About the Firm

Built for the Lighting Industry.

We are practitioners, not generalists. Every engagement draws on decades of direct experience inside the lighting and controls industry — from product development to channel strategy to energy policy.

Our Story

Why We Exist

Connected Expertise was founded on a simple observation: the lighting and controls industry is underserved by traditional consulting. Most firms bring frameworks but not fluency — they understand business strategy but not photometric performance, not DLC qualification, not the dynamics of a rep network or the complexity of a Title 24 compliance cycle.

We built this firm to close that gap. Our team has worked inside manufacturers, distributors, and integrators — not just advised them. That firsthand experience shapes how we diagnose problems, how we communicate with technical teams, and how we design solutions that actually get implemented.

Today we work with companies at every stage — from emerging manufacturers navigating their first channel strategy to established distributors rethinking their value proposition in a market reshaped by networked lighting and energy mandates.

"We don't just understand the business of lighting — we've lived it."

What We Stand For

Our Principles

Industry Fluency

We speak the language of lighting — photometrics, controls protocols, DLC, Title 24, rep networks. Our advice is grounded in technical reality, not abstraction.

Honest Counsel

We tell clients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. If a strategy won't work in this market, we say so — and we explain why.

Practical Outcomes

Every engagement ends with something actionable. We don't deliver reports that sit on shelves. We deliver decisions, plans, and the confidence to execute them.

Long-Term Relationships

Our best client relationships span years and multiple engagements. We invest in understanding your business deeply so our counsel gets sharper over time.

Leadership

The Team

Larry Smith

Founder & Principal Consultant

30+ years in lighting & controls
Former VP of Sales, national LED manufacturer
General Manager - Energy Services Group
LEED AP, Lighting Certified (LC)

Larry brings 30 years of experience across lighting manufacturing, distribution strategy, and energy policy. He has led product launches for major LED manufacturers, built rep networks from the ground up, and advised on DLC qualification strategy for dozens of product lines. He founded Connected Expertise to bring that depth of experience directly to clients who need it most.

John Bagwell

Senior Advisor, Controls & Automation

40+ years in controls & automation
Building automation & IoT integration specialist
CEDIA Certified Designer
ASHRAE 90.1 compliance specialist

John brings 40+ years of experience at the intersection of lighting controls, building automation, and systems integration. His career spans the full arc of the controls industry — from early programmable systems to today's networked, IoT-enabled environments. He helps clients navigate the technical and commercial complexity of modern controls deployments, from protocol selection and system architecture to commissioning strategy and field execution.

David Reyes

Advisor, Energy Policy & Sustainability

Energy policy & code compliance specialist
Title 24 & ASHRAE 90.1 expert
Former utility program manager
Certified Energy Manager (CEM)

David focuses on the regulatory and sustainability dimensions of the lighting market. He has deep expertise in Title 24, ASHRAE 90.1, and the evolving landscape of energy codes and incentive programs. He helps manufacturers and distributors turn compliance complexity into competitive advantage.

Credentials & Affiliations

Industry Standing

DesignLights Consortium (DLC)

Technical committee participation and QPL strategy advisory

Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)

Active member; contributor to lighting education initiatives

ASHRAE

90.1 energy standard compliance and advisory work

CEDIA

Residential and commercial controls integration expertise

U.S. DOE Lighting Programs

Familiarity with ENERGY STAR and CALiPER testing frameworks

Ready to work with us?

Whether you have a specific challenge in mind or simply want to explore what a consulting relationship might look like, we'd welcome the conversation.

Schedule a Consultation