January 19th–23rd

Chicago, IL

View Agenda

Hotel Info

The Drake Hotel

140 East Walton Place
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone 312.787.2200

Camellia Room
WiFi: The Drake Meetings
Password: drake26

Our Presenters

Get ready to learn about the company’s latest insights, trends, and programs from across the organization and be prepared to walk with the new tools and knowledge on how to be a stronger, more confident seller!

Amy Bonder

Chief Commercial Officer
Strategic Plan and Vision for the Future

Jeff Parker

Chief Executive Officer
Year in Review & Product Roadmap

Kurt Starkey

Chief Operating Officer
ETDBW & Operational Improvements

Jason Farmer

Chief Financial Officer
Fun with Finance

Taylor Jacobs

Vice President of Sales
Sales Excellence

Ryan Raica-Scallan

Vice President of Sales
Sales Excellence

James Pepper

Strategic Accounts
Sales Excellence

Andy Bunker

Managing Director EMEA
EMEA Territory Overview

…and many more

Guest Speakers

Lara Cordell

Lara Cordell has spent over 20 years in the lighting industry and holds a Master of Science in Lighting from RPI’s Lighting Research Center. Before joining WB in 2009, she worked as an award-winning lighting designer and as Vice President of a start-up manufacturer. She is Lighting Certified, an active IES member, and has served on boards for both IESOC and the IALD Education Trust. At WB, Lara leads the sales organization with a focus on growth, market expansion, and team excellence.

Brett Andersen

Brett Andersen is a Partner and Principal Designer at Focus Lighting, where he brings over 20 years of experience in architectural and theatrical lighting design. His work spans hospitality, entertainment, retail, and cultural projects worldwide, known for its strong visual storytelling and technical craft. Brett also leads the firm’s hands-on lighting research and experimentation efforts, contributing to many award-winning and widely published projects.

Kristin Pickar-Knussmann

Kristin Pickar-Knussmann is the Principal Designer and Owner of Lighting in Layers, bringing over 20 years of experience in lighting design across residential, hospitality, and commercial projects. A Texas A&M graduate with a Bachelor of Environmental Design, she is AIALD, MIES, and LEED AP certified. Kristin founded Lighting in Layers to bring the same level of award-winning, thoughtfully layered lighting design found in hospitality and commercial work to residential spaces, creating environments that are both functional and beautifully personal.

Weather

Chicago, IL

Prepare for Winter Weather: Chicago in January is extremely cold, often between 0°F and 25°F (-18°C to -4°C), with windchill making it feel even colder—dress in layers and bring proper winter gear.

Travel Tips

Passport: Ensure you have a valid passport for U.S. entry. Most airports are now requiring all U.S. identification cards be updated to the Real I.D. If yours is not updated, make sure to have a valid passport for air travel.

Currency: Chicago uses the U.S. Dollar (USD); credit cards are widely accepted, but having a small amount of cash is helpful.

Meeting Locations: Know the locations of our hotel and venues; downtown is walkable, but winter traffic and icy sidewalks can slow you down, so allow extra time.

Transportation Tips:

Airport: O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is the main airport, about 30–45 minutes from downtown depending on traffic and weather.
Ridesharing: Uber and Lyft are widely available, though wait times may increase during poor weather or peak periods.

Contacts

Dawn Andersen

dandersen@luminii.com

(General Event Questions)

Ryan Ellis

rellis@luminii.com

(Presentations, General Support)

Dragana Pandev

dpandev@luminii.com

(Hotel Accommodations)