James Highgate

James Highgate has over two decades of experience in the lighting industry. James most recently worked at KYOCERA SLD Laser as a National Sales and Business Development professional, where they focused on capturing new sales opportunities and generating value for both customers and the company. Prior to that, they were a Senior Technical Consultant at Smart Tech Consultants from 2018 to 2022.

From 2017 to 2018, James worked at Kobi Electric Inc as a Business Development and National Sales leader, responsible for developing and launching new products and leading commercial sales efforts with an annual volume of $20 million.

Before that, they founded and directed The LED Show at PennWell from 2008 to 2018, managing technical papers, securing speakers, and overseeing marketing communications for the expo. James also held roles as the Director of National Sales and Business/Product Development at Sengled and Director of Sales and Marketing at The Lighting Group.

In their early career, James was a Factory Sales Representative at Acuity Brands, managing top sales for lighting products and achieving record sales and profits. James also worked as a Lighting Industrial Designer, focusing on projects in the movie and hospitality industries.

Throughout their career, James has consistently demonstrated their expertise in national sales, business development, product development, and marketing within the lighting industry.

James Highgate attended the University of Washington from 2001 to 2003, where they studied Computer Science. James then enrolled in the Community College of the Air Force to pursue a degree in Air Traffic Control. In addition, James obtained a certification as a Lighting Certified (LC) from the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) in November 2005. James also holds a certification as an Air Traffic Controller, obtained through the United States Air Force. James later attended the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical, although the specific dates of their enrollment and graduation were not provided.