2007 Inductee
Andrew Schonbek
Andrew Schonbek, president and CEO of Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, Inc., in Plattsburgh, N.Y., was inducted into the American Lighting Association's (ALA) Lighting Hall of Fame at the 2007 ALA Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, September 11.
Schonbek is only the twentieth person to have received the lighting industry's highest honor for dedication and contributions to the association and the industry.
Schonbek is the great grandson of Adolf Schonbek, founder of A. Schonbek & Co. He continues the tradition of family management of a company dating back to 1870.
Schonbek grew up in Montreal. His education was unusual for a future leader of the lighting industry: a year spent at Neuchatel Junior College, in Neuchatel, Switzerland, followed by a B.A. with a concentration in archeology from the University of Toronto. In 1976 he earned his MBA from McGill University in Montreal and joined Schonbek as a management intern.
Named as an inventor on 54 of the company's design and utility patents, Schonbek is known for innovative thinking and creative problem solving. By implementing a culture of continuous improvement, Schonbek has bucked the industry trend of relocating manufacturing offshore and the company today employs almost 500 associates at its Plattsburgh location.
Schonbek's trendsetting designs (the company is a five time winner of the renowned ARTS Award) and intensive marketing have helped make the crystal chandelier one of the hottest categories in home fashion today.
From 1989–1990, Schonbek served as President of the ALA Manufacturers Board and played a key role in the restructuring of the organization, combining the Manufacturer, Showroom, and Manufacturers’ Representative divisions into the effective single body in place today.
Andrew Schonbek lives with his wife Alice and two daughters Amy and Alie in Plattsburgh, N.Y. He serves on a variety of local and regional Boards.
Lighting Hall of Fame Members
Judy Anderson
Illumination Systems, Inc.
Nelson J. Bleisch
Thomas Lighting
William F. Blitzer
Lightolier
William K. Branham, Sr.
The Brecher Company
Burton A. Burton *
Casablanca Fan Co.
Arthur Director, CLC
Connecticut Lighting
Murray Feiss
Murray Feiss Lighting
Gerald Fleischer *
Hermitage Lighting Gallery
Harry L. Gilham, Jr.
Georgia Lighting
Philip S. Hoefer
Hoefer/Funsinn Lighting Agency
Ray Huizinga *
Huizinga Sales Co.
Stanley D. Johnston, CLC
Johnston Lighting Associates
Sam Minoff
Kichler
Ira H. Phillips
Quoizel, Inc.
Bruce A. Robinson
Robinson Lighting
Andrew Schonbek
Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, Inc.
Edwin N. Solomon *
Sea Gull Lighting Products, Inc.
Dennis Swanson
Lamps Plus
Bill Teiber *
Bill Teiber Co.
David Weisberg
Affiliated Distributors
*Deceased
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