Mia Ferguson
Mia F. is the President of Red Lighting Solutions in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex and a respected leader in the lighting and construction industries with more than 20 years of experience. She began her career in the lighting field while still in college, starting as a receptionist with a lighting manufacturers’ representative agency in Atlanta. With no prior industry knowledge beyond the basics, Mia quickly immersed herself in the technical and operational aspects of the field. Her drive and curiosity led her to rapidly advance within the organization, working closely with vendors, national accounts, and clients while gaining early exposure to emerging LED technologies during a pivotal period of transformation in the lighting industry.
Over the course of her career, Mia has worked with some of the nation’s leading lighting companies, steadily building expertise across multiple areas of the business. She spent five years with a lighting manufacturer where she progressed from customer service to office manager and showroom supervisor, gaining hands-on knowledge of fixture assembly, product design, and lighting electronics. After briefly exploring the nutraceutical industry, she returned to lighting as a project manager for a former client, which broadened her perspective on the installation and end-user side of the industry. She later relocated to Dallas to join a national specialty lighting distributor, where she ultimately served as Specifications, Quotations, and Design Manager for national accounts, overseeing opportunities across the company and leading complex lighting projects for nearly a decade.
Recognizing an opportunity to bring a more responsive and solutions-driven approach to the market, Mia launched Red Lighting Solutions, where she now leads the company’s strategy, client partnerships, and project delivery. Supported by a loyal network of clients and vendor partners developed over two decades, her firm focuses on delivering high-quality lighting solutions while addressing gaps she observed throughout her career in the industry. In addition to her entrepreneurial leadership, Mia serves as the Dallas Area President for the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC), where she actively supports mentorship, professional development, and expanded opportunities for women across the architecture, engineering, and construction sectors.
• MIS (Member of the Illuminating Engineering Society)
• Lighting Certified
• LIghting Certified (NCQLP)
• Featured in Women in Lighting Design Newsletter
• National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC)
• Women in Lighting + Design (WILD)
• Black National Speakers Association
• Illuminating Engineering Society
• National Association of Black Women in Construction
What do you attribute your success to?
A deep technical background and industry knowledge, long-term vendor and client relationships, a strong work ethic, a reputation for reliability, and persistence in facing challenges.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I feel like the one thing that I will say is be your authentic self. You don't have to fold to what the norms are for what it is that you're doing. Create your own norms, because at the end of the day, the path that you walk, no one else can walk that path. And if you are confident and you work hard, then your hard work will be acknowledged in time. Just stay the course. A lot of times, we throw in the towel right before we get to the reward. Don't be intimidated. Walk with authority. I'm the type of person that I'm a student of everything that I do, so I'm always eager to learn new things, and you have to have that hunger inside of you to be able to excel in any environment, especially in an environment where you are not the majority or the norm. Just because you're not the norm doesn't mean that you don't belong. Just make it a place that you own.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges: a male-dominated culture in some spaces and competition from newcomers; managing product/technology transitions (early LED adoption showed many performance issues). Opportunities: broad national demand across project types; room to differentiate a firm through better customer-focused practices and brand-building.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity, confidence, continuous learning, persistence, strong work ethic, and maintaining a reputation of integrity and competence.
Locations
Red Lighting Solutions
Mckinney, TX 75071