Agenda

Christina Halfpenny

Executive Director, CEO

DesignLights Consortium

Executive Director and CEO, Tina drives success through strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and collaboration, and continuous improvement of business systems. Tina arrived at DLC in 2015 with a background in energy policy and program implementation, including chairing the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council as Director of the Energy Efficiency Division at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). She quickly established Efficiency Forward as an independent nonprofit and governance of the DLC with the mission to drive efficiency. Tina embraces the challenges inherent in making complicated lighting solutions simple and accessible and works to identify opportunities for broad scale energy savings and innovation in commercial and industrial buildings and outdoor environments. Prior to DOER, Tina’s extensive energy experience included directing energy efficiency programs for National Grid across its US territory.

David Jacot

AGM & Executive Director of Distributed Energy Solutions

Los Angeles Department Water & Power

David Jacot, P.E., is the AGM & Executive Director of Distributed Energy Solutions (DES) for the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP). DES includes energy efficiency, building electrification, demand response, local solar, and distributed energy storage. LADWP operates the largest public power portfolio of energy efficiency programs in the nation, comprised of a broad array of energy resource acquisition and market transformation programs serving LADWP’s customers and mid/upstream contractor/vendor networks, with a strong emphasis on supporting the Construction Trades wherever possible.  

In this role, David oversees all aspects of LADWP’s offerings and strategies designed to overcome market barriers to the comprehensive adoption of energy efficiency and other distributed energy resources (DER) by LADWP’s customers in order to facilitate LADWP’s transition to a 100% decarbonized grid by 2035. David also oversees the integration of electric, gas, and water efficiency programs through a nation-leading joint program partnership with the natural gas utility serving Los Angeles, the Southern California Gas Company. Finally, David manages LADWP’s energy and water efficiency labs, hand-on demonstration facilities, and emerging technology assessment and commercialization efforts at the La Kretz Innovation Campus, home of the world-renowned Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator.

David has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University – Pomona, as well as 20+ years of experience designing high performance building systems, optimizing building energy usage, and managing cost-effective and investment-grade demand-side resource programs.

Stuart Berjansky

Technical Director

Designlights Consortium

With over 30 years in the lighting industry, including roles in sales, product management and solutions architecture for a major manufacturer, Stuart Berjansky provides technical direction for the DLC’s mission to advance widespread adoption of high-performing commercial lighting solutions. The opportunity to combine his professional experience with his personal quest for a better environment attracted Stuart to the DLC, where he has guided development of technical requirements in the Solid-State Lighting, Networked Lighting Controls and Horticultural Lighting programs since 2020. 

Martin Mercier P.Eng

Strategic Marketing Manager

IoT and Connected systems for Cooper Lighting Solutions

Martin Mercier P.Eng is a Strategic Marketing Manager for IoT and Connected systems for Cooper Lighting Solutions, a division of Signify (formerly known as Philips Lighting) a global lighting manufacturer leading the lighting industry revolution into IoT-driven solutions and renewable energy lighting. Before Martin was a senior product manager for advanced lighting technology systems for the Americas for 8 years with Signify. Since his early days in R&D, he contributed to develop and launch the patented first Philips Lighting LED light engine plate-form deployed in multiple brands and manufacturing sites across the Americas. Shortly after he helped to bring successfully to market early cloud-based technology lighting systems for public and private customers in the Americas. His insights and ideas helped to strengthen the overall effort in pioneering new technologies for Signify and the lighting industry in general bringing problem-solving solutions for our smart city and smart building customers.

Mehdi Shafaghi, LC, PE

Electrical Engineering Associate

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, DLC Member

Mehdi Shafaghi holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in state of California. He is also certified as an Acceptance Test Technician (ATT) and holds Lighting Certification (LC) from the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP). Mehdi began his career in lighting in 2007 with the City of Los Angeles as a lighting design engineer. Since 2008, he has also played a key role in providing engineering support for all LADWP lighting incentive programs, contributing to energy-efficient lighting initiatives across the city. Since 2016, he has been overseeing the Lighting Laboratory at LADWP’s La Kretz Innovation Campus, where he has been managing evaluations and testing of lighting and controls technologies and supporting sustainable energy solutions. 

Rachel Singleton 

Energy, Sustainability, and Innovation Engineer

CEM

Rachel Singleton joined CSUN in May 2023 as the Energy, Sustainability and Innovation Engineer. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. focused on Manufacturing and Material Science from CSU Sacramento and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). At CSUN, Rachel focuses on reducing campus energy consumption, advancing energy compliance, and implementing innovative energy-efficiency solutions. She helped implement HVAC optimization technology at Lilac Hall, resulting in energy savings of nearly 40%. Following that success, Rachel expanded the technology to CSUN’s Sustainability Center, helping the building return to net-zero energy performance after several years of falling short of that goal, and to Goodman Hall to improve building performance and help address student comfort concerns. Her work continues to focus on using data, technology, and engineering solutions to improve building performance and advance CSUN’s energy and sustainability goals.

