June 13, 2025   

Signify Bets on LightSpec in Michigan Expansion

2025 06 Genlyte Bets on LightSpec in Michigan Expansion MLS.jpg

LightSpec’s newly expanded territory includes the Lower Peninsula of Michigan

Surprise move involves Pro Tech acquisition, reshaping Michigan’s lighting agency landscape

 

In a move that caught many Midwest lighting people off guard, LightSpec will officially begin representing Signify’s Genlyte Solutions in Michigan on Monday, June 16. The expansion marks yet another strategic step for the Upstate New York–based agency, which has been methodically broadening its territory—most recently into Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia this past April.

As part of the move, LightSpec is absorbing Pro Tech Lighting & Controls, a regional agency with a long-standing Michigan presence in both Detroit and Grand Rapids. The Pro Tech team will now operate under the LightSpec brand, giving Genlyte a renewed and restructured foothold in the state after a volatile few months.

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This reshuffle follows a surprisingly abrupt exit by Wizard Lighting, the agency that had represented Genlyte Solutions across Michigan since June 2022. After announcing in late March that it would transition to Current’s HLI and GLI portfolios, Wizard was expected to serve out a customary wind-down period. Instead, Genlyte cut ties immediately — terminating the relationship in early April.

That left a temporary vacuum. Chicago Lightworks, a trusted Genlyte partner based in Illinois, stepped in as an interim rep for Michigan while a longer-term solution was finalized. Few expected LightSpec to be that solution to represent Genlyte's brands which include Ledalite, Lightolier, Lumec, Gardco, Color Kinetics and Philips.

 

The Longshot That Hit

In late March, Inside Lighting’s tongue-in-cheek “DraftKings odds” pegged Michigan Lighting Systems (MLS) as the heavy favorite to take over the Genlyte line — at just 1:20. Meanwhile, the notion of Pro Tech or a LightSpec-led expansion was listed deep in the field at 30:1 and 25:1.

Our oddsmakers have been eerily accurate in recent years. We missed this one.

In the end, Genlyte didn’t go with the expected pick. They went with a long-term bet — folding Pro Tech into a broader, multistate relationship with LightSpec. A longshot win, but one that now looks very much by design. Like a Metro Detroit roundabout: confusing at first, but eventually, everything circles back.

 

What Happened to MLS?

Heading into April, conventional wisdom held that MLS — newly displaced by Current — was in prime position to catch the Genlyte line. The agency boasts a staff of roughly 40, a strong market presence, and had just taken on Wattstopper, a significant controls brand.

And yet: no deal.

The loss of Genlyte keeps one of the “four majors” from MLS’s portfolio—but the agency is far from empty-handed. With brands like LSI, Williams, and Cree Lighting on the line card, MLS retains a solid foundation in general lighting. Wattstopper adds muscle on the controls side.

 

LightSpec’s Long Game

For LightSpec, this isn’t just opportunistic expansion — it’s part of a deliberate pattern. In the past 18 months, the agency has extended its reach from New York into Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, and now Michigan. In each case, Genlyte has been a common thread.

It’s also a kind of return. Pro Tech had previously represented Genlyte Solutions before losing the line in 2022 — when Genlyte awarded the Michigan territory to Wizard Lighting. Now, just three years later, Pro Tech reenters the fold, this time under the LightSpec banner. For Genlyte, it’s less a reversal than a recalibration — pairing old territory knowledge with a newer, broader agency alignment.

The model appears to favor consolidation: fewer agency partners across broader territories. Instead of one agency per metro, Genlyte seems to be banking on regional scale, consistency, and strategic alignment. LightSpec fits that mold.

It’s also worth noting that this isn’t LightSpec’s first brush with Michigan. The company has gradually increased its presence in nearby markets like Toledo and Northeast Ohio, making the jump to Detroit and Grand Rapids a logical next step.

 

A Market Redrawn

Michigan’s lighting map is shifting fast. Wizard is pivoting toward Current. MLS, once seen as a strong contender for Genlyte, is now forging ahead with a new look. Even EMI has slightly recalibrated in recent months. Amid the churn, LightSpec has inserted itself quietly but decisively — backed by Genlyte and bolstered by Pro Tech’s infrastructure.

As for the rest of the agency ecosystem, Acuity’s long-standing partnership with Gasser Bush continues to anchor the territory, with its agency maintaining the #1 market position in Eastern Michigan. Meanwhile, Clarus Lighting & Controls remains on solid footing, delivering a strong and consistent presence for Cooper Lighting Solutions in Metro Detroit.

 

What Comes Next?

For MLS, the immediate question is whether LSI, Williams, Cree Lighting and Wattstopper provide enough momentum for the 40 person agency. With a solid team in place, MLS still has reach. But in today’s realigned territory model, reach without major alignment may not be enough.

For LightSpec, the bigger question may be what comes after Michigan. Six states in, the agency is now one of Genlyte’s largest regional partners. Is this the finish line—or just the halfway mark?

 

 

 




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