Conference Advisory Commitee

Craig A. Bernecker, Ph.D., is currently Professor of Lighting Design and Director of the MFA Lighting Design in the School of Constructed Environments at Program at Parsons School of Design, part of the New School in New York. He is also founder of the Lighting Education Institute, an entity focused on professional education for the lighting industry. He previously directed the lighting program in the Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State University over a period of 20 years.

He is a Fellow Emeritus of the IES, past Vice-President of Technical Activities, past Vice President of Educational Activities, and President of the society from 2004-2005. He has also worked with the IES to deliver the online LC Review course for the past six years and will do so again in 2019. He also serves as Educational Facilitator for LightFair, annually leading the development of the conference program and institute.

Edward Bartholomew, principal and owner of Bartholomew Lighting, has over twenty-five years of experience designing architectural lighting systems. He has won numerous lighting design awards while refining evidence-based sustainable lighting strategies. His involvement on every project is focused on understanding the needs of the client while analyzing the context of the site, in order to effectively design, specify, implement and commission sustainable, cost-effective lighting systems.

Principal Edward Bartholomew has an MFA from the Parsons School of Design in Architectural Lighting Design. He has written numerous articles on lighting and serves on several industry boards and committees including the IES Sustainable Lighting committee and the Energy Efficiency Lighting Programs Committee. He is a respected speaker on energy efficiency, sustainable lighting design and recently on social justice issues.

"While not able to engage in person as readily as in the past, the industry moves forward, with design innovation more important than ever – in how we can more effectively incorporate remote work strategies and adapt our work and living spaces to be functional and healthy. Learning and community are the foundations of our success – continuing education and engaging with our peers at Lightfair 2021 is a perfect way to promote professional growth and active involvement"

David Cyr is a lighting designer based in New York, New York. A northeast native, he studied architecture, building science, and lighting at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Cyr has nearly 20 years’ experience as a professional lighting designer, having gotten his start at George Sexton Associates in Washington, DC, and joining Lilker Associates Consulting Engineers in 2014 to found Lilker Lighting Group, where his team specializes in lighting design for corporate interior, luxury residential, and historic renovation projects.

"Knowledge is power. This year’s conference grows out of the pandemic and will bring unique perspectives to engage learning. "

Tao Ham, Ph.D., IALD, LC, LEED AP, is the lighting practice leader at Hammel, Green and Abrahamson. Ms. Ham earned a Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota with an area of interest in interior design and cross-cultural studies. Ms. Ham has broad lighting project experience including religious architecture, theaters, museums, corporate offices, as well as sports, education, and healthcare facilities. She is the recipient of numerous lighting design awards, including the prestigious Award of Excellence from IES and IALD. Ms. Ham is an enthusiastic educator. She taught light design classes at the University of Minnesota and has been teaching lighting for the local IES section since 2003. Ms. Ham has spoken at Lightfair International and published in various national and international publications.

"I am thrilled for the seminars and sessions this year. You can expect a fresh variety of courses. By limiting the course slots, we were able to curate a collection of innovative presentations that will surprise and delight.”

Jessica Krometis (pronouns: she/her/hers) brings her theatrical sensibilities, honed through a decade in the Chicago theatre scene, to the architectural lighting world. Before designing light for architecture and exhibits, she designed countless productions in the Chicago area and New York City for theatre, dance, special events, and museum exhibits. She holds an MFA from Northwestern University with her concentration in Lighting Design for the Stage.

Jessica is a Senior Designer at Hartranft Lighting Design located in Washington, DC. Her recent projects include museums, themed experiences, media studios, office campuses, and hospitality. She has designed and programmed colorful, dynamic building facades and full environmental spaces. Awards include an IES Award of Merit for The International Spy Museum (Architecture), IES Section Awards for Witte Museum, Back Bay Beats, and District Burlington as well as an AAM Special Achievement Award for Visual Engagement for National Museum of Natural History, Deep Time.

Jessica has spoken at conferences including LEDucation, IES Annual Conference, and the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. She was the IALD New England Chapter coordinator from 2016-2019 and is currently on the IALD Education Trust Stipend Committee.