Jerry Drew

CEO & Founder

Network Thermostat

Jerry Drew is the founder and CEO of Network Thermostat, where he has developed connected HVAC controls for more than 30 years. He brought the company’s first communicating thermostats to market in 1995 and now leads its product strategy, engineering, and work to integrate lighting and HVAC controls.

Jerry served as a principal thermostat-manufacturer participant in the DesignLights Consortium’s NLC Thermostat Integration Working Group and led development of the first DLC NLC-compliant thermostat. He brings a manufacturer’s perspective to using lighting-system occupancy data to reduce HVAC energy use in small and medium commercial buildings. His earlier leadership roles include CEO of Robertshaw Climate and co-founder of HVAC zoning-controls manufacturer XCI Controls.

Levin Nock

Senior Technical Manager

Designlights Consortium

Levin Nock researches and develops new policies for the Networked Lighting Controls (NLC) and LUNA programs using the DLC’s stakeholder engagement process. He came to the DLC in 2016 eager to help develop and launch the NLC Qualified Products List as a new way to support energy savings across North America and values knowing that his work contributes to solutions to both the climate crisis and diminishing dark skies. Prior to the DLC, Levin managed research on energy efficient LED lighting and lighting controls at Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon. His experience also includes analyzing commercial building energy efficiency at an national research firm and positions in R & D at a large controls manufacturer and various startups. A member of the Illuminating Engineering Society and the ANSI 137 Lighting Systems Committee, Levin holds a biomedical engineering PhD in adaptive imaging from Duke University, a Bachelor’s degree in physics from Cornell University, and a Sustainable Building Advisor certificate from Seattle Central Community College.

Angela Pilant

Senior Energy Specialist / Program Manager

Evergreen Energy Partners

Angela is a Lighting Certified (LC) professional with more than 28 years of experience in commercial lighting, controls, and energy efficiency. Her background spans utility program implementation, manufacturer representation, and consulting, providing a unique perspective on advancing energy-efficient technologies from specification through installation. Since joining Evergreen Energy Partners in 2009, Angela has led market transformation initiatives, developed utility education and training programs, and collaborated with manufacturers, distributors, contractors, designers, and utilities to accelerate the adoption of advanced lighting and controls. She is focused on translating technical concepts into practical strategies that help industry professionals confidently specify and implement advanced lighting & control systems.

Amy Stacy

Regional Vice President

Autani

Amy Stacy is an accomplished smart-building leader with more than 19 years of industry expertise spanning U.S. and global markets. As Regional Vice President at Autani, Amy is at the forefront of leveraging disruptive technologies to transform traditional environments into energy-efficient, intelligent spaces. She leads strategic planning and oversees the implementation of IoT-enabled solutions that enhance workplace experiences, improve operational efficiency, and support sustainability goals. 

Amy’s commitment to innovation and sustainability is reflected in her passion for cloud-based IoT platforms, digital twins, and advanced workplace technologies that are reshaping how buildings are managed and experienced. 

With a proven track record of success, Amy held leadership roles at Enlighted, a Siemens company, where she expanded the market for IoT and smart-building technologies. She also served as Vice President at LED Light Technology, leading initiatives to convert commercial and industrial facilities to LED systems and deliver substantial energy savings. 

A recognized industry expert, Amy brings a practical, market-informed perspective on the future of smart buildings, digital transformation, and the technologies shaping a more sustainable and intelligent built environment. 

Jill Carpenter

PhD student, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA

Ari Isaak

Founder

EvariLABS

Ari Isaak spent 25 years as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professional and came to lighting through asset management. He founded Evari Consulting in 2011, just as LED conversion was beginning, and led field operations and data management on large street lighting conversion projects including Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Philadelphia and Boston. Ari worked alongside lighting designers to determine which luminaire would be installed at each location. In 2024 he stepped away to start EvariLABS, which builds civil lighting design software for street networks rather than one design at a time. Its first product, EvariLUX, has run photometric calculations on approximately 290,000 street lights. He holds two issued U.S. patents, is a GISP and CFLC, and serves on the IES Roadway Lighting Committee.

Sara Nonaka

Senior Associate

LUMA Lighting Design

Sara is passionate about all aspects of lighting, starting with her experience as a lighting researcher on the effects of light and circadian rhythms. This led her to focus on how light directly impacts the architectural experience. Her current interests include minimizing light pollution, creating energy-conscious solutions, and streamlining the design process. Sara has worked on projects ranging from commercial offices and civic buildings, to stadiums and high-rise residential buildings, to healthcare facilities.

