Enlightened Efficiency for All
Ryzen Lighting Group offers LED solutions to improve wellness of people and planet
Thomas Edison and his team at Menlo Park, New Jersey, forever changed the way we see the world when he patented the first commercially viable incandescent light bulb in 1880. In recent decades, however, an increased demand for more resilient electric light sources is steadily making Edison’s invention obsolete.
Today, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have become a widely popular alternative for a variety of applications—including large-scale construction and remodeling projects—due to their durability, energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. A bright spot in this growing market is Ryzen Lighting Group (Ryzen), an LED lighting solutions supplier based in Wyoming, Michigan. Established in 2011 by Jason Black, the company’s founder and President, Ryzen caters to residential, commercial and industrial clients primarily in Michigan, and also supports the needs of customers in surrounding states.
Lighting the Way
Before launching Ryzen, Jason worked as an independent contractor for Atlas Van Lines, one of the most prominent household goods movers in the U.S. He often performed independent research and engaged in conversations with other industry professionals about LEDs, which he found fascinating due to their efficiency and positive impact on people’s health and the environment. Consequently, he decided to build a company focused on improving the wellness of the planet and its people by promoting this innovative, environmentally conscientious technology.
To grow his team, in 2014, Jason brought on Leslie Kaat as an office administrator. Previously, Leslie served as the Energy Manager for one of the largest nonprofit retirement communities in the nation. Once she joined Ryzen, Leslie’s drive and willingness to learn was impossible for Jason to ignore. She was quickly promoted to operations manager to help him lead the company and spearhead all major sales initiatives and business development tasks. And, just before going to press with this article, she was promoted again to COO.
Together, Jason and Leslie have made it their mission to become leading experts in the field of LEDs, offering professional guidance to clients on the most impactful ways to maximize product solutions. As Ryzen’s top subject matter expert, Leslie shares how extensive industry research—along with streamlined client management—helps to ensure the best project solutions for the unique needs (and budgets) of every client.
Brilliant Customer Care
When it comes to creating a first-class customer service experience, Ryzen’s guiding principles play a vital role in gaining repeat clients and referrals.
“Honesty, integrity and conducting ourselves in an ethical manner are the core values of our company. These beliefs are infused into all of our client interactions and transcend all other priorities,” Leslie says.
These values are clearly evident in the company’s one-point-of-contact approach to customer care. When a potential client calls to set up a project, streamlined procedures are in place to ensure the client works directly with the same Ryzen representative throughout the entire process.
“We empathize with those who hate getting the ‘run-around’ on their projects,” Leslie reveals. “So, we made our customer service approach simple, direct and consistent to make sure that our clients never have that feeling.”
Ryzen also conducts a comprehensive lighting audit and creates a custom proposal for each customer. After assessing the property, the team recommends customized LED lighting solutions supported by intel showing energy savings, upfront costs, financing options and tax incentives—everything needed to make an educated decision.
“The greatest reward is when you help a client with a project and, four to six months down the road, the client compares past and current electric bills to see the actual savings. Seeing the customer’s face ‘light up’ is truly a heartwarming feeling that you can’t get enough of. It makes everything worth it,” Leslie says.
One prime example of customer satisfaction is evidenced through work performed at the Eastland Apartments, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based apartment community managed by Monarch Investment and Management Group (Monarch), which has its corporate headquarters in Colorado. The client contracted Ryzen to upgrade multiple elements of the property with LED lighting, including address signs for each building entrance and parking lot enhancements.
As with every project, the Ryzen team made an extra effort to present the proposal to the client in person.
“Our customers value these meetings,” Leslie emphasizes. “We are able to point things out in the proposal that may be missed in an email, plus in person we are available to explain different portions in more detail. Moreover, our clients just appreciate the personal touch.”
Monarch’s positive response to this level of diligence serves to validate Ryzen’s efforts.
“Ryzen kept us informed from start to finish. The proposal was easy to follow, and they handled everything during installation. Their electricians and install team were very knowledgeable and professional,” says Dennis Kennedy, Monarch’s Regional Maintenance Rover for western Michigan.
Eastland Apartments covers four acres and contains 19 buildings. Prior to the LED upgrades, the apartment complex used around 235,350 kWh at an average cost of $28,245 per year. Thus far, these lighting improvements are saving the client upward of $12,000 in estimated annual energy costs. To facilitate those savings, Ryzen installed post-top light fixtures, multipurpose area lights for building fronts and fixtures to illuminate address numbers. In addition, disk lights were installed in all buildings to brighten hallway areas.
“The property looks fantastic at night when all the lights are on. The illuminated address lighting on the apartment buildings are a welcomed addition, too,” Dennis notes. “With the huge success at Eastland, we have [Ryzen] working on other projects throughout our region. We couldn’t be happier with Ryzen, their products and their service.”
“I would like to thank the Ryzen Lighting team for their efforts in assisting Thornapple Manor with our lighting upgrades! The transition from the existing lighting to the new LED bulbs was handled professionally, and the team did a fantastic job working around our busy schedule and went above and beyond to accommodate our residents’ needs.” Michael Burrill, Director of Facility Services, Thornapple Manor
Dazzling Savings
Last year, Ryzen executed a proposal for Thornapple Manor, a senior living facility in Hastings, Michigan. Lighting over 104,000 square feet, Thornapple Manor used approximately 866,000 kWh annually at an average cost of $111,325. After the Ryzen team replaced nearly every fixture and bulb, the facility’s projected annual costs will be $46,420.
“That’s an annual savings of nearly $65,000,” Leslie calculates, adding, “The client began seeing a 20 percent to 22 percent reduction in energy costs almost immediately after the install was complete.”
Leslie also helped Thornapple Manor (as well as Eastland Apartments) obtain great rebates through the Consumers Energy Multifamily Program. Consumers Energy, based in Michigan and a subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides multifamily customers with financial incentives for various upgrades that serve to create a more sustainable environment—including the replacement of certain incandescent lamps with energy-efficient LEDs.
Looking forward to a 287 percent return on investment within approximately two-and-a-half years, it is no wonder that Thornapple Manor’s Director of Facility Services, Michael Burrill, and Facility Administrator, Don Haney, are thrilled. “I would like to thank the Ryzen Lighting team for their efforts in assisting Thornapple Manor with our lighting upgrades! The transition from the existing lighting to the new LED bulbs was handled professionally, and the team did a fantastic job working around our busy schedule and went above and beyond to accommodate our residents’ needs,” Michael says.
Jason adds, “Switching to LED lighting solutions is one of the best ways to improve the bottom line and maximize profits. From industrial to commercial to small business to residential applications, LEDs can provide major savings in virtually any space.”
A Bright Future
As our nation’s progressive culture leans more heavily on digitalized conveniences, LEDs are becoming more mainstream in people’s everyday lives. For example, some LEDs have built-in receptors that can be controlled from smart devices, such as smartphones or tablets, via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Other LED bulb varieties can change color to best match consumer preferences.
“LED technologies are constantly evolving for the better, which makes the future of the lighting industry exceptionally bright,” Leslie affirms.
Leslie, with years of professional experience in senior assisted living, also points out, “Some senior residents have sensitive vision, and certain LEDs can be customized to best meet their needs. Also, I know of some schools that implement these lighting solutions in special education settings and autism classes to make those students more comfortable.” Ryzen, with its eye on future growth, is looking to do more work in the education sector and expand into other markets as well.
With an illuminated focus on one-on-one customer service and cost-saving strategies, as well as a dedication to improving the health and wellness of the planet, Ryzen Lighting Group is clearly changing how we see the world—one bulb at a time.