Lighting Legacy

Dave Nocar ’80 has two great passions in life, and he learned the basics of both from his dad. He got his introduction to golf at 12 years old, tracing the arc of his ball across the green expanse on father-son trips to the driving range. By the time Dave entered high school, his father had founded Federated Lighting, a lighting manufacturing representative company. They joined a golf club and Dave discovered a love for the independence and objectivity of the sport. He went on to play in college, and in 1987, with a business degree and a few years of work experience under his belt, he joined the company his dad built. Now, as owner and principal, his two kids work for him—the third generation of a thriving 50-year-old business. 

In an industry where relationship building is key to success, Dave’s affinity for golf actually came in handy in the early days of his career. “When I first got into the business, a lot of those relationships were more social,” he explains. “It was pretty rare to write an order between 9:00 and 5:00. If you wanted a deal with a client, you’d have to take them out on the golf course or out to dinner. A lot of those relationships were solely dependent on your ability to get along with people.” 

Nowadays, he says, relationships are performance driven. What matters most is the end result. “At the end of the day, when it comes to lighting and controls, we’re on the hook to make sure the specifier gets what they specified,” he says. “Lighting is very subjective. Part of the challenge and the fun of it is defining that subjectivity so that you produce a project that resonates with the client.” And Dave and his team have certainly delivered. From M&T Bank Stadium to the D.C. war memorials to the Pentagon, their portfolio of projects speaks for itself. 

Dave has also generously supported several lighting projects at Mount Saint Joseph. If you’ve found yourself on campus in the twilight hours of dusk or dawn, you may have noticed the top of the Tower illuminated in purple or, perhaps, in Christmas colors of green and red throughout December. “Mount Saint Joe did a lot for me growing up,” Dave says. “I am thrilled that I’m in a position that I can give back to a place that’s meant so much to me.” Just last summer, he and his team provided new energy-efficient lights for the classrooms in Saint Joseph Hall.   

As technology continues to progress, Dave sees new trends emerging in the industry. From LED lighting to integration with app-based wayfinding services, the capabilities of lighting and control systems have come a long way since Dave’s dad was at the helm. The company itself has grown to three offices, serving Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. 

Dave sees the sun setting on his career at Federated Lighting as his son Conner prepares to take the reins, but his golf game is still in full swing. He looks forward to taking another run at qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open, for which Conner served as his caddy back in 2012, a scene reminiscent of Dave's early days at the driving range.