Expert Details
Lighting: Components and Systems, Field and Accident Investigations, Codes and Standards
ID: 732029
Georgia, USA
Lighting Systems
HID Lighting
LED/Solid State Lighting
Power Systems/Power Quality
Product Testing
Lighting Controls
Emergency Lighting
EMI/EMC
Laboratory Procedures/Construction
Lighting Codes/Standards/UL
Lamp and ballast technology
Purchasing & Testing Specifications
Intellectual Property Issues
Product Liability
Accident/Fire Scene Investigation
Evidence Inspection
Preparation of Discovery Material
Deposition & Trial Testimony
Among other clients, currently consulting as Head of Product Regulatory Compliance for Finally Bulbs, a manufacturer of induction lamps used for incandescent replacements.
A specific field of expertise is in the technical and legal review of metal halide lamp non-passive failure incidents, reinforced with a background of lamp, ballast and luminaire technologies as well as experience with accident scene investigations, evidence reviews, legal discovery processes, depositions and trials.
EXPERTISE INCLUDES: Lighting Systems, Incandescent, fluorescent, HID and LED sources, Fluorescent ballasts, HID ballasts, LED drivers, Testing Laboratory Procedures, Product Liability, Accident/Fire Scene Investigation, Evidence Inspection, Preparation of Discovery Material, Depositions/Trail - Preparation/Testimony, HID Lighting, Testing Laboratory Construction and Operation, Electrical Power Systems, Non-Marine Corrosion, Product Testing, Government Activities, Lighting Controls, Codes/Standards/UL
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1983 | Degree: MBA | Subject: General Business | Institution: Ohio University |
| Year: 1970 | Degree: BS | Subject: Electrical Enginering | Institution: Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve) |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2014 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Founder, President | Department: |
Responsibilities:He is sole proprietor of consulting firm founded in 2014 focused on offering assistance to the lighting and related industries. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2008 to 2014 | Employer: (Undisclosed) | Title: Chief Engineer; Manager of Codes and Standards | Department: Cooper Lighting |
Responsibilities:Expert had multiple roles within Cooper Lighting. As Chief Engineer, he set numerous internal testing requirements for electrical components used in luminaires. He also spearheaded investigations into complex field issues and fire investigations. As manager of codes and standards, he represented Cooper on many industry groups that were involved with setting standards and assisting with the development of government regulations.Manager - Codes, Standards, Government/Industry Affairs (also Principle Engineer) Instrumental in placing Cooper as a codes and standards leader in the lighting industry. Represented company on standards committees and with regulatory bodies. Monitored and provided feedback for product development. As company representative for high-dollar accident investigations, saved $1M+ in legal fees. Injected vital company input into NEMA, ANSI, IES, IEC and CSA standards. Member of Cooper Innovation Laboratory creating and implementing advances in LED technology Influenced DOE, EPA (ENERGY STAR), Congress and California Energy Commission (CEC) regulations. Assisted Cooper UL team with understanding, review and modification of 30+ UL standards related to lighting. Chaired Cooper Lighting internal Codes and Standards Committee. As key accident investigator, provided technical expertise and analysis for numerous high-value field problems and fire investigations ranging from equipment installation issues to metal halide lamp rupture fires. Saved company significant legal fees by providing expert site/evidence review, deposition and testimony review, and coordination of discovery for numerous accident/fire investigations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2008 | Employer: PCI Lighting Controls | Title: General Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert was responsible for all activities in this privately-held, engineering-oriented lighting controls company, including engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales, HR, finance, commissioning and customer support. In addition, he successfully positioned the company for acquisition by a lighting conglomerate (executed in 2008).General Manager Managed engineering-oriented company that designed, manufactured and marketed power line carrier and lighting systems controls. Directed team of 35+ professionals to increase sales, improve manufacturing efficiency and develop multitude of new and improved products for lighting market. Positioned company for buyout by large lighting conglomerate. Instrumental in increasing sales of company by 50% during period of economic recession. Managed process for positioning and successful acquisition of company by Cooper Lighting. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1970 to 2004 | Employer: Acuity Brands | Title: Senior Engineering Manager | Department: Holophane Lighting |
