When the global lighting, design and technology community converges at LIGHTFAIR International in Philadelphia May 7 to 11, professionals from around the world will discover a full slate of industry-specific networking events available to elevate and enhance the trade show and conference experience.

The LIGHTFAIR 2017 events lineup brings together professionals to make connections and find out about what’s on the horizon in lighting design, directly from industry experts and manufacturers.

Highlighting the 2017 events featured in The HUB, Impact Speaker David Robertson will explore the fascinating topic of innovation. His presentation, “How Any Company Can Learn from LEGO’s Successful Innovation Management System,” will cover how to manage innovation across a company. He will “reveal the secrets behind LEGO’s success and the lessons to be learned about how to lead and structure innovation.”

Preceding and setting the stage for the trade show opening, the prestigious LFI Innovation Awards will highlight the industry’s most innovative products and designs introduced during the last 12 months. The presentation will take place on May 9 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., and the trade show floor will open at 9 a.m.

HUB Lounge—the Central Meeting Space

The HUB lounge, sponsored by MINEBEAMITSUMI, will offer a central meeting space for events in Level 100, Hall F, Booth 5455 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Networking opportunities will take place May 9 to 11 including featured speakers, exhibitor presentations, receptions and giveaways.

The “Welcome to Philadelphia Reception” will conclude the May 9 trade show opening day networking schedule in The HUB. The schedule that day will also include exhibitor presentations by MINEBEAMITSUMI, TUV RHEINLAND OF NORTH AMERICA and SEOUL SEMICONDUCTOR and an exhibitor seminar by HUNTER INDUSTRIES.

On May 10, there will be two young professional events in The HUB—“Student and Emerging Professionals Roundtable” and “The Young and the (Not So) Restless: How Emerging Professionals Can Impact the Industry” with Moderator Paul Tarricone, IES, Editor/Publisher of LD+A magazine. There will also be exhibitor presentations by CURRENT, POWERED BY GE; MINEBEAMITSUMI and LITESHEET SOLUTIONS and an exhibitor seminar by CIMCON LIGHTING. The day will end with an “Industry Mix & Mingle” reception.

On the last day of LIGHTFAIR, May 11, the highly-attended women in lighting series will continue in its third year with “The Work/Life Balancing Act: Expectations & Communication across Generations” in The HUB. It will be followed by the annual attendee “Appreciation Lunch” with the “Welcome to Chicago LFI 2018 Gift Card Giveaway” which will conclude the 2017 events in The HUB.

Opportunity to Win Prizes

The New Exhibitor Pavilion will be a gathering place for viewing the latest innovations from first-time exhibitors while enjoying refreshments. There will be a special event each trade show day: “Cocktail Hour” (May 9, 4 to 5 p.m.), “Philadelphia Snack” (May 10, 3 to 4 p.m.) and “Morning Mingle” (May 11, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.). Attendees can also enter to win prizes by logging five or more booth visits in the New Exhibitor Pavilion within the Pavilion Giveaway section in the LIGHTFAIR app.

Attendees will have the opportunity to have a professional headshot photograph taken at the #LFI2017 My Headshot area in Booth 5734 in Level 100, Hall F. Another fun stop will be the #LFI2017 Philly Photos area in Booth 4171 in Level 200 where they can take an entertaining assortment of themed photos to share on social media and bring home a printed copy in a complimentary frame.

The sought-after giveaway at LIGHTFAIR will be this year’s new t-shirt, the design for which was selected by popular public vote. Attendees with the ticket in their badge can pick up their “Keep Calm and…T-Shirt Giveaway” tee on May 9 to 10, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 11, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.