Lighting Council Names New Board

The Motor Vehicle Lighting Council has announced new members to its board of directors.
Based in Research Triangle Park, N.C., the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC) recently elected Thomas J. Kelly, P. Eng., as its fourth chairman. Kelly currently serves as vice president of sales and marketing for automotive lighting supplier Valeo Sylvania, in Dearborn, Mich. He succeeds Rich Zygadlo, director and executive vice president for automotive lighting and electronics supplier II Stanley Co., Inc., in Battle Creek, Mich.
The MVLC also elected Steve Barman as the groups vice chairman and Ingo Schneider as the councils secretary. Barman is the senior engineering manager of exterior lighting and fascia systems for Automotive Component Holdings, LLC, in Dearborn, Mich., while Schneider is the senior engineering manager of advanced lighting applications at Visteon Corporation in Van Buren Township, Mich.
As chairman of the MVLC, Kelly directs and oversees the councils initiatives to study and assess automotive lighting issues, collaborate with industry and government organizations to support automotive lighting research and assist the group with its efforts to inform the motoring public of the benefits of advanced lighting technologies.
In addition, he will provide continued support of MVLCs work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to update automotive lighting-related safety standards.
The MVLC comprises a strong team of automotive lighting experts including leading lighting suppliers, component suppliers and educational institutions, said Kelly. “Since its formation in 2003, the MVLC has made significant progress addressing industry issues through our cooperation with NHTSA and educating the motoring public on advanced automotive lighting technologies. It is our goal to build upon these past successes and play a leading role in enhancing vehicle and pedestrian safety.
The Motor Vehicle Lighting Council is a coalition of the leading global automotive lighting and component manufacturers and related education and research institutions committed to bringing new lighting advancements to market in order to increase vehicle performance and vehicle and pedestrian safety.
MVLCs members represent a market segment valued at approximately $2.2 billion U.S. and produce nearly 100 percent of the headlamps used for vehicles manufactured and sold in North America.
The Council a product line group of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) supports ongoing research initiatives to improve the understanding of headlight glare and to inform the motoring public on lighting issues and emerging technologies. For more information, visit www.mvlc.info.