Responsibilities:Although his main responsibility was the development and engineering of all electrical aspects of new luminaires and controls, he also headed up the testing laboratories, was integrally involved with optical design, ballast design, pole design/analysis, electrical power systems, materials research, painting systems, field service, light source technology, advanced strategic planning and intellectual property cases.Senior Engineering Manager Managed all electrical design aspects of lighting products and led teams that developed complete luminaire product lines, including life safety equipment. Company liaison with light source manufacturers to provide information to enhance new luminaire design and input into development of new light sources. Responsible for 5-year Corporate Technology Plan. Managed staff of up to 13 technical professionals. Granted more than a dozen patents for luminaire design, optical systems, metering, emergency equipment, controls and electronics design. Company representative for NEMA, ANSI, IES and UL. Managed and constructed electrical, thermal, photometric, materials and life-testing laboratories at 3 locations. Managed teams and provided engineering expertise for numerous products including ground-breaking emergency central inverter system and direct/indirect luminaires for commercial and industrial applications. Supported corporate field service on high-ticket field problems and accident investigations. Interacted closely with intellectual property attorneys to coordinate patent applications and defend federal patent infringement cases. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-Integrated Committee on Lighting Products (ICLP), US National Committee to the IEC-Group Manager for Lighting, Dependability, and Electrical Energy Management |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Registered Professional Engineer: Ohio and Georgia Lighting Certified (LC): National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professional (NCQLP) |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Chair – Ballast/LED Drivers Section, Chair – Emergency Lighting Section, Controls Section, Solid State Lighting Section, International and Regional Standardization Committee (IRSC), Lighting Systems Division Management Committee, Chair - Progress Report Committee, Chair - Testing Procedures Testing (TPC) Committee, Research Committee, Nomenclature Committee, Industrial Lighting Committee Member/Company Representative/Officer: National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) o Lighting Systems Division Management Committee o Section Chair - Ballast/LED Drivers, Emergency Lighting, Wiring Devices o Representative on Luminaires, Controls and Light Source Sections o International and Regional Standardization Committee (IRSC) o NEMA Codes and Standards Committee American National Standards Institute (ANSI) o C78 (Lamps), C81 (Lamp bases & sockets), C82 (Ballasts), C137 (Lighting Systems) Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) o Designation of Fellow o Chair - Progress Report Committee, Testing Procedures (TPC) Committee o Research Committee o Nomenclature Committee o Industrial Lighting Committee US National Committee to the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) o United States expert to the IEC in lighting o US Technical Advisor to USNC for IEC TC34/SC34B - Lamp bases and sockets Canadian Standards Association (CSA) - Integrated Committee on Lighting Products (ICLP) |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Intellectual Property For two major federal IP court cases involving alleged patent infringement, functioned as the main manufacturer’s expert witness. Collected, organized and filtered significant amounts of information for discovery. Interviewed possible internal and external support witnesses and provided input and counterarguments for opposing party evidence. Besides in-court testimony, generated computer programming on-site to provide data to defend their position of non-infringement. Although not directly related to litigation, wrote the claims and abstracts for many patent submitting, so Expert is quite familiar with the construction of these documents. Product Liability Involved with 18 accident investigations related to lighting products as a manufacturer’s expert, ranging from damages caused by overheating sockets (connector to the lamp), to fires related to non-passive failures of metal halide lamps. By analyzing the allegedly failed product, installation site and operating conditions, was able to settle most of these issues prior to any need for discovery or depositions. Three of these incidents were elevated to discovery and various levels of depositions. In all three of these cases, was in charge of assembling and organizing discovery documents as well as worked with the internal and external attorneys to prepare and participate in depositions. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Additional Holophane experience: Early projects included pavement reflectance research, development of subjective and direct reading illumination quality metering, and manual optical design leading to development of optical design programs. Progressed into luminaire design, pole design, lighting computer analysis, HID magnetic/electronic ballast design, lamp technology, corrosion analysis and testing, specification of luminaire materials and lighting controls. |
Fields of Expertise
accident investigation, electric lighting system, electric power, electric power quality, electric power system, electric power system analysis, electrical safety code, electrical safety standard, electrical-power system control, electromagnetic compatibility, electromagnetic interference, energy-efficient lighting system, fire investigation, light safety, light-emitting diode, light-emitting diode luminance, lighting design, lighting device, lighting process, lighting system, lighting system design, power quality, power-supply circuit, product liability, solid state lighting