Leora Radetsky

Technical Director

Designlights Consortium

With over 20 years of experience in the lighting industry, Senior Lighting Scientist Leora Radetsky provides lighting science input for the DLC’s technical requirements. Drawn by a desire to make a difference in the industry through market transformation, Leora came to the DLC with experience as a research scientist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s (RPI) Lighting Research Center and director of customer education at a prominent lighting software company. Leora counts the ability to work on myriad aspects of lighting and energy projects as the most rewarding part of her DLC position. A recipient of an Illumination Engineering Society (IES) Regional Technical Award from the Northeast region, Leora is also Lighting Certified by the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions, and a member of IES and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. In addition to a Master’s degree in Lighting from RPI, Leora holds a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering with an Emphasis in Illumination from the University of Colorado.

Sarah Evans

Energy Efficiency Program Manager

DNV

Sarah Evans is a Program Manager at DNV leading one of the largest midstream energy efficiency programs in the country. She’s worked with and for distributors for 14 years before consulting.  Sarah currently works closely with more than 150 distributors, along with manufacturers, contractors, utilities, and customers to bring energy-efficient technologies to market. Sarah also led DNV’s innovation initiative focused on integrating lighting controls into the midstream channel, helping transform how advanced solutions reach customers. Passionate about collaboration and market transformation, she enjoys finding practical ways to connect the entire supply chain to drive greater energy savings and program success. 

Ed McGlynn

Senior Manager, Commercial Market Deployment

Center for Energy and Environment (CEE)

Ed McGlynn is Senior Manager of Commercial Market Deployment at the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE). He works to break down market barriers and speed up adoption of energy-efficient and carbon-reducing technologies. He leads CEE’s commercial Market Deployment team and guides strategy, process alignment and implementation across a portfolio of initiatives. Ed has more than 30 years of experience in the energy and utility industries, with a focus on integrated energy solutions for commercial and industrial buildings. Before joining CEE, he held leadership roles at several national implementation contractors, where he developed market strategies and advanced energy efficiency and climate programs.

Dan Mellinger

Principal

Energy Futures Group

Dan Mellinger specializes in the design, planning, and administration of energy efficiency programs. He has 20+ years of experience in the policy and administration of demand-side management (DSM) goal setting, program design, market potential studies, technology assessments, and TRM development. Dan has delivered and defended expert regulatory testimony across multiple states on DSM multi-year plans and energy efficiency potential. He has designed, advised, and administered industry-leading commercial lighting programs, including pioneering work in networked lighting controls. He received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University, is a licensed Professional Engineer, is a Certified Energy Manager, and is Lighting Certified.

Rita A. Renner

Consultant

Seasoned in cleantech and energy efficiency, Rita has held senior marketing and outreach positions in the lighting controls industry, both as in-house staff and as a consultant, including WattStopper, Echelon and mwConnect. Prior to her 25+ years in the lighting industry, she worked in the energy field during the exciting post-1995 Electricity Mega-NOPR years for clients including EPRI, Rocky Mountain Institute, and the California ISO. In addition to marketing and market development expertise, she is skilled in industry outreach activities, including collaborative programs with R&D and codes and standards organizations, and educational programs with industry NGOs. Rita has a B.A. summa cum laude from Mount Mary College and a J.D. cum laude from Santa Clara University School of Law.

She has presented at numerous industry conferences, including LEDucation, Lightfair, Strategies in Light, Lightshow West, and West Coast EMC.

Brenda Puckett

Vice President of Sales

FSG California

Brenda Puckett is Vice President of Sales for FSG California, bringing experience in lighting distribution, customer relationships, and commercial lighting solutions. Previously, she served as President of West-Lite Supply, a second-generation family business that served California’s lighting market for more than four decades before joining Facility Solutions Group in 2023. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Innovative Lighting Distributors (NAILD).

Working with property owners, facility teams, and industry partners, Brenda brings a practical perspective on how customers evaluate and adopt lighting upgrades. For the next generation of lighting programs, she emphasizes connecting evolving technology and program requirements with customer priorities, including affordability, ease of implementation, operational needs, and long-term value.

Tyson Taussig

Lighting Specialist

Broken Arrow Electric Supply

Tyson Taussig is a lighting specialist and energy professional based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With almost 20 years of experience in energy efficiency, project sales, and sustainable design, he currently serves as a Lighting Specialist at Broken Arrow Electric Supply, where he manages audits, quotations, and project delivery from start to finish. 

Tyson has been recognized nationally as the Regional Energy Manager of the Year at the AEE World Conference. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Energy Engineers of Oklahoma (AEEOK) and recently completed a two-year term as the organization’s President. Beyond his professional work, Tyson has also contributed to the renewable energy community as a past president of the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council and as host of the podcast Watt’s Up, Oklahoma? At home, Tyson’s greatest joy comes from life with his wife and their young children. His blend of professional expertise and personal energy makes him a trusted collaborator and a dedicated advocate for sustainable solutions.