February 9, 2026
Bell & McCoy Doubles Down in Metro Atlanta
Acquisition of Next Gen adds distribution depth and spec-side relationships
Nine months after its headline-grabbing acquisition of Smart Lighting Solutions, Bell & McCoy has tapped into Atlanta for more. The Texas-based mega agency, which has rapidly built a formidable presence across 13 states and 20 territories, has now acquired Next Generation Lighting, a smaller but strategically anchored agency based in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Bell & McCoy could have stopped after acquiring Smart Lighting Solutions last May. With a strong team, established offices, and major lines like Lutron and Current already in place, Atlanta was, by basic measures, checked off the list. But the agency saw a sliver of opportunity — and took it. Rather than rest on consolidation, Bell & McCoy executed what looks like a precision strike, aimed not at redundancy but at reinforcement.
Next Gen is owned by Tim Duff and Jay Andrews, who are expected to remain with the agency. As is often the case with private transactions, the financial terms were not disclosed.
A Measured Addition, Not a Redundant One
While Smart Lighting Solutions brought Bell & McCoy into Georgia with considerable heft — spanning territory, team size, and a portfolio anchored by names like Lutron and Current — Next Generation Lighting offers additional reinforcements: entrenched relationships on the spec and distribution sides, and a boutique-level fluency with design-driven brands like Amerlux, Louis Poulsen, and Specialty Lighting Industries.
“Unlike many acquisitions that struggle with cultural and operational overlap, this partnership is built on complementary strengths,” said co-owner Tim Duff. “The combined organization is designed to deliver a higher level of service… improving responsiveness, technical coverage, and project execution across the territory.”
That complementarity shows in the line card. With general lighting brands like ILP, Nora, and Green Creative in the mix, Next Gen adds some additional distribution flair and market agility. And while they’re smaller, they’ve made their presence known where it counts — actively working on specified projects across metro Atlanta.
An ATL Metro Play, Not a Statewide Grab
It’s important to clarify what this acquisition doesn’t touch. Bell & McCoy already has a presence in southern Georgia, and this move does not affect Advantage Lighting & Energy Solutions (ALESCO), the Savannah-based agency that has long covered the region from Macon south. For years, Next Generation Lighting and ALESCO operated in complementary lanes — Next Gen focused on metro Atlanta, ALESCO covering the southern half of the state — with minimal territorial overlap and often complementary line cards.
ALESCO remains unchanged. This acquisition is a focused play for metro Atlanta, not a bid for statewide consolidation. In effect, Bell & McCoy is reinforcing its position in the Southeast’s largest and most competitive lighting market — nothing more, nothing less.
As for Cree Lighting, which Next Gen has represented for many years, it remains part of the story — but possibly more in history than in future plans. Cree Lighting has been facing operational uncertainty, with much of its work force on furlough for over four months.
This latest acquistion highlights a flurry of Bell & McCoy Lighting and Controls expansion in recent years:
Growing Muscle in the Southeast
Manufacturers already represented by Next Gen are reportedly responding well, likely sensing the advantages of being folded into Bell & McCoy’s increasingly synchronized regional network.
By adding Next Gen’s local relationships and niche brand portfolio, Bell & McCoy isn’t just expanding—it’s refining how it operates in one of the region’s most competitive lighting arenas.
