The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) welcomes three new members to the IALD College of Fellows. The IALD Fellow designation is awarded to members of the IALD for their contribution to the art and science of lighting design, and for exemplary service to the IALD. Fellows are professional members with a minimum of ten years of experience. David Ghatan, FIALD, CLD, Maureen Moran, FIALD and Kevin Theobald, FIALD, were formally inducted at the 2020 IALD College of Fellows event online.
David Ghatan is involved in lighting design through professional and personal pursuits, as well as his work with associations. He attributes his passion and approach to his mentor, Candy Kling, with whom he worked directly for 14 years. Ghatan has succeeded as president of C.M. Kling + Associates. His architectural lighting design portfolio includes national and international projects in hospitality, corporate, residential, government, religious, convention centers and mixed-use. Ghatan’s work on American Greeting headquarters in Cleveland and 2U headquarters in Lanham, Md., received 2018 Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) DC Candela Awards.
Ghatan is active with the IES of North America (IESNA) on the Hospitality Committee. He is a company member with the Rorschach Theatre, where his work has been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award. He continues to design scenery and lighting for local productions.
To say Ghatan has been an active member of the IALD would be an understatement. Supporting the IALD’s mission to raise the profile of the profession, he shared his knowledge on the IALD credentialing task force and worked to refine the certification and governance structure of the Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) program. He is the immediate past president of the IALD, previously served as treasurer from 2013 to 2017 and director at large from 2011 to 2013. The profession of lighting design has benefited from the work and expertise Ghatan has contributed.
Maureen Moran began her lighting career as a lighting designer at Marriott Corp. Eleven years later, she transitioned to Coventry Lighting Associates as a designer. She established her firm, MCLA, in 1996.
Moran’s portfolio includes landmark buildings, corporate headquarters, hospitality venues, historic renovations, museums and monuments. The U.S. Capitol Rotunda and the U.S. Supreme Court restorations, both in Washington, D.C., are prime examples of her expertise.
Leadership, strategic thinking and mentoring have all figured prominently in her success as a designer and business owner. Moran advances the interests and mission of the lighting community through her active engagement with industry organizations such as IALD and IES. Under her direction, MCLA has enjoyed growth over the past 24 years, and she is poised to continue that momentum. Moran’s ability to identify and nurture talent is a cornerstone of MCLA’s success. As a frequent teacher and lecturer at universities and industry conferences, she shares her lighting knowledge on a broad scale. Moran is pleased to be a dynamic part of the lighting community in Washington, D.C., and we are thrilled to recognize her achievements with her induction into the IALD College of Fellows.
Kevin Theobald has worked for the past 30 years in major London based design practices during which time he has been associated with a number of award-winning schemes.
He has over 40 years’ experience in lighting, with a background in theatre and museum lighting. Theobald’s portfolio extends across various sectors with a particular specialization in hospitality, commercial headquarter buildings and multi-dwelling residential. He was responsible for the lighting design of Al Mahara, an underwater restaurant at the top of the Burj Al Arab, UAE. This project is one of the many IALD award winning projects with which he has been associated.
Theobald is a regular contributor to lighting journals and has been a speaker at design profession conferences around the world. His experience and contributions have been highlighted in 14 articles from 2005 to 2013 in several publications such as arc and Lighting Magazine.
Theobald is a Fellow of Society of Light & Lighting (SLL) and an Affiliate Member of Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP). He has dedicated a large amount of time and expertise to the international design + build community and especially to the IALD. He has served on the board of directors as well as past president of the IALD. Theobald oversaw the creation of the Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) program to establish a validated method for assessing the competency of designers and raise the visibility and standing of the profession. It has been an honor to have Theobald as an active member of the IALD in this capacity and delighted to induct him into the IALD College of Fellows.