David Bellos began his career in the lighting industry by
selling lightbulbs out of the trunk of his car, but his entrepreneurial acumen has
led to a great deal of success from his humble beginnings. His company Teron
Lighting now produces commercial lights and fixtures out of a 52,500 square
foot facility in Fairfield, Ohio.
Like many entrepreneurs, to achieve his successes, Dave had
to learn his industry from the ground up. Expanding from lightbulbs to
fixtures, he found a way to convert exit signs to use florescent bulbs which
gave him an advantage in growing his business. In 1984, Dave was able to buy
out his business partner six months of operation.
Now businesses from all over the country buy Teron Lighting’s
products. Eventually, Dave has even expanded business internationally. Three
years ago, Kichler Lighting, another family owned business out of Cleveland,
purchased Teron Lighting to add a commercial lighting facet to their
residentially focused company. Dave continues to manage Teron Lighting as a
stand-alone entity under Kichler. They have 60 employees and provide their
customers with high quality, commercial grade, energy efficient lighting and
fixtures to stores and builders.
While Dave and Teron Lighting have seen increased profits
and continued to hire in the past few years, there are still uncertainties
moving forward. Small global events could equate to big market impacts on the
company, so it is important for Teron to expect the unexpected. Recent regulations
enacted by the Obama administration leave a profound impact on the lighting
industry, which forces Dave to adapt in order for his business to continue to
thrive.
One of the ways he is able to stay on top of new regulations
and political news is through NFIB. A member since 2002, Dave is an active
participant in both the Cincinnati and Butler/Warren Area Action Councils in
Southwest Ohio and is a member of the NFIB/Ohio Leadership Council. He has also attend NFIB National Summits in
Washington, DC.
When asked why he chooses to stay active with the
organization, he responded “I appreciate NFIB as an important forum for sharing
ideas freely with other small business owners. Information about what is going
on in business, politics, workers compensation, etc. is all there with one
call.”
More information on Teron Lighting can be found at http://teronlighting.com/
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Teron-Lighting-Inc-145802308772960/
Or on Twitter @teronlighting
