Lighting Manufacturers and Distributors

Rep Agencies - Lighting Design - ESCO's

Lighting Industry Hiring Trends: Q4 Update

The Rise of the “Doers” and What It Means for 2026

 As we enter the final quarter of the year, one thing is clear: The lighting industry is finding its rhythm again. After a slow and cautious first half, the market has shifted gears. Companies that pressed pause on hiring early in the year are now reengaging and this time, they’re hiring with intent.

At Egret Consulting, we’re seeing a clear change in tone across the industry. Manufacturers, reps, distributors, and design firms alike are moving from “wait and see” to “plan and act.” The focus is no longer on maintaining stability; it’s on building capacity for the next growth cycle.

A Market Reawakening

 In Q1 and Q2, hiring activity was stagnant. Searches were delayed or shelved, and leadership teams were cautious about adding headcount in the face of economic uncertainty. But by late summer, momentum began to return. Quietly at first, and now with measurable confidence.

This resurgence suggests that companies are already looking ahead to 2026. They understand that waiting to hire means risking a talent shortfall when demand accelerates. Forward-thinking organizations are acting now to make sure they have the right people in place for what’s next.

The “Doer” Generation of Hiring

 What’s most interesting about this rebound isn’t just that companies are hiring again…it’s who they’re hiring. The spotlight has shifted away from executive-level additions and toward the professionals who make the business run day to day.

These are the problem-solvers, the project drivers, the engineers, and salespeople who turn ideas into outcomes. Companies are prioritizing execution over expansion. Impact over hierarchy.

The most in-demand positions right now include:

Candidates Interested in New Opportunities!

Contact Jacque Nelson at jq@egretconsulting.com regarding the candidate below:

Quotations / Project Manager

A talented Quotations Specialist and Project Manager with nearly a decade of experience with the same electrical distributor on the East Coast is seeking a new challenge. She has managed every stage of the bidding & order process—from reviewing specifications and construction drawings to developing profitable quotes, coordinating with manufacturers and rep agencies, and overseeing multiple projects simultaneously, often valued at $200K or more. She has a keen attention to detail, strong vendor and contractor relationships, and a proven ability to resolve issues quickly.

Please connect with us and follow our content on LinkedIn!

Brooke Ziolo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lightingrecruiter/

Jim McGregor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mcgregor/

Jacque Nelson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquenelson1//

Rob Wieka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robwieska/

Colin Wieka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-wieska/

Click on the links below to get more information on these

job opportunities!

Project Manager – Dallas TX, 5400

Field Service Technician – Dallas TX – 5406

Regional Sales Manager – California – 5460

National Accounts Manager – Nationwide – 5462

Business Development Manager – Western US – 5474

Account Manager – CT – 5477

Quotations – Chesapeake VA – 5485

Outside Specification Sales – Chesapeake VA – 5486

Outside Sales / Business Development Leader Lighting & Energy Solutions – USA – 5491

Regional Sales Manager – East – 5492

Lighting Industry Job Moves and Promotions!

Job Moves

Abraham Benguigui - Outside Sales Representative, Power & Lighting Systems, Inc.

Alvaro Pena - Quotations Specialist, FRM Lighting & Controls

Amber Endy - Regional Sales Manager, MaxLite

Andrew Bunker - Managing Director EMEA, Luminii

Andy Chronister - Director of New Product Development, OCL Architectural Lighting

Andy Miles - Director of Sales & Marketing, ANP Lighting

Ashley Smith - National Account Sales Manager, Cooper Lighting

Birgit Collins - Regional Sales Manager, Artemide North America

Brian Reagan - Regional Sales Manager, Valmont Industries, Inc. 

