Member of the Month

September 2022

Rebecca Mintz, LC, Assoc. IALD, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Associate
The Lighting Practice

Q: How did you first get started in the lighting industry?
I ended up in architectural lighting in a roundabout way. I wanted to be a theatrical lighting designer all through high school and college. After an internship at a summer theater festival, I realized a life in theater was not for me. I spent a year working as an economic research assistant at a think tank, but quickly realized that I wasn’t going to be happy staring at numbers all day. I needed something more collaborative and creative. Someone at the theater internship had mentioned that I might be interested in architectural lighting. I reached out to several members of the architectural lighting community around the country who had recently taken part in a panel discussion for Architectural Lighting Magazine (I can’t believe I found it! “Professional Sustainability” Architectural Lighting Magazine July 2008) to find out more. HLB Boston’s Carrie Hawley and LAM Partners’ Paul Zaferiou probably don’t remember speaking with me, but many years later I am still grateful they took the time to talk to me!

Unfortunately, it was 2008, and the Great Recession had just started. Whereas I might have been able to get a job six months prior with my theatrical background, the recession eliminated that possibility. I looked into the limited options for architectural lighting grad school and ultimately ended up in the Parsons MFALD program.

While at Parsons, I had the opportunity to delve deep into the world of architectural lighting and discovered it was a perfect fit for my personality. It has the balance of creativity and technicality that I crave. It also allows me to use the business and economics information that I learned in my undergrad studies. I had wonderful instructors at Parsons and made great friends who I love running into at IESNYC events!

My first professional experience in lighting was the result of amazing happenstance. During my first week at Parsons, I attended one of the Metropolitan Opera’s outdoor screenings at Lincoln Center. Prior to the opera starting, I was doing my homework reading the IES handbook ready reference (9th edition). I happened to be seated next to Karen Goldstick’s husband, who elbowed her and said, “I think she’s one of yours.” We had a great conversation, and I immediately felt welcomed into the lighting community. As a student volunteer at the 2010 Lumen Awards, I ended up checking Karen in at the registration table and she said, “I think I have a job for you!” I got to work on the Barclays Center as my first professional project. At that point, I was hooked!

I’ve been very lucky to work at amazing firms (Goldstick Lighting Design, Gilmore Lighting Design, Atelier Ten, Lightcraft, and The Lighting Practice), with incredibly supportive mentors, and on wonderful projects since graduating from Parsons in 2011.

Q: How did you first get involved in the IESNYC?
I became involved in the IESNYC when I was at Parsons and was the vice president of their IESNYC Student Chapter. I remember attending a Board of Managers meeting of the “adult” chapter and realizing how welcoming everyone was. Phil Cialdella particularly sticks out in my memory. After graduating from Parsons, I left NYC for seven years, but still tried to stay connected to the NYC lighting community and IESNYC. I also benefited from involvement in other regional IES chapters, though it is hard to compete with NYC. When I moved back to New York in 2017, one of the first things I did was change my IES location back to NYC so that I could be more involved with IESNYC.  

Q: How do you see your role as a member of the IESNYC?
I see myself as an avid participant in the IESNYC. I attend IESNYC events whenever I can make it, regardless of whether they are social or educational. Occasionally I’ll find myself involved in a committee for an event without realizing I’d volunteered. This year I was excited to be involved in the Lumen Awards as a narrator. It was an honor to read the descriptions of such amazing projects at the Lumen Gala. 

Q: In your opinion, what are the best assets of the IESNYC?
The Board and volunteers are the best assets of the IESNYC by far. They are always so enthusiastic about making this community the best possible. They spend their precious time planning events for us to attend, like Moonlighting, holiday parties, and the Lumens—of course! They are valuable supporters of students in the lighting community through the Student Lighting Competition and Scholarships. And generally, they are wonderful people.