KANSAS CITY (corporate headquarters)
9123 Barton Street, , Overland Park, KS 66214
913-438-4546 (phone)
913-438-4299 (fax)
(MISSOURI) ... Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Cass, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Davies, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Putnam, Ray, Saline, Sullivan and Worth.
(KANSAS) ... Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte.
Shon Yust
President Shon Yust, L.C., began working for Mercer-Zimmerman in February 1997 by opening an office for the company in Topeka, Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University in Architectural Engineering in 1992. From there he worked as a design engineer obtaining his Professional Certification as a PE.
In 1999 Shon became co-owner of Mercer-Zimmerman with Tom Eads. After moving to Kansas City in 2002, Shon was promoted to Vice President of Sales & Marketing. In 2006 Shon became President and sole owner of Mercer-Zimmerman.
Shon enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and two daughters and water skiing at Lake Pamona. In the winter he coaches his son’s basketball team and loves snow skiing in Colorado.
ASSOCIATIONS: Current board member for Flint Hