Small business spotlight: Green Lumens LLC

Company: Green Lumens LLC

Location: Innovation Centre at Florida Atlantic University, 3731 FAU Blvd., Boca Raton

Service: Custom-designed, energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for high-profile commercial and industrial clients, including the Empire State Building, AOL Time Warner and Miami International Airport. By retrofitting lights to existing fixtures, Green Lumens aims to increase energy efficiency and lower operating expenses while reducing a client’s carbon footprint.

Years in business: 41/2 years in Boca Raton

Management team: Neil Glachman, chairman; Charlie Heinzelman, CEO; Peter Lande, regional vice president; Lonnie Chenkin, director of business development; and Patrick Heinzelman, national sales manager

​Revenues: 2010-2011: $0; 2012: $500,000; 2013: $1.15 million; 2014: $2 million; 2015 (projected): $10 million.

Employees: 12

Milestones:

2010-2011: Founder Neil Glachman traveled the world researching the market and developing a business plan.

2012: Lefrak Organization, one of the largest residential landowners in New York City, becomes a client.

2013: Nobu Restaurants contracts with Green Lumens to create an ambient lighting system for its upscale dining rooms. AOL Time Warner, Miami International Airport and the Miami-Dade Police Department become clients.

2014: Green Lumens designs a custom lighting system for the Empire State Building’s stairwells to conserve energy and reduce operating costs.

2015: Company headquarters move to the Innovation Centre at FAU. GreenLumens is featured in a Discovery Channel episode on innovative LED lighting.

Keys to success: Providing innovative, custom lighting systems to high-end clients to increase productivity and enhance aesthetics. Offering versatile designs for clients ranging from gourmet restaurants to shopping centers to government buildings. Promoting energy efficiency and sustainability through retrofit solutions. Maximizing a client’s return-on-investment by advocating utility company rebates and federal tax incentives.

Impact: Supporting environmental sensitivity and energy efficiency while reducing the client’s bottom line.

Strategy for next steps: Green Lumens has strategically expanded its management team to include seasoned sales and marketing professionals. The company’s objective is to scale the sales and business development team to 50 people and increase revenue to $40 million in the next two years. Green Lumens plans to open a New York office this year.

“I know the model that I’m building is the right model,” Glachman said. “It’s a market segment that needs us, and there are a lot of big players in that segment.”

JULIE LANDRY LAVIOLETTE

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/biz-monday/article19005021.html