zinkon is the President of Zinkon Creative Studio, a lighting and technology design firm located in Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Zinkon is recognized as a Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) by the Certified Lighting Design Commission and is a Professional member of the IALD.
Ms. Zinkon is also an active member of the IES where she contributes to the following committees to maintain her expertise in the industry: IoT Connected Lighting Committee (Co-Chair)and the IES Progress Report Committee. Ms. Zinkon regularly serves as a guest lecturer at the Ohio State University in the Theatre, Architecture and Interior Design Departments. Her expertise within the lighting industry is regularly sought out, she has presented at Lightfair International, IALD Enlighten Americas Conference, IES Annual Conference, NeoCon, and NeoCon East and GovEnergy.

See you May 12, at 12PM EST. Event registration is opening soon!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/raxqca2/lp/552436ae-3c8c-4152-a4ce-7cc50f6d4b94

04/01/2026

Did you attend our EP Event at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park? Check out what our amazing EP's had to say about what their favorite things about the IES are!

IES Detroit Virtual April event is live! Featuring Outdoor Sports Lighting Essentials with Chris Nolan.With demand for o...
03/24/2026

IES Detroit Virtual April event is live! Featuring Outdoor Sports Lighting Essentials with Chris Nolan.

With demand for outdoor sports facilities at an all-time high, effective lighting solutions are essential for extending play, maximizing field usage, and ensuring safe, enjoyable experiences for players and spectators alike.
Through this course, we will explore the latest advancements in LED luminaires and advanced lighting controls, learn key design principles for a wide range of outdoor sports applications, and understand how local codes and regulations influence project decisions. Attendees will also discover how proper installation and maintenance practices impact system performance, longevity, and user satisfaction.
From municipal fields to institutional facilities, this course provides the technical insight and practical guidance needed to capture opportunities in one of the largest—and often overlooked—segments of the sports lighting market.

Chris Nolan is Vice President of Engineering at Acuity Brands and co-founder of M3 Innovation, a sports lighting technology company acquired in 2025. He was also an early member of the leadership team at Ephesus Lighting, which pioneered the adoption of LED sports lighting and was acquired by Cooper Lighting. An industry leader since 2010, Chris has authored multiple patents in LED system design and contributes to specification development as a member of the IES Sports Lighting Committee. 💡

Get your tickets🎫 here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/zqpr5r8/lp/40dbe0ad-e74c-40ae-adfb-a6bec1e5c8d3

03/13/2026

Time to kick off Spring with our IES Detroit EP Event!
Dominate the adrenaline rush with a non-stop 2-hour blitz of High-Speed Go Karting, Racing sims and Virtual Reality Fun at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park in Novi.

Not only will there be the thrill of the racing, but there will also be food and drink and prizes. Most importantly though, there will be the opportunity for the Emerging Professionals in the Detroit Lighting industry to network amongst your peers and other members of the IES Detroit Section. Food starts at 5pm, fun starts at 6pm!

Registration Fees:

NO COST for Emerging Professional IES Members
$25 for IES Members
$40 for Non-Members

Tickets are limited, get yours here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/2p359ee
Please sign up by 3/20!!!

03/11/2026

What do the manufacturers love about the Detroit IES Product Show?

It’s a great chance to talk about new projects, share ideas, and show
off some of the latest lighting innovations, all in one place.

A big thank you to all of the manufacturers who participated and
helped make this year’s show such a success!


03/10/2026

The best part of the Detroit IES Product Show?

From discovering the latest lighting innovations and seeing fixtures
side-by-side, to sharing knowledge across generations and
reconnecting with friends across the industry—there’s nothing like
having the whole lighting community in one room.

And yes… the dessert table might deserve its own spotlight 🍰


03/09/2026

Just last week, over 800 people joined us for the Detroit IES
Product Show, and what a night it was 🎉

Great conversations, incredible products, plenty of desserts!

Thanks to everyone who joined us and helped make it such
a fun night for the Detroit lighting community.


03/09/2026

Thanks for joining us for the 2026 IES Detroit Product Show last week! Here's a sneak peek of the fun—more to come!

Hello Spring! We are pleased to be holding the first EP event of the year at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park in Novi.Domin...
03/03/2026

Hello Spring! We are pleased to be holding the first EP event of the year at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park in Novi.

Dominate the adrenaline rush with a non-stop 2-hour blitz of High-Speed Go Karting, Racing sims and Virtual Reality Fun at Full Throttle Adrenaline Park in Novi.

Not only will there be the thrill of the racing, but there will also be food and drink and prizes. Most importantly though, there will be the opportunity for the Emerging Professionals in the Detroit Lighting industry to network amongst your peers and other members of the IES Detroit Section.

Get your ticket here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/2p359ee

02/27/2026

Join us on Thursday, March 19, 2026 for Light For Life®: Controls, a one-day virtual symposium exploring how lighting control strategies shape spaces that are adaptive, energy-efficient, and visually engaging. Participants will receive four (4) IES continuing education credits (CEUs). Register today at ies.org/lightforlife

Presentations curated to cover:
🔹 Smarter controls, connected systems, and data‑driven automation
🔹 AI in next-generation lighting controls
🔹 Advancing sequences of operations and design intent narratives
🔹 Incorporating wireless controls
🔹 Integration across devices and protocols

Attendees who join us live will receive a 25% discount on three IES standards to learn more about lighting controls concepts in practice: Lighting Control Systems – Properties, Selection, and Specification (ANSI/IES LP-6-25), Documenting Control Intent Narratives and Sequences of Operations (ANSI/IES LP-16-22), and upcoming revision to IoT Connected Lighting (BSR/IES LP-12) upon publication. They will also receive complimentary access to the online recording approximately 2 weeks following the live event.

😄😄😄
02/26/2026

😄😄😄

02/25/2026

Free Headshots at the IES Product Show!

Come check out the latest lighting innovations, connect with industry pros, and leave with a fresh photo that’s ready for your LinkedIn, company bio, or wherever you want to shine.

Laurel Manor | Livonia, MI
March 5, 2026
3:00-8:00 PM

Free headshots. Great networking. Even better lighting.

Register now (link in bio)

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Detroit, MI

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