Geoffrey Thiesse Named Chair of Roadway Lighting Committee

CHICAGO, IL—Benesch Technical Manager Geoffrey Thiesse, PE has been named Chair of the Illuminating Engineers Society (IES) Roadway Lighting Committee. The committee develops and maintains industry guidance for roadway and street lighting to help improve visibility and safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

Geoffrey has 24 years of experience in the industry and specializes in roadway lighting, traffic signal design and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) at Benesch. His work spans complex urban corridors, freeway and interchange lighting, aesthetic bridge lighting, airfield electrical systems and underground electrical infrastructure.

Geoffrey began attending the Roadway Lighting Committee in 2013 and became a voting member in 2017. Since then, he has chaired the Liaison, Intersection and Harmonization task forces, helping coordinate with other lighting organizations, update recommended practices for intersections and roundabouts, and ensure revisions remain consistent throughout the committee’s guidance. In 2020, he joined the committee’s executive committee as an at-large member.

As committee chair, Geoffrey will lead ongoing updates to Recommended Practice: Roadway Lighting and Parking Facilities with the goal of advancing the document through committee approval, public review and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval process by 2028. He also plans to collaborate with the Dark Sky Institute to address committee concerns related to state and municipal lighting code templates.

“Having learned from two Roadway Lighting Committee members at Benesch, it’s an honor to serve in this role and continue their legacy,” said Geoffrey. “Their contributions to the lighting industry and passion for roadway lighting had a lasting impact on me, and I hope to pass that knowledge and enthusiasm on to the next generation of committee members.”

Throughout his involvement with the committee, Geoffrey has collaborated with lighting professionals from across the industry to help develop and refine nationally recognized guidance. In his new role, he looks forward to sharing the committee’s work with the agencies Benesch serves while continuing to advance safe, effective and sustainable roadway lighting practices.