Installing and designing outdoor lighting for the past decade, I am well acquainted with Kichler low voltage lighting fixtures. My son, Ben, and I recently attended low voltage design training at the Kichler headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.

We were busy and being gone for three days would mean putting some work on hold. I have been eating, sleeping and breathing outdoor lighting for over 10 years. What could they teach me? Most of the attendees haven’t been installing low voltage landscape lighting for long and the training would be geared towards these “new guys.” Would they be able to teach this old dog any new tricks?

I have used Kichler low voltage lighting fixtures and am quite familiar with their product line. We don’t use them all the time, but there are occasions when a fixture from their lineup is just what the customer is looking for. Luminocity isn’t a one trick pony where one or two fixtures is used for every installation. Each installation requires a variety of fixtures, beam spread or wattage.

The class turned out to be well worth my time. I learned some new things and met outdoor lighting professionals from various parts of the country. It is always valuable to build contacts in the lighting profession from different areas. From time to time, I’ll run into a lighting challenge. I don’t like to be stumped and always want to offer the customer a variety of options. Having a fellow outdoor lighting professional I can call and draw from his experience has proved to be helpful.

Since I am passionate about outdoor lighting, I want to learn all I can to be the best. Like any professional, it is important to continuously grow and sharpen one’s skills.