Arguably the most popular home tech feature is controlled lighting, and this session will show you the best methods for success.

While buyers of high-end custom homes often go for "the works" when it comes to home technology features, let's face it: Most of us don't live in high-end custom homes. This means most builders are dealing with something far less then whole-house when it comes to marketing and installing home tech.

That still leaves plenty of room for option profits, and one area that homeowners are always interested in is controlled lighting. That should come as no surprise, when you consider that lifestyle enhancements are what most homeowners look for in home tech. Lighting control not only allows the homeowner to better control lighting and mood when just the family is home, it is an enormously popular feature when it comes to entertaining.

About the Speakers

Lee Odess (panel moderator)
Home Builder Account Supervisor
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
Coopersburg, Penn.

Lee Odess is the national home builder account supervisor for lighting control manufacturer Lutron Electronics, headquartered in Coopersburg, Pa. Working in the company's Washington DC office, Odess serves as the Lutron liaison with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). He has been affiliated with the home building industry for the past five years and is focused on forging key relationships nationwide and developing a company-wide builder campaign. In his tenure with the NAHB, Odess has been active with several committees, including the Custom Builder Committee and the NAHB 20 Clubs, for which he is a liaison for the NCHI Supplier 100. Lutron Electronics is a world leader in natural and artificial light control, has been a member of the NCHI Supplier 100 for the past three years and the exclusive sponsor of the NAHB 20 Clubs for the past year. Lutron is a recurring sponsor of the Custom Builder Symposium and The New American Home.

Utz Baldwin (panelist)
President, AD Systems
Houston, Texas

In addition to being president of AD Systems, a provider of audio, video and lighting control systems and solutions, Baldwin served as the chairperson of the 2004 Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) management conference.

Jim McVaugh (panelist)
Principal/President, McVaugh Custom Homes
Houston, Texas

McVaugh manages the overall business of custom home construction and develops the overall goals and strategies at McVaugh Custom Homes. He initiates new projects, identifies development potentials, negotiates for properties and construction projects. In addition, he provides overall project planning and direction to project managers, trouble shoots problems, and handles various management issues.

Emily Rosenthal (panelist)
Co-owner, Rosenthal Homes
Potomac, Md.

A co-owner of Rosenthal Homes, Rosenthal has years of experience in interior finishing, including lighting design and appliance and fixture selection. In addition, she acts as a client advisor on design choices.