Jerry McKay, founder of McKay Landscape Lighting, hosted The Lighting Summit Jan. 27-28 at the Embassy Suites in Omaha, Neb.
In its third year, The Lighting Summit is an annual two-day gathering for landscape lighting professionals to learn and collaborate with like-minded professionals in a noncompetitive environment, McKay said. The Summit’s agenda includes educational seminars and workshops focused on business growth, improvement and best practices.
The topics included:
- Tracking customers through the sales process;
- Understanding the customer experience;
- Content marketing: Pro tips on attracting more visitors and generating more leads with Katie Kemerling;
- Value proposition in video marketing;
- Tour of McKay facilities;
- Strategic partner roundtable;
- Innovative lighting designs and challenging installations;
- Leveraging your strengths with PariSmart; and
- Small group breakout sessions.
Guest Speakers included Katie Kemerling, chief content officer at Ervin & Smith, and Pari Smart, a certified Gallup Strengths Coach, emotional intelligence coach, and executive leadership coach. Attendees took the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment and were given their top strengths prior to the event for the presentation with PariSmart.
“I think this event has cut a couple of years off the learning curve,” said Don Powell of Dusk to Dawn in St. Louis.
Following the presentations, attendees toured McKay Landscape Lighting’s facilities and met the McKay team. Attendees also had the chance to share their own landscape lighting designs and installations.
Attendees were also treated to a dinner at McKay’s home and a tour of landscape lighting projects, including the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge.
Photo: McKay Landscape Lighting
