Local Professionals Join Forces to Form IES Chapter

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A group of Northwest Arkansas architecture and engineering professionals has started a Fayetteville chapter of the Illuminating Engineering Society.

The move was made largely due to the unstable nature of the Little Rock chapter, and after Bert Jones was approached by IES “on a national level.”

Jones is a project manager at TME Inc. in Fayetteville. About 15 people attended the Fayetteville chapter’s first meeting, on Dec. 15, but Jones said he’s tapping into a total membership base of about 50 in Northwest Arkansas.

“There were quite a few people, like me, who live and breathe lights,” he said.

The mission of the IES, per its website, is “to improve the lighted environment by bringing together those with lighting knowledge and by translating that knowledge into actions that benefit the public.”

Added Jones, “The basic idea is to educate one another and share experiences.”

Continuing education credits can be earned by attending meetings, and Jones said the local goal is to have about eight meetings per year. The Fayetteville chapter plans to hold its second meeting sometime this month.

Jones serves as president of the chapter’s board of directors. Other officers include vice president Bart Gilbreath (Garver), secretary Grant Logan (TME) and treasurer Marie Gentry (University of Arkansas).