The Society Welcomes New Board Members and Approves Bylaw Changes
NEW YORK— The annual voting process for the Annual Membership Meeting is an opportunity for the members of the Illuminating Engineering Society to determine the future of the Society and is one of the most important benefits of membership. The 2025 IES Annual Membership Meeting contained two important items to vote on: approving the slate of Board Members as proposed by the Nominating Committee and revisions to the Bylaws.
The Society’s governing body, the Board of Directors, is responsible for all of the legal and financial affairs of the Society and is composed of members elected by the membership. The IES Executive Committee includes the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Past-President.
The IES welcomes the following individuals to the Board of Directors for their term, which will start on January 1, 2026:
Vice President/President-Elect (2026): Scotty Hutto
At Large Directors (2026-2027):
- Javier Villaseñor
- Robert White
- Chris Wolgamott
Northeast Regional Director (2026-2027): AJ Hetzke
Midwest Regional Director (2026-2027): Marian Perez
Jared Smith, the 2025 Vice President/President-Elect, will become IES President on January 1, 2026, completing his term as President at the end of next year.
Thank you to current members of the Board of Directors whose terms will be ending at the end of this year:
- Tanya Hernandez
- Kelly O’Connor
- Ira Rothman
- Billy Tubb
The following revisions to the IES Bylaws were also approved by the voting members of the Society:
- Elimination of Associate grade membership: All EP Members, after five years continuous EP membership, will automatically transition to Member grade. New membership applicants can enter as EP Member or Member grade, depending on qualifications.
- Clarification on Honorary Membership: Removed the requirement of Marks or Medal Award recipient, leaving this at the discretion of the board. Honorary Member grade receives member benefits, but cannot vote or hold office at any Society level.
- Addition of Distinguished Member: Reserved for individuals that are recipients of the Society’s highest awards, Marks Award and Medal Award, because of their contribution to the lighting community or the Society, and shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board. Distinguished Members shall be exempt from the payment of dues and are entitled to all current privileges of the Society. This replaces the previous requirements for Honorary Membership.
- Addition of Allied Organization Member: A new membership grade reserved for individuals within organizations who are not involved in the lighting professions but are allied with the IES on standards and research (e.g. HVAC, Architecture, Interior Design, Photobiology, Architecture/Engineering Education). They will be allowed discounts on all IES materials, conferences, and programs, with the exception of the IES Lighting Library. Allied Organization members will be allowed to participate in IES technical committees under ANSI procedures and IES Technical Committee rules. They will not be allowed to participate in any committees outside of the technical committees nor participate in leadership at Section or Society levels.
- Clarifications on Emeritus qualifications: Raised the age requirement for Emeritus from 60 to 62 and changed language to “at least” instead of “total” 15 years as a Member or Fellow.