WAC Group’s Tony Wang to Receive Icon Award

Prestigious award recognizes the chairman and founder of WAC Lighting for leadership within and outside of the field.

Tony Wang, chairman and founder of New York-based WAC Lighting, will receive the Long Island Business News (LIBN) Icon Honor Award this month.

In 1984, Tony and his wife, Tai, established Wangs Alliance Corporation d/b/a WAC Lighting (now WAC Group), which has evolved into a lighting industry leader.

LIBN’s Icon Honors recognize Long Island-based business leaders over the age of 60 for their notable success and leadership within and outside of their respective fields. The honorees have moved their businesses and Long Island forward by growing jobs and making a difference in the community. To be eligible for Icon Honors, winners must have a long-standing commitment to the Long Island business community,  a sustained dedication to philanthropic service and mentoring, and held senior management-level positions for their organization. The winners are selected by the editors of Long Island Business News.

“The 2026 Icon Honors recipients are an impressive group of leaders. They have worked tirelessly to excel in their careers, but they work just as hard to spark innovation and progress, meeting a variety of challenges on Long Island and beyond,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Long Island Business News.

“These visionaries are actively engaged in the community, and they mentor other leaders as well. We at Long Island Business News are pleased to honor them.”

The winners will be recognized at a celebration on Thursday, March 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Crest Hollow Country Club, 8325 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, New York. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by the luncheon and awards celebration at noon. The event hashtag is #LIBNevents.

Winners will be profiled in a special section that will be inserted into the March 20 issue of Long Island Business News and will be available online at LIBN.com.

A family-owned and -operated lighting designer and manufacturer, WAC operates expansive facilities in New York, Georgia, Texas, and California. WAC also uses dedicated factories in China and Thailand. The company is committed to research and development, superior design for function and aesthetics, solving complex challenges, and building energy-efficient luminaires and controls.

Under Wang’s leadership, strong family values have been translated into business values while promoting high standards of entrepreneurship and quality of life. The company is continuously upgrading its operations, sustainable energy-efficient technology, and design aesthetics, while supporting diversity and goodwill.

Wang is also an advisory board member of Northwell Health Cancer Institute and was recently honored at New York’s Selfhelp Gala for his professional accomplishments in the lighting industry and for his philanthropic work in local communities. He was also nominated for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award and has received many other accolades. Wang has been committed to motivating, managing, and inspiring employees to deliver innovative lighting products, advanced technologies, and outstanding service.

Over the years, the company has spearheaded relief efforts for those impacted by hurricanes and other catastrophes, sponsored the United States Department of Energy Solar Decathlon and the Annual Invitational Science Fair, and supported many other causes. He has also collaborated with Mount Sinai Hospital Lighting Health and Research Center to explore lighting’s impact on health and wellness.

WAC has received many of awards and accolades for technological innovation, industry and educational leadership including: Long Island Research Association and WAC Science Fair for LI High School Students and LaGuardia College; Proclamations from Nassau County Supervisor Bruce Blakeman; sponsoring Hall of Science in Rockville Centre; honored by Selfhelp Community for helping seniors with housing and healthcare; and the HEARTS Award from the American Lighting Association and Dallas Market Center for outstanding service during the COVID pandemic. In addition, Tony’s wife and co-founder, Tai, has received the Asian American Visionary Award from the International Leadership Foundation, the Hofstra University Suburban Diversity Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Rotary Gift of Life International Humanitarian Award, and the US President’s Volunteer Service and Leadership Award.