This issue’s member spotlight is on Turquoise Shaw!
When did you first hear about the IES and what prompted you to join?
I first heard about IES from my college professor Dr Helms, he taught lighting and electrical distribution at North Carolina A & T State University. As a class, we would go to the local Greensboro chapter IES meetings. My initial reason for going was to receive extra credit on some projects but I quickly found joy in being around other lighting professionals and started networking during my college years.
At what point in your career did you come to understand lighting was the career path for you?
By my junior year of college, I knew I wanted to go in the lighting career path it’s always been a passion of mine and I enjoy what I get to do every single day. Helping people reduce their energy consumption by switching their old inefficient light fixtures to new efficient LED fixtures.
What is the best thing about the Society? Why do you continue to renew?
The best part about being a part of the society is being around like-minded people just as enthused as I am about lighting. The opportunity to network and learn about new products that are on the market. Lighting technology and design criteria is constantly changing and evolving so that’s my main reason for continuously renewing my membership to stay up to date. And I think the IES does a great job of doing that.
Past/Recent Projects
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for St John College in Santa Fe, Mexico. The lighting portion of the project was $0.7 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Isle of Wight Public Schools in Virginia. The lighting portion of the project was $2.1 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Glynn County in Georgia. The lighting portion of the project was $2.1 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Newport News Public Schools – Phase 2 in Virginia. The lighting portion of the project was $4.4 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Prairie View A&M University in Texas. The lighting portion of the project was $2.4 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Albemarle County in Virginia. The lighting portion of the project was $6.3 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for City of Atlanta in Georgia. The lighting portion of the project was $2.3 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Douglas County in Georgia. The lighting portion of the project was $0.8 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Medical University of South Carolina – Phase 2 in South Carolina. The lighting portion of the project was $6.3 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Southwest Virginia Regional Authority in Virginia. The lighting portion of the project was $0.9 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for Eastern Louisiana Mental Health Systems in Louisiana. The lighting portion of the project was $2.6 million.
• Surveyed and developed new/retrofitted the lighting for New River Valley Jail in Virginia. The lighting portion of the project was $0.4 million.
When not serving the advancement of the art and science of lighting, how do you like to spend your free time?
I enjoy traveling with friends and family and I love to explore new cultures and new places. I enjoy biking swimming and running. Hiking through nature and camping… anything outdoors.