April 2021 Chapter Meeting

Topic: “Keep calm, everything is under control(s)” - Presenting how lighting control commercial projects are managed from a lighting rep agency perspective.

This month, we focus on a project from the construction segment…sort of. These days, you don’t have a construction project without technology components. What used to be simple mechanical & electrical systems now involve custom solutions that require servers, controls, planning & configuration, programming, and ongoing monitoring. Solutions are tailored to the needs of the project and become as unique as the project itself. Eric McKendall and Doug Bennett from SESCO Lighting will take us through a “typical” construction project and talk about their processes, tools and techniques for successful project outcomes in the lighting controls industry.

Speaker: Eric McKendall & Doug Bennett from SESCO Lighting Controls

Date: April 27, 2021

Time: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm (The meeting will open up at 11:15 am)

Location: Virtual. Live & On Demand.

Cost: Free

PDU Awarded for Attendance: 1 (Technical)

About the Speakers:

Eric McKendall started his Applications Engineering career in 1998 with Intralox LLC in New Orleans after receiving his BS in Manufacturing Technology from Southern University at New Orleans. While at Intralox he gained over 13 years experience as an Application Engineer, Account Manager, and Project Manager supporting customer needs for manufacturing conveyor equipment and design. Over those years he also obtained his MS in Management from Troy University, served as VP of Marketing for PMIGNO, and achieved his PMP certification in 2012. In 2014 he moved to Birmingham and began working at Legrand-Wattstopper in Building Control Systems as a Project Manager and Application Engineer. In 2018 shortly after Legrand-Wattstopper closed the local Birmingham office he began working at SESCO Lighting as an Application Engineer not long after the opening of the Birmingham office. He has recently achieved his Certified Lighting Control Professional – (CLCP) certification and currently serves as VP of Administration for PMICAC.

In 1977, Doug Bennett made a swift and unexpected departure from being a math/computer science student at Purdue, entering the world of live performance production as a tech for the rock band Kansas.  Since then, Mr. Bennett has been continuously employed in some aspect of this field. From 1985-1991 he was the primary production lighting tech at New Orleans Convention Center.  From 1991-2012, he worked as a system designer and project manager at Theatrical Lighting Systems Inc. in Huntsville, contributing to dozens of new construction and renovation projects in the area.  In 2012, he began his current position as manufacturer's representative, specializing in theatrical lighting and stage equipment.  When SESCO Lighting opened an office in Birmingham, Alabama in 2017, Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) moved their representation to SESCO, with Mr. Bennett following along.