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The Lighting Practice, a lighting design firm headquartered in Philadelphia, has received Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), Helen Diemer, president of The Lighting Practice, announced. In addition, the firm has also received WBE certification from Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services’ Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities (BMWBO) and from the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Economic Opportunity.

“We are pleased to have received our WBE certifications from the National Council, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the City of Philadelphia,” Diemer said. “With our company’s expertise in lighting design for public, corporate, retail, healthcare, hospitality and education environments, we are happy to have the opportunity to network with and do business with the many companies seeking WBE-certified firms.”

“The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council is a leading resource for more than 1,000 corporations across the country, as well as government entities at the state, local and Federal levels,” said Sherry Nacci, certification manager, Women’s Business Enterprise Council (for Pennsylvania, Delaware and southern New Jersey). “Our mission is to help them identify the more than 8,500 certified women business enterprises for business contract opportunities, innovative product and service solutions, and the professionalism that results in high-quality customer service. We are delighted to welcome The Lighting Practice as a WBE-certified small business.”

In addition to its national certification, The Lighting Practice will also benefit from its state and city certifications, Diemer said.

“At the heart of the mission of the Bureau is to open doors,” said Kathryn Waters-Perez, director for the Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities for the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. “Certification acts as a tool because it enables certified companies to become more readily identifiable for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania contracting opportunities available for small businesses.”

“Following our Pennsylvania and Philadelphia certifications, we also intend to seek certification in several other cities and states where we do business,” said Diemer, “including the city of Dallas and states of Texas, Ohio, Maryland and New York, among others.”

The Lighting Practice became a woman-owned business in August 2009, when Diemer was named the majority owner and president. She first joined the firm in 1994 as an Associate, and has been a Principal with The Lighting Practice for 13 years, since 1996.

Diemer has more than 25 years experience designing lighting, and is currently at work designing new, sustainable lighting for the U.S. Capitol Dome in Washington, D.C. She is a LEED® Accredited Professional, as well as a Fellow, past president and former board member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). She is also a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IESNA), International Dark Sky Association (IDA), Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGBC), The American Institute of Architects (AIA), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). She is an associate member of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) and business partner of the Delaware Valley Association of Physical Plant Administrators (DVAPPA). She holds a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from the Pennsylvania State University and has lectured and authored articles on a variety of lighting design issues. Several of her projects have been recognized with the International Illumination Design Award’s Award of Merit.