Meet Our Member

The IESNYC spotlights a member each month whose volunteerism, perspective or personal story helps advance our goals, piques our curiosity, and makes the IESNYC become a more vibrant and diverse lighting community. We value their expertise and thank them for volunteering their time and energy for the betterment of the section and NYC Lighting Community. #the_iesnycmom

July 2024

Alessa Aguayo 
Director of Sales, NYC at Lumenwerx
President, Women in Lighting + Design

Q: How did you first get started in the lighting industry?
Unlike most of our colleagues, I did not go to school for lighting. I have a degree in Social Justice and Inquiry with a minor in communications from Arizona State University. Since I was little, I always cared about the environment. Then during college, I worked for the School of Sustainability and had internships in environmental consulting. Post graduation, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: my friends and I were moving to Los Angeles. So I answered an online ad for an LED lighting company.

Other than knowing there were new, highly energy-efficient light sources available, I knew nothing about the industry or lighting itself. I was enjoying my work and was interested in learning more. At the time, the local utility would put on seminars to learn about lighting. This was the era of large-scale retrofits, and it was rewarding to be a part one of the largest energy-reduction movements ever.

Although not a traditional path to lighting, I’m still here almost 14 years later. And I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. Along the way, I’ve learned more about traditional lighting technologies, standards, and design. But in a way, I grew up with LEDs in the industry.

My career started when LED replacement lamps were starting to become popular. It’s been wonderful to see how far technology has come and how creatively it’s being applied – especially with the improvement in optics. But more importantly, I can’t wait to see where it will go. We have reached a point of close-to-maximum efficacy, but the future looks even brighter around embodied carbon, material transparency, and lighting for human health.

Q: How did you first get involved in the IESNYC?
For many years, I worked in national accounts, which I loved. With my previous employer, there was an opportunity to switch to specification sales and manage the NYC territory. I had (politely) declined previous promotions to management, but this felt like the right time. I took a chance and moved to Manhattan. Over my career, I have been involved in a variety of IES sections, so I immediately joined the NYC Section when I moved here.

Locally, I am also a member of the Designers Lighting Forum New York and International Council of Shopping Centers. I was proud to represent the IESNYC Section as a speaker at LEDucation.

Internationally, I am the Board President for WILD (Women in Lighting + Design). WILD is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization supporting women in our industry through personal and professional development. We provide a community for women, and the New York Chapter is quite active.

Q: How do you see your role as a member of the IESNYC?
Although I play a small role in the IESNYC, I believe as a lighting professional who lives and works in Manhattan that it is important to be as involved in the local lighting community as possible. The lighting community in NYC is uniquely influential, and I’m enjoying connecting with new people. I often make introductions, provide letters of recommendation, give advice or just listen, etc. Being a local section member also supports the overall mission of the IES and their invaluable contributions to the technical aspects of our industry.

Speaking for WILD, we are so appreciative of the IESNYC’s support. We look forward to cooperating even more closely, especially the section’s focus on mentoring and equity.

Although more women have entered the industry, we are still woefully underrepresented, especially at the C-suite level as well as in engineering. As a member of IESNYC, I feel it is important to actively work toward diverse representation across the industry – including women.

Q: In your opinion, what are the best assets of the IESNYC?
I believe the best asset of the IESNYC is its unique ability to bring lighting professionals together to share knowledge, support each other, and volunteer. We’re a community of lighting enthusiasts that show up for each other, regardless of whether we are competitors or not. There is room for all.

I so appreciate how the IESNYC can bring us all together, especially the Lumen Awards! Another valued asset is the IES Fundamentals of Lighting course. I recommend it to anyone new to lighting. Knowledge-sharing to propel the NYC lighting community forward, and providing a solid lighting education for those new to the field (as I once was)... These are important to the industry as a whole.