Cari Rosendahl - Director of Product Management, Smart Lighting, GE Lighting

Carrie Rayke - Vice President of Operations, KORE Lighting and Controls

Chad Kulesza - National Sales Manager, Quorum Lighting

Claudia Capraru - Senior Electrical Designer, Goodwyn Mills Cawood

Dan Scullion - Outside Sales Representative, Lightspec

Dylan Dedrick - Regional Sales Manager, Current Lighting

Gene Lindemann - Vice President of Business Development, Keystone Technologies

Gregory Usilton - Account Executive, Bay Lighting

Jake Jeroszko - Distribution / Outside Sales, FRM Lighting & Controls

Jason Ventetuolo - COO, AYO Lighting

Javier Benitez Salazar - Engineering Manager, WE-EF Lighting, USA

Jennifer Osborne - Order Entry / Submittals, Lightspec

Jeremy Osborne - Outside Sales Representative, Lightspec

John Barnett - Architectural Sales Manager East, Auroralight

Joseph Bailey - Field Services Engineer, Lighting Associates

Karyn Hayes - National Key Accounts Manager, Quorum Lighting

Kenneth Noll - Vice President - Strategic Partnerships NY / NJ, Illuminico

Kevin Ensign - Regional Sales Manager, Specialty Lighting Industries

Klysha Carson Ross - Executive Administrator and PM, IEEE Power & Energy Society

Leslie Armitage - Specification Sales, Triple C Companies

Mark Bryan - VP, Strategy and Sales, Solis Lighting & Electrical Services

Mark Lewandowski - Sales & Project Manager, FTS Lighting Services

Mia Gronemeyer - Lighting Designer, FRM Lighting & Controls

Mike Perakis - Operations Coordinator, SAGE Brands

Mike Collins - Sales Manager, FRM Lighting & Controls

Morganlee McGrath - Specification Sales, ASI Lighting

Patrick Heckman - Midwest Regional Sales Manager, EiKO

Paul Teague - Eastern RSM, Rayhil

Phillip Semaan - Sales Manager, Diversified Group

Rachel Duncan - Strategic Projects - Specification Sales, Lighting Associates, Inc. 

Rich Bernhardt - National Sales Director, Eran Group

Richard Fisher - Sr. Specification Sales, St. Louis Lighting Group

Sarah Murphy - Central Regional Sales Manager, ETI Lighting

Scarlet Deahl - Vice President, Finance, Total Electrical Performance - TEP

Simon Marois - Specifications/Projects Manager & National Accounts, LEDVANCE

Spenser Schafer - Support & Training Manager, ilumento

Tom Nash - VP Product Development, Bulbrite

Vivianne Vianna - Regional Design Director, MRD Lighting

Will Parrish - Inside Sales, FRM Lighting & Controls

Promotions

Charlene D’Souza - VP of Juno, Strips, Wraps, Acuity

Chris Udall - Sr. Director - Product Management, Lutron Electronics

Cliff Gilbert - Principal, Illuminate

Denis Lavoie - VP/GM, Cyclone/Eureka/Hydrel/Luminis

Dominique Davis - Vice President and General Manager, Acuity

Gene Lindemann - VP Business Development, Keystone Technologies

Greg Smidt - Territory Sales Manager, Musco Lighting

James Morgan - Director of Systems Integration, Hossley Lighting and Power Solutions

John Weidner - Vice President of Engineering, Kurtzon Lighting

Kandy Welch - Senior Healthcare Solutions Manager, Acuity

Kevin Ruzicka - VP of Sales, Marketing and Product Development, Shat-R-Shield Lighting

Marc Reasor - SE Regional Manager- Infrastructure Sales, Cooper Lighting Solutions

Miri Kuykendall - Knowledge Content Senior Manager, Acuity

Nelson Wesley - President at JSI Store Fixtures & EMI Industries, LSI Industries

Nick Irwin - Lighting Consultant, Power Design

Olivia Clark - Sales Representative, Lutron Electronics

Rachel Hicks - Product Portfolio Consulting Director, Acuity

Sahil Lotia - Associate, Mulvey & Banani Lighting

Simon Marois - Specifications/Projects Manager & National Accounts, LEDVANCE

Taylor Jacobs - Vice President of Sales, Product Strategy, Luminii

Tony Phillips - VP Sales Commercial & Industrial, Cree Lighting

Willie Huggins - Director of Sales, LUX Illuminaire

Brooke Ziolo

President / Executive Recruiter

Brooke has been recruiting in the lighting industry since 2008. Her expertise includes recruiting in lighting manufacturing, lighting design, ESCO’s and rep agencies with positions ranging from mid-level to C-Suite / Executive level in sales, marketing, engineering, operations, product management, lighting design, etc. Brooke is also a member of the IALD Affiliate, IES, WILD, NAILD, NAED and The Pinnacle Society.

847.307.7127

bz@egretconsulting.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lightingrecruiter/

Rob Wieska

Executive Recruiter / EVP

Rob’s expertise at Egret Consulting is Power Distribution (hardware products plus associated controls and software), Automation Technologies (including generation products, smart grid, building automation (including HVAC and lighting controls manufacturers) and Renewables (including wind, solar, battery / energy storage, EV charging, microgrid applications) and other emerging technologies.

847.307.7129

rw@egretconsulting.com

www.linkedin.com/in/robwieska

Colin Wieska

Executive Recruiter

Colin focuses on Cybersecurity, Controls, Embedded Software, IoT and IIoT Technologies. In addition, Colin works in Power Distribution, Automation and Controls.   His educational background had an emphasis on cybersecurity, programming, data science, data structures, and statistics. This allows Colin to have a technical understanding of providing talent acquisition solutions while understanding the applications needed for success.

847-327-0018

cw@egretconsulting.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-wieska/