May 2011 - Illuminating Engineering Society

LETTERS
future date must be achievable.
• Create an action plan. Include clear
steps between today and the date of
the goal. I would expect an action plan
would include very specific tasks, for
example, go to the Annual Conference;
attend an awards program and note
the characteristics of award-winning
designs; meet experts in the field of
interest; and learn how to network better—the
list will be varied.
Experienced people lead companies
and the industry; we need to support the
young professionals for their attendance
at the Annual Conference and LIGHTFAIR,
we need to support their participation on
document committees and local boards,
and we need to introduce young professionals
to experts in the industry. These
activities and participation cannot be
reserved as reward for our most experienced
employees any more.
If you are a mentor—or would like to
mentor others in the industry—there are
a lot of resources in the IES to assist you:
• The IES website contains suggestions
and instructions for how to begin an
Emerging Professionals group in your
area.
• The IES is rolling out its new mentoring
program, which will be a structured
program to pair experienced and new
lighting professionals.
• The Annual Conference is the place to
meet the experts in the industry. Go
to the conference and ensure that the
young professional can attend as well.
There are countless opportunities to
discuss the future of lighting and to
“bump into the rock stars” of the industry.
Meeting these people can advance
professional objectives.
Please, don’t let the perfect be the
enemy of the good. Every individual recognized
in the “Future Leaders” article
deserved to be included there—they
are making contributions to the industry
beyond their experience in years. There
are many, many others that will make up
the future of the lighting industry. It is our
responsibility to help these individuals
develop to their potential—and to work
to have them included on the next Future
Leaders list.
Kimberly R. Mercier, P.Eng., PE, LEED AP,
IES past president, 2007-2008
Lighting Design Innovations
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Norm made sure the
Bantam was packed with
more standard features.
In developing the new Bantam lighting control panel, we
knew it had to have 8 relays, 8 switch inputs, be easy to
program, and be competitively priced. Norm, the Owner
and Lead Engineer with over 20 years of lighting control
experience, insisted that the Bantam also have an
Astronomical time clock, a USB port, an SD slot,
as well as 4 photosensor inputs. PLC is, after all,
the industry’s most trusted resource for photo
controls and quality products.
There are plenty of 8 relay lighting control panels
out there but the Bantam is the only one with
4 photocell inputs and Norm.
PLCBuildings.com or 866-998-5483
4 Photosensors • 8 Relays • 8 Switch Inputs • SD Slot
22 May 2011 | LD+A www.ies.org