Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.”

The “Forum Focus” podcasts present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen.

This edition of Forum Focus features an interview with Lisa Reed, founding principal of Envision Lighting Design. Raised in the town of Marshall in Western Missouri, Lisa had a mind that could combine problem solving and design.

Even at as a young girl she had a competitive nature that led her to take on the boys to see how fast she could solve math problems. architectural student at Kansas University, she found that she was interested in lighting design.

Out of school, Lisa was hired on as a CAD tech at an Orlando firm. There, an older electrical engineer provided the mentoring that she would need to become certified as an electrical engineer.

A stint at Lighting Design Alliance in Los Angeles allowed her opportunities to work on nationally recognized projects.

Over her 27-plus year career she has bridged multiple disciplines –including energy management, electrical engineering, teaching, lighting sales, and lighting design.

Her path as a woman entrepreneur, wife, and mother has informed the culture she has built at Envision Lighting. She is an advocate for students, young professionals, women, and diversity in her field.