Join us for a panel discussion focused on specifications. The IES Rocky Mountain Section is hosting a panel of individuals to help all of us better understand how we can develop and maintain the specifications throughout the construction process to meet a project's design intent. We will be asking our panelists a series of questions centered on specifications to get an inside look at all levels of the industry.
Cost: Free.
Lunch will be provided courtesy of CT Lighting & Controls.
This year’s moderator:
Rachel Fitzgerald, Stantec
Rachel is the discipline lead for lighting design and a principal with global design firm Stantec. A graduate of the University of Colorado’s lighting program, she has 20-years of experience in lighting design. Rachel provides significant expertise to Stantec’s buildings and master plans globally. Her talent and commitment to the design of highly sustainable and human-centric spaces has been recognized with more than three dozen design awards.
Rachel’s drive to create a world where lighting plays a more impactful role manifests itself through her industry involvement. She’s passionate about mentoring junior staff to further best practices and is an in-demand speaker who shares knowledge and passion about lighting. She is an adjunct professor teaching a senior design lighting capstone course at the University of Colorado and is excited about fostering the next generation of lighting designers. She is on the Board of Directors of the IALD and the IALD Education Trust, is involved with technical committees with the IES, and serves on the WELL light concept advisory.
This year’s panelists:
Electrical Engineer: Theresa Santos, MEP Engineering, Inc.
With over 20 years of experience, Theresa Santos has joined MEP Engineering as a senior electrical engineer. Santos runs and operates MEP’s tenant improvement team, focusing on new-build and office renovations throughout Denver. As a highly-skilled designer, Theresa ‘wows’ MEP clients with her technical ability, but her warm personality ensures they return. She specializes in tenant improvement, new-build, renovations, mixed-use, and high-rise office buildings.
Electrical Contractor: Shawn Kalsbeck, Kenny Electric
Shawn Kalsbeck is the Chief Estimator at Kenny Electric. He has been actively involved in all aspects of electrical construction including Renewables for the past 17 years.
Shawn is a LEED Green Associate with a background in Commercial, and Industrial construction. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Dakota and also studied Construction Management at Colorado State University.
Lighting Designer: Andi Walter, AE Design
Andi serves as a Lighting Designer at AE Design, Inc., and has a passion for innovative, sustainable, and collaborative design. She earned her Master’s in Architectural Engineering from University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) with an emphasis in lighting/electrical and was the recipient of the Howard Brandston Student Lighting Design Education Grant, the Nuckolls Fund’s Jonas Bellovin Award for outstanding performance in an established lighting program, along with the IALD Thomas M. Lemons Scholarship. She has also achieved her LEED Green Associate Certification as well as her NCQLP Lighting Certificate (LC) since graduating. With lighting design experience in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Denver she has continued to build her portfolio with project types ranging from high-end multi-family and corporate office TI’s, to geological cave features, and animal care facilities. Throughout her experience her favorite aspect of her career thus far has been combining technical and mathematical aspects of design with thoughtful creativity and art. Andi is also professionally affiliated with Denver’s local WILD chapter, is a member of both IALD and IES, and has additionally co-authored an article in IES’s LD+A Magazine for their autumn 2021 issue.
Lighting Designer: Paige Donnell, SmithGroup
Paige Donnell is an architectural lighting designer at SmithGroup with a passion for creating spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and sustainable. Respecting the users’ experience first, Paige’s designs incorporate lighting solutions for every unique challenge and space she encounters—cultural, higher education, healthcare, urban design, workplace, and more. Her education and professional experience in both architecture and engineering makes her a valuable asset to every integrated design team. Several of her projects have earned awards through various platforms, including but not limited to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI). She is an Associate Member of the International Lighting Design Association (IALD) and active in the Women in Lighting and Design (WILD) Denver Chapter. Alongside her many professional pursuits, Paige finds passion in engaging with her community and participating in Design Competitions which strategize new and innovative methods for providing affordable and sustainable, high-quality lighting, wifi, and education to communities in need.
Manufacturer: Ryan Rodau, Cooper Lighting Solutions
Ryan C. Rodau is the Director of Specification Marketing at Cooper Lighting Solutions with a passion for providing lighting solutions that will enhance a specifiers tool kit to do their best work. His education and professional experience in both technical and business pursuits bring a unique perspective for new product development to provide an optimized solution for differing applications. Ryan has been involved in the lighting industry since 1999 in various roles and functions including packaging, sourcing, product management, sales, marketing, and general management. He has a Bachelor of Science from the School of Packaging within Michigan State University and a Masters of Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing from The Weatherhead School of Management within Case Western Reserve University.
Agency Principal: Steve Warren, CT Lighting & Controls
Steve Warren heads up the Specification Sales team and is a Principal / Partner with CT Lighting & Controls a manufacturers representative in Colorado / Wyoming / Montana and Las Vegas; Steve has affiliations with IES / IALD and is a former Lightfair and Enlighted Americas speaker.
Owner’s Rep: Heather Greene, NV5
Heather is a driven and ambitious project manager with a proven history of building owner relationships and managing successful teams. She has experience working for a large scale commercial general contractor where she held roles during every phase of a project from estimating and preconstruction, to building schedules as an assistant superintendent, and cost management as a project engineer. She excels in working with teams during the schematic design and design development phases to assist with stakeholder and design team coordination throughout the design process. Heather has been involved in lab science projects, higher education buildings, and a variety of healthcare projects. Outside of work Heather is a ski enthusiast.
