Kalamazoo, MI – Landscape Forms, North America’s leading designer and manufacturer of high-design LED lighting, site furniture, structure, and accessories, announces it is now a gold-level sponsor of the Women in Lighting + Design (WILD) organization. WILD is a volunteer-run organization with approximately 1,500 members across 20 chapters in the US and Canada. Its mission is to provide the lighting community an inclusive and open environment for professional and personal growth by offering networking, mentorship, and knowledge sharing.
President of WILD Kelly Roberts is Studio Director at WALD Studio (William Armstrong Lighting Design) in NYC. She has been associated with WILD for 10 years and has served as president since 2021. “WILD formed about 30 years ago. Women found strength in this community where they could grow as individuals and work collectively towards shaping the industry into one where women could thrive.” The Board of Directors serves as a guiding hand behind the organization’s larger program goals and hosts webinars, plans industry events and conferences, and manages funds to use for organizational activities.
“Having sponsorship support from Landscape Forms will allow us to further develop our programs, which we believe is the best way to combat issues such as pay inequity, lack of diversity, and sexual harassment experienced among women in lighting fields,” says Roberts. Currently, WILD offers four programs: the Parental Resource Group (PRG+); the Lamplighter Coalition, which addresses sexual harassment; DEIR (diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect) Committee; and a developing mentorship program.
WILD’s mission resonates with Angela Saladino, Regional Sales Representative for the Southeast Region. “WILD gives women in the industry a voice and a strong community to share ideas, struggles, and encouragement.”
Landscape Forms Lighting President Jordan Agustin finds the cultural connection between Landscape Forms and WILD a reason for the sponsorship. “Landscape Forms seeks to advance and advocate for the involvement of many people and perspectives. Our student sponsorships, such as the Landscape Architect Foundation Ignite college scholarships for Black, Indigenous, and people of color and advancing women in design and lighting fields, are important. These sponsorships tie to the internal and external DEI initiatives Landscape Forms feels strongly about. Women in Lighting + Design amplifies an important voice in our industry, and we are pleased to support its efforts.”
About Landscape Forms
Landscape Forms is the industry leader in integrated collections of high-design site furniture, structures, accessories, and advanced LED lighting. Since its founding in 1969 Landscape Forms has earned a reputation for excellent design, high quality products and exceptional service. The company is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and includes Kornegay Design, located in Phoenix, Arizona, and Loll Designs, in Duluth, Minnesota, in its family of brands. It has sales representatives throughout North America, South America, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Asia. Landscape Forms collaborates with renowned industrial designers and consultancies, landscape architects, and architects to design and develop integrated collections of products that address emerging needs and help create a sense of place. Additionally, the company has formed global marketing partnerships with select companies that share its commitment to design. Landscape Forms has an installed base of products around the world. Clients include municipalities, transit centers, corporate, college and health care campuses; and familiar brand leaders such as Harvard University, Linked In, New York Central Park Conservancy, Bryant Park, Google, Coca Cola, Oculus, U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), Nike, National Museum of African American History (Washington, D.C.), Barclays Center, Adidas, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Microsoft, and Uber. We’ve been named one of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production for 2020 and 2021 by Fortune magazine, Michigan Manufacturer of the Year for 2020 by the Michigan Manufacturers Association, and by 269 Magazine as one of Southwest Michigan’s Wonderful Workplace