May 27, 2025
SESCO Expands Into Dallas With NEXGEN Acquisition
One week after announcing its entry into Central Texas, the mega-agent moves north
Last week, we flagged the surprising market order in SESCO’s Texas debut: first Austin and San Antonio via the acquisition of ERT, not the more obvious first strike in Dallas or Houston. Now we know why.
SESCO Lighting has announced its intent to acquire NEXGEN Lighting Solutions, a 35-person agency based in Carrollton, Texas. The deal is expected to close on July 1, 2025 — the same day SESCO finalizes the ERT acquisition. With this second Texas pickup in as many weeks, SESCO connects the dots across I-35, linking San Antonio, Austin and now Dallas into its steadily growing empire, which already spans Florida to the Carolinas, through Tennessee and into the Caribbean.
Founded in 2016, NEXGEN has grown quickly in North Texas and represents multiple Genlyte Solutions brands — just like ERT. That alignment suggests strategic manufacturer continuity behind SESCO’s expansion. It also means that in less than two weeks, SESCO will have scooped up two Genlyte-aligned agencies and installed itself as Genlyte’s rep across a major swath of Texas.
“I’m excited and humbled,” said SESCO President and CEO John Palk. “NEXGEN already embodies the employee ownership mentality, and we’re thrilled to bring their drive and enthusiasm into SESCO’s culture.”
The new deal will bring SESCO’s employee count to over 515 and add another major metro to its map. NEXGEN President Michael Payne, who helped launch the firm nine years ago, framed the deal as a values-aligned move.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to build a culture centered on service, innovation, and lasting partnerships,” Payne said. “Joining SESCO is the next natural step — and one that broadens our opportunities while staying true to our mission.”
The Larger Arc
While the deal is pitched as a cultural match, the timing and geography speak volumes. With Central and North Texas now spoken for, the I-35 corridor looks like the backbone of a deliberate Texas campaign. Houston — the home territory to another Southern mega-agent, Bell & McCoy — remains untouched for now, but it no longer feels out of reach.
The July 1 dual closings mean SESCO will formally expand into 11 states and plant a flag in three of Texas' major metro regions. And with each step, it adds not just market coverage, but greater share of Genlyte’s national rep footprint — a fact that may prompt future recalibrations by manufacturers watching their portfolios consolidate.
For now, SESCO continues to play the long game. Quietly, methodically — and unmistakably westward.
