One to Watch: Laura Van Zeyl, VP of Marketing for Lightovation at Dallas Market CenterOne to Watch: Laura Van Zeyl, VP of Marketing for Lightovation at Dallas Market Center
With over three decades of lighting industry expertise, Laura Van Zeyl leads Lightovation's evolution at Dallas Market Center, expanding the North American residential lighting trade show beyond traditional audiences.
August 21, 2025
In the lighting industry, few names shine as brightly as Laura Van Zeyl. After starting her career on the editorial side of the residential lighting sector in 1993, today Van Zeyl serves as vice president of marketing for Lightovation at the Dallas Market Center, where she works on one of North America's largest residential lighting trade shows that attracts thousands of retailers, designers, and manufacturers twice a year.
With 1 million square feet of exhibits at Dallas Market Center, the next edition of Lightovation will take place Jan. 10-13, debuting the new January date pattern, which begins on Saturday and runs through Tuesday, concurrent with the end of the Jan. 7-13 Total Home & Gift Market.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) conducts tours of selected Lightovation exhibits, showcasing lighting trends and solutions relevant to kitchen and bath design. At a recent show, Laura Van Zeyl (pictured in black) joined the tour with NKBA members.
The most recent Lightovation, held June 18–21, featured more 1 million square feet of exhibits at Dallas Market Center.
The most recent Lightovation, held June 18–21, debuted Design + Build Day on June 17, expanding its audience to welcome interior designers, architects, and builders for a full day of programming dedicated to innovation, education, and connection within the lighting and design industries.
Recently, we caught up with Van Zeyl to learn more about her background, current role, and the events she works on. Her journey reveals a story of innovation, leadership, and community-building.
Read highlights below, or watch the full interview.
A Trailblazer in the Lighting Industry
Van Zeyl's impact extends far beyond her current role. With more than 30 years in the lighting industry, she has been instrumental in shaping Lightovation and the newer Archlight Summit for commercial lighting. Her approach is rooted in a rich background as the former publisher and editorial director of Residential Lighting magazine. This unique blend of editorial expertise and event leadership has fueled her vision for growth and innovation.
Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledges, "There are definitely parallels between the publishing world and the trade show world that I didn't recognize immediately, but once they clicked, it really helped a lot."
Innovating with the Times
Under Van Zeyl's leadership, Lightovation has evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the industry. Notable initiatives include the introduction of the Metaverse Lighting Trend House and the Light Stars program for emerging professionals. These efforts have not only attracted a record number of first-time and international attendees but also expanded the show's reach into new channels, such as interior designers and architects.
"One of the highlights for that show was the introduction of a design plus build day," she said, emphasizing how their programming has broadened to include additional trade professionals beyond their traditional audience.
The ArchLIGHT Summit is a two-day commercial and architectural lighting event at the Dallas Market Center.
The ArchLIGHT Summit is a two-day commercial and architectural lighting event at the Dallas Market Center.
Navigating Challenges and Looking Ahead
Amidst global uncertainties, including tariffs and international travel hesitancies, Van Zeyl remains optimistic and proactive. "Something that we've been doing is being very proactive ourselves in terms of trying to help the industry," she said. By engaging business leaders and advocating against tariffs, the Dallas Market Center takes an active role in supporting the industries it serves.
Van Zeyl also emphasized the importance of partnerships, both locally and nationally, as key to their future growth. "National associations are very interested in engaging with their local chapters as well," she said, which helps facilitate stronger, long-term relationships.
The Metaverse Lighting TrendHouse, an immersive activation on the 3rd floor of the Trade Mart, was created in cooperation with Leslie Carothers of Savour Partnership, rendering artist and residential designer Annilee Waterman, and interior designer and retailer Shay Geyer.
The next edition of Lightovation will take place Jan. 10-13, debuting the new January date pattern, which begins on Saturday and runs through Tuesday.
Fueling a Passion for Lighting
Her passion for the industry is palpable. From her earliest days at Residential Lighting magazine to her pivotal roles at Dallas Market Center, Van Zeyl's journey is fueled by a deep connection to the community and an appreciation for the evolving design possibilities in lighting.
When asked about her favorite lighting fixtures, she said, "I definitely have a showstopping dining room fixture that you can see from our front window and looks like a piece of art."
