Meet Our Member

February 2023

Charles Selander, LC
(He, Him, His)
Specifications Sales – NYC
Illuminations Inc. 

Q: How did you first get started in the lighting industry?Lighting and the IES are in my DNA. My late father, John Selander, worked in the industry for most of his career and served in many IES roles, including Society President for the 2010-2011 term. He worked in several cities, but spent most of his career in Detroit. I’m very proud that the IES Detroit Section still has a golf outing named in his honor. He opened some doors early on, and his aptitude and deep appreciation for ever-evolving technology helped inspire my passion for great lighting design, and for using emerging LED and controls tech as tools to beautifully illuminate the built environment.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some incredible lighting professionals and visionary technologists, as well as talented architects and designers on truly exceptional projects around the world. I’m actually writing this from Conyers, GA, where I started my career at Acuity 15+ years ago. I went through the leadership training program there, rotating through different departments and learning the manufacturing side of the industry. . I pivoted to Acuity’s international sales division, working with Ravi Koil, and then into the Renovation Group with George Stringer, whom I joined again much later at Soraa. I consider him a friend and mentor.

Relocating to New York was a strategic, if not hare-brained move (being at the time between jobs and with an alarming bank balance!) to the beating heart of North American lighting design. Evangelizing early-stage tunable LED technology with Lumenetix was an exhilarating introduction to the New York lighting design community 10+ years ago, and I’ve never looked back.

Q: How did you first get involved in the IESNYC?
Despite being based in NYC and working closely with the local spec community for over a decade now, prior to the pandemic my focus had been more on global markets, focusing largely onLondon, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. I’ve been involved on several IES Technical Committees, and heavily involved with lighting design advocacy organizations like the IALD, the (now defunct) PLDA, etc. But today I’m eager to roll up my sleeves and dive into the important work the IESNYC Section is doing.

There’s enormous value in engaging the local lighting community, and I’m looking forward to being much more involved with IESNYC in the months and years ahead. There’s an unparalleled, high-density pool of great lighting designers and architects here. And IESNYC’s networking opportunities and educational events create near-infinite opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and advance the practice of lighting.

Q: How do you see your role as a member of the IESNYC?I am a strong advocate for expanding the message and mission of quality lighting design. One statistic that resonated with me is that something like 20% of AIA-registered projects contract with or employ a lighting designer. With ever-increasing technology improvements abounding – intelligent sources, scalable controls, and more – we have a powerful toolkit at our disposal. And with public demand for improved spaces that positively impact health, productivity, and other human factors…The lighting industry is ready to tap into the zeitgeist.

Our industry needs to increase outreach, to spread the word on how good lighting design can positively impact the built environment and people's lives. IESNYC can better align and integrate with the broader architectural community here. These are the bridges I’m looking to build, as well as connecting with the public at large.

In addition, taking a stance for sustainable lighting design and product development is critical. I’m involved with the GreenLight Alliance, which promotes the circular economy within the lighting sector. In cooperation with the IES, we’re developing life-cycle analysis (LCA) standards for multiple product types. The lighting industry lags behind other building sectors in this sustainability issue, which is crucial to our collective future. Engaging and educating IESNYC members, as industry leaders, we can tangibly move things forward. 

Q: In your opinion, what are the best assets of the IESNYC?
The NYC lighting community is tight-knit, and IESNYC and DLFNY are at the core. The future will require fresh approaches to industry communications and education to address sustainability, health, and technology issues on the horizon. We are facing dramatic changes in how buildings are being used, evolving priorities and shared values around urban planning and public space, and developer influence. That’s in addition to business consolidation among lighting manufacturers, agencies, and even design firms.

IESNYC is a powerful engine to educate emerging professionals and foster students coming up through local universities. And as a center of design, we attract the best of the next generation, in an increasingly competitive, diverse, and complex recruiting market.

Finally, IESNYC still affords seasoned professionals the ability to share their knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm across channels and markets. As we expand our reach and exert more influence, experience makes us better advocates for quality, effective lighting design.