“We are fortunate this year to have incredible speakers sharing with us their own journey of lighting innovation and observations – even if their commute is now the stairs, and the dining room table is now their desk. This year’s conference program is full of reminders that the lighting industry is resilient, connected, and engaged.”

Brienne Musselman, LC, is the Education Manager on staff at the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). She supports the development and maintenance of Education programs and activities, including the award-winning eLearning portal. Her interest in lighting education stems from past experience in the interpretation and navigation of lighting recommendations as an architectural lighting designer. Before joining IES staff, she volunteered for the IES locally in the Detroit Section (Vice President, 2012, and President, 2013-2015) and at the Society level, most notably as the Annual Conference Committee Chair in 2016 and 2017. She’s been a speaker at LEDucation and LightFair, and as part of American Institute of Architects (AIA) and IES events. Musselman occasionally serves as a guest lecturer for Interior Design students at her alma mater, Eastern Michigan University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Art and Human Environments. She’s also taught Lighting and Environmental Systems at Henry Ford College. She was named one of Lighting Magazine’s International “40 under 40” in 2017 and recognized as an Honorary Affiliate of the AIA in 2014.

Jana is currently the Midwest Regional Sales Manager at Fluxwerx Illumination. In her position, she supports agencies across the midwest and drives specification sales for a growing company with incredible momentum. Currently Jana is also the chair of the national IES Illumination Awards Committee. Prior to joining Fluxwerx in 2017, Jana spent 9 years as an electrical engineer and architectural lighting designer, managing projects for large scale commercial, retail and educational establishments. She also collaborated on the development of internal standards on lighting and controls. Jana is a past recipient of numerous IES Illumination Awards for Lighting Design, and holds her engineering license in the state of Kansas.

Her previous speaking engagements include various AIA and IDCEC presentations at LEDucation, IES Annual Conference, Various IES Sections, Kansas State University Architectural Engineering department.

Previous presentation topics include Well Building + Lighting, Lighting design, Coordination between lighting designers and engineers, Energy codes, Lighting Controls, introduction & advanced levels,

Ira Rothman has been part of the Lighting Industry since the late 1980’s, first as an Electrical Engineer, then as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a Lighting Manufacture; for the last 21 years his focus has been as a Lighting Manufacturer’s Representative. Currently, as Director of Specification Sales with Apex Lighting Solutions, he promotes over 100 Lighting and Lighting Controls companies to the greater Boston design community offering technical support and design assistance, as well as training and sales management for the Apex Lighting Solutions Specification Sales team. Ira is currently an At-Large Director for the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and past President of the IES Boston & Rhode Island Sections. Ira lives with his wife, Michelle, in Boston and enjoys keeping informed of their six adult children’s activities and careers while fitting in some sailing, skiing from time to time.

"COVID may have affected everyone’s work flow but technology continues to advance and so does the lighting community that creatively applies it. We must work harder to stay current on new gear and design trends in a remote setting."

From his early days as an Industrial Design graduate at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies to the present as design principal at Illuminart, Robert has been creating innovative lighting design solutions for over 25 years. His extraordinary range of experience informs his creative design flare, technical expertise and a collaborative spirit. Projects include: Cobo Convention Center | Detroit, MI, Qatar National Convention Centre | Doha - Qatar, General Motors Global Lighting Specifications | Global, Detroit Institute of Arts “Kresge Court Cultural Living Room” Cafe | Detroit, MI, Davidson-Gerson Glass Gallery | Greenfield Village Dearborn, MI and many others.

Robert has received several Edwin F. Guth Memorial Awards of Excellence for the Qatar National Convention Centre interior lighting and the Detroit McNamara airport terminal. He also received the Control Innovation Award for the Qatar National Convention Centre. He has received over 50 other individual awards of recognition, his work has been featured in a variety of industry publications including; Lighting Dimensions, Mondo, LD+A, Architectural Lighting, Metropolis, Illuminator (Russia), Interior Design, and he has recently been featured in Illumni online magazine. Robert is a lighting design instructor for College for Creative Studies, Eastern Michigan University and in 2020 taught an advanced lighting class for Lawrence Technological University. He is also a guest lecturer for the IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) at the IES Conference 2019 and 2020.