Press Release: William “Bill” Brown Passes Away
at 95
(Niles, IL). Bill Brown, founder and chairman of Bill Brown Sales and A.L.P., passed away peacefully yesterday, surrounded by family, in Glenview, IL. He was 95 years old.
Bill and his wife Norma started the Bill Brown Sales component sales agency in 1955 from the kitchen table of their apartment while raising their young family. Bill felt pressure to expand services as the business grew, so he entered the manufacturing industry, founding A.L.P. in 1972. Over the course of his almost 70-year career, he witnessed and responded to a technological revolution in lighting, moving from traditional light sources to LEDs. Bill created growth opportunities by listening, learning, and finding new ways to meet customer needs.
Bill’s entrepreneurial talent and engaging personality made him a central figure in the lighting community, and his enduring relationships will remain his legacy. He was a prolific correspondent who sent out hundreds of follow-ups weekly, first by US mail and then by email. Over the years, he received numerous industry awards and accolades, including the first-ever Edison Report Lifetime Achievement Award, the IES Louis B Marks Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from RSM McGladrey. He gave back to others in many ways, supporting his local synagogue, Temple Jeremiah, and the cancer research of the City of Hope, among many charitable organizations.
Despite its growth, the organization remains a family business at its core, with Bill’s son Steve serving as CEO and his recently retired son David sitting on A.L.P.’s Board of Directors. Grandson Michael is a Regional Sales Manager for BBS, while grandson Scott serves as a Process Analyst. The values Bill Brown instilled, including mutual respect, philanthropy, and good old-fashioned hard work, will remain as the company’s guiding principles, honoring his memory for years to come.
A.L.P., Bill Brown, Bill Brown Sales, Chairman, Founder, William "Bill" Brown, William Brown
Meet the Team: Lisa Yeadon
As Director of Marketing Communications for A.L.P. Lighting Components and Bill Brown Sales, Lisa is responsible for developing and implementing integrated marketing communications strategies that align with business objectives. She facilitates sales enablement and demand generation activities by developing multimedia sales tools, such as digital and social media, trade shows and events, advertising and PR, and presentations and collateral.
A native of Yorkshire, England, Lisa moved to the US in high school and lived all over the East Coast before making Chicago her home 19 years ago. She is one of a set of triplets, with two identical brothers, and her family includes husband Bob and four adult children ranging in age from 18 to 29.
She was always studious and somewhat of a bookworm. Lisa rekindled her passion for education by getting a master’s degree in Organizational Communication from DePaul University, a whopping 30 years after completing undergrad. It was an eye-opening experience! Since then, she has also attained post-graduate certificates in Digital Marketing and Corporate Communications from Cornell University.
One of Lisa’s favorite career stories happened early in her tenure with A.L.P. When unforeseen circumstances threatened to derail her first sales event, CEO Steve Brown gave her some memorable business advice that she still heeds today; “It’s not how well you plan, but how well you react when your plans go wrong!”
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Another Great Show at Lightfair International 2017
A.L.P. exhibited at the 2017 Lightfair International with our sales agency Bill Brown Sales. We welcomed customers and prospects, friends old and new, to learn more about our products and capabilities. The display included LED lighting components and kits, such as new parking garage canopies, LED PODs and the Sentry Elite rugged LED vaportight. Thanks to all who made it a successful exhibit.
Other Upcoming Shows
Guanzhou International Lighting Expo
June 9-12, 2017
China Import and Export Fair Complex
Guanzhou, China
IES Annual Conference
August 10-12, 2017
Portland Marriott
Portland, OR
IES Street and Area Lighting Conference
September 10-13, 2017
JW Marriott Austin Hotel
Austin, TX
Horticultural Lighting Conference
October 17, 2017
Denver Marriott City Center
Denver, CO
Strategies in Light
February 13-15, 2018
Long Beach Convention Center
Long Beach, CA
Light + Building
March 18-23, 2018
Messe Frankfurt
Frankfurt, Germany
Lightfair International
May 8-10, 2018
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL
A.L.P., Bill Brown Sales, Lightfair International, parking garage canopies, Sentry Elite, tradeshow