—Honoring top salespeople from lighting retailers across North America—
DALLAS – June 3, 2021 – Dallas Market Center, the home of Lightovation, the largest residential lighting trade event in North America, announces the 2021 Light Stars honorees, representing top salespeople from leading lighting retailers across North America. Dozens of participants will attend the June 23-26 edition of Lightovation – Dallas International Lighting show as part of the Light Stars program.
Light Stars are top retail salespeople who have never attended Lightovation but would greatly benefit from the experience. Honorees accepted into the Light Stars program receive airfare and two nights of hotel accommodations during the June show. Nominations were received this year through March 30.
In addition to travel and hotel arrangements, Light Stars are granted access to all Lightovation exhibits and events, including the Showroom of the Year Awards and Big Texas Welcome party at the Virgin Hotel on Thursday, June 24. At 7 p.m. the awards will take place followed by light-hearted laughs with Jimmy Norris at 7:30 p.m. and live music by the Jake Maurer Band at 8 p.m. Complimentary shuttle service begins at 6 p.m. from the World Trade Center front entrance.
Light Stars participating in the American Lighting Association’s Residential Lighting Training Course, overlapping the show June 21-23, also received a discount on the course and an extended travel package.
“In partnership with our exhibitors we are thrilled to welcome back top retailers with this unique program honoring great sales people,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “We welcome this class of Light Stars to Dallas and proudly present the opportunity to review products and trends and deepen their knowledge and relationships.”
The 2021 Light Stars honorees are:
| Abigail Brown | PSC Distribution / Studio H2O | Iowa City, IA |
| Adam Byrd | Elliott Electric | Nacogdoches, TX |
| Adam Ohlgart | Black Whale Lighting | Encinitas, CA |
| Allyson Tate | Hermitage | Nashville, TN |
| Amy Therrien | Georgia Lighting | Sugar Hill, GA |
| Ann Ritter | Crest Lighting | New Lenox, IL |
| Brianne Delaney | Capitol Lighting | Palm Beach Gardens, FL |
| Brittany Yeager | PDI Lawrenceville | Lawrenceville, GA |
| Carrie Wilkerson | The Home Center | Holly Springs, NC |
| Chris Price | Capitol Lighting | Stuart, FL |
| Drew Gross | Gross Electric | Toledo, OH |
| Emily Lopez | Brechers Lighting | Lexington, KY |
| Frank Daloise | Coventry Lighting & Design Center | Canfield, OH |
| Gabe Hollbrook | Alloway Lighting | Boise, ID |
| Hillary Brodiga Colett | Accent Lighting | Lake Oswego, OR |
| Jane Miles | Capitol Lighting | East Hanover, NJ |
| Jonathan Rice | Capitol Lighting | Boca Raton, FL |
| Judy White | Masterpiece Lighting | Atlanta, GA |
| Julie McFarland | Metro Lighting | Chesterfield, MO |
| Kelly Smith | Progressive Lighting | Lanier, GA |
| Kenneth M. Iafrate | Lighting & Design By J & K Electric Supply | Johnston, RI |
| Kerry Lonon | Capitol Lighting | Paramus, NJ |
| Kira Kurka | Crest Lighting | Chicago, IL |
| Lauren Davies | PSC Distribution / Studio H2O | Iowa City, IA |
| Leo Rodriguez | South Dade Lighting | Miami, FL |
| Mark Maruschak | Progressive Lighting | Kennesaw, GA |
| Matt Gates | CS Illumination | Vista, CA |
| Michelle Owen | Dekker Lighting | Schererville, IN |
| Neil Jarvey | CS Illumination | Vista, CA |
| Nick Otonowski | Northern Lights and Fans | Las Vegas, NV |
| Oliver Tiaongco | Mid-West Wholesale Lighting Corp. | Los Angeles, CA |
| Pete DeSoto | Allsale Electric | Chatsworth, CA |
| Ray Odell | Lee Supply Corp | Indianapolis, IN |
| Rhonda Keberlein | Imagine More | Windsor, CO |
| Robert Langan | Capitol Lighting | Eatontown, NJ |
| Ron Doyle | Wiedenbach Brown | Yorba Linda, CA |
| Salam Yousif | IB Lighting | Dearborn Heights, MI |
| Sarah Davis | Kendall Lighting Center | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Shanna Eckhardt | One Source Lighting | Billings, MT |
| Shannen Patterson | Brechers Lighting | Louisville, KY |
| Stacey Abrams | Capitol Lighting | Fort Lauderdale FL |
| Susie Hammer | CS Illumination | Vista, CA |
| Tamera Herrmann | Metro Lighting | Brentwood, MO |
| Zach James | Capitol Lighting | e-commerce |
Nominations for the Light Stars program can be submitted by anyone in the lighting industry and are accepted year-round at https://www.dallasmarketcenter.com/lightstars. The deadline for 2022 Light Stars nominations is March 1, 2022.
Pre-registration is still available for the show at www.dallasmarketcenter.com/lightovation. By pre-registering buyers receive a FastPass email for contactless, quick entry into the show.
Updated CDC guidelines have informed Dallas Market Center’s updated health and safety protocols for June Lightovation. Face coverings are no longer required for fully vaccinated individuals and temperature checks are no longer being taken upon entry into DMC buildings. However, face coverings are required on DMC shuttles (hotel shuttle service has returned) and some showrooms may still require masks.
Additional information about the largest residential lighting show in North America is available on the Lightovation page of the Dallas Market Center website. Keep up with the latest developments by following the #Lightovation hashtag on social media, via the Lightovation Facebook Page and Lightovation – Lighting Industry Discussion Group.
About Dallas Market Center
Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in lighting, home décor, furniture, gifts, and fashion. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus near downtown Dallas, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products via open-daily showrooms and from exhibitors participating in trade events held throughout the year. The Dallas Market Center website is available at dallasmarketcenter.com.
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