Be a part of the debut of Light!, the new expo and conference produced by Nielsen Business Media and presented by Contract. It will run alongside NeoCon® World's Trade Fair from June 15 to 17 at The Merchandise Mart Chicago and feature one keynote and 14 CEU-accredited educational sessions. Shawn Sullivan, principal architect at Rockwell Group will present "The Art of Lighting: An Exploration of the Necessity and Power of Light in Design" on Wed., June 17 at 8 a.m. in the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza in the Wolfpoint Ballroom. Speaker James Benya, founder of Benya Lighting Design will host three seminars, including "The Technology of Sustainable Lighting" (June 15), "The Design of Sustainable Lighting" (June 16) and "The Costs and Benefits of Sustainable Lighting" (June 16). For more information on these and other educational sessions please visit www.lightdesignexpo.com.

Set to serve design professionals who are interested in innovative and ground-breaking lighting concepts, the show will be a great resource and networking opportunity for all.


James Benya, PE, FIES, FIALD, LC
James Benya wears many hats. The 35-year lighting designer and consultant is also a writer, author, educator, and the owner of one U.S. lighting fixture patent and a lighting control patent. In 1994, he founded Benya Lighting Design, which is located in West Linn, Ore. He also is a member of the USGBC as well as an IESNA Sustaining Member. But perhaps even more importantly, Benya has served as an expert in more than 50 cases involving lighting in the United States, including accidents, assaults, product liability, design patents, professional liability and libel, and trade dress. He also assisted in the research and writing of California's Title 24 Energy Code for Lighting.

Benya recently joined the faculty of the University of California at Davis and his textbook, Lighting Design Basics (with Mark Karlen), was published by Wiley and Company. Benya has degrees in electrical engineering and computer science and has practiced theatrical and rock-and-roll lighting in high school and college.

And he makes sure he gives back to the community even further, as Benya Lighting provides pro-bono lighting design services to the Portland Architectural Heritage Museum, the Portland Light Brigade, the New Mexico Cultural Heritage Museum, the Ronald MacDonald Foundation, the Diocese of Salem and Habitat for Humanity. Benya has been promoting efficient and environmentally responsible lighting his entire career. "Finally it really matters!" he laughs.



Shawn Sullivan, RA
Shawn Sullivan, a principal architect at Rockwell Group, recognizes how important lighting is as a component within the overall design solution. As a central focus of many of Rockwell Group's designs, lighting can make or break an interior—or exterior for that matter. Sullivan has led many projects for the firm, including Nobu restaurants all over the world, Canyon Ranch Living in Miami Beach, Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis New York, the Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos, Greece, as well as the new Hyatt brand Andaz at 75 Wall Street. He holds a B.A. in architecture from Yale University and is a registered architect. He also is the proud recipient of a number of prestigious awards, such a 2006 Lumen Award citation (for his work on the international expansion of Nobu) as well as a 2007 Gold Key award finalist nomination for Nobu Intercontinental Hong Kong.

Sullivan's designs often draw inspiration from the intersection of theater and architecture. During his keynote, he will discuss a number of sources of light and design inspiration, such as Broadway performances, firework displays and even rock concerts.