Custom Hats Offered at ALA’s WIL Networking Event

WAC Group to host Women in Lighting at Lightovation With Cowboy Hat Bar

Known as a fun opportunity for lighting peers to gather casually during market, the annual Women in Lighting (WIL) committee’s networking reception – held during January Lightovation – draws a crowd from American Lighting Association (ALA) members and non-members alike.

With the theme “Diamonds, Denim & Discussion,” next month’s event will be hosted by WAC Group in its showroom (TM 3101) on the third floor of the Dallas Market Center’s Trade Mart on Sunday, January 11, from 4pm to 5:30 pm. The first 100 guests will enjoy the unique opportunity to decorate their own custom hat at a “Cowboy Hat Bar” created for the occasion. All attendees are invited to pick up a commemorative gift from WAC Group.

The WIL reception welcomes all lighting professionals, regardless of gender or ALA membership, and aims to create a space for community, mentorship, and shared experience.

According to organizers, the upcoming event will boast an elevated experience that includes a live DJ, appetizers, drinks, and the aforementioned Cowboy Hat Bar.

The new WIL pin and a commemorative T-shirt from the recent 2025 ALA Conference are available at a special price of $20 for the pin and T-shirt as a set. Every purchase supports the WIL Scholarship Fund, which was created by the Kathy Skogen Memorial Fund to provide access to ALA training and certification programs for women across the lighting industry.

The reception will also highlight the opportunity to join WIL’s mentorship groups, which launched in 2024. These small, focused groups provide women in the lighting industry with meaningful ways to connect, share knowledge, and grow together in monthly virtual sessions. Each group meets for 10 months, fostering collaboration and professional development within a supportive cohort of about 10 participants. New mentorship groups will form for 2026, running from February through November. Details and a sign-up sheet will be provided at the reception. Visit the WIL Mentorship page for more details.

Nominations for the 2026 Women in Lighting Leadership Award can also be made here. Nominations are open until April 1, and the award recipient will be announced at the WIL during the June 24-27 Lightovation show. The official award presentation will take place at the 2026 ALA Conference, held September 27-29 in Tucson, Arizona. Any ALA member may be nominated, and each nominee must also be an ALA member.

For more information about Women in Lighting, visit www.lightingwomen.com, join the WIL Facebook Group and LinkedIn Group, and follow @ALAWomenInLighting on Instagram.

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