Tom Butters comes to NLB with Extensive Lighting Experience
NASHVILLE, TN – The National Lighting Bureau welcomes Tom Butters, of Lighting
Agora, as the new Executive Director. As the new Executive Director, Tom’s extensive
background in lighting offers valuable insights and guidance to continue growing the NLB
membership and make strides to reach goals and efforts to unite the lighting industry with
outside organizations. While we eagerly anticipate Butters joining the NLB, it’s essential to
acknowledge the bittersweet moment as we bid farewell to Randy Reid after his impressive five-
year tenure with our organization. “On behalf of the NLB Board, I want to extend a warm
welcome to Tom Butters as our new Executive Director. His credentials, energy and passion for
lighting excellence make him a perfect fit for our organization,” says National Lighting Bureau
Chair, Mary Beth Gotti.
Tom Butters will step into the role of Executive Director on January 3rd, 2024 and states,
“I am simultaneously honored, humbled, and excited about the opportunity to work with the
wonderful and passionate people at the National Lighting Bureau. We all share a common desire
and goal of advancing best lighting practices to create an inviting, healthier, and more
sustainable future for everyone. I look forward to reaching out to like-minded organizations to
develop synergistic programs to benefit the lighting industry and the general public. Finally, I
have had the privilege and the challenge to follow in the footsteps of many impressive leaders,
and this situation is precisely that. Randy Reid has done a phenomenal job as Executive Director
of the NLB and I will work diligently to meet the high bar he has set.”
Butters brings over three decades of experience to The National Lighting Bureau. With a
career spanning more than 30 years, Tom’s wealth of knowledge, leadership acumen, and track
record of success make him a highly sought-after addition to our organization. While awards
such as IES Section Service Award, IES Toronto Section’s prestigious G.G. Cousins Award
stands as a testament to his professional prowess, Butters was the director of the winning team
for 2020 Lightfair Innovation Judge’s Citation Awards. Over the years, he has played a pivotal
role in the lives of hundreds of former education attendees, leaving an indelible mark on their
journeys.
The NLB looks to 2024 in excitement of the positive impact Tom Butters will bring to
the organization. As NLB prepares to achieve new goals together they equally extend their
heartfelt gratitude to Randy Reid for his invaluable contributions. The transition represents both
the end of a noteworthy era and the beginning of an exciting new phase for NLB, enriched by the
experiences of both departing and incoming professionals.
The National Lighting Bureau is an independent, IRS-recognized not-for-profit,
educational foundation that has served as a trusted lighting information source. For more
information please visit: www.NLB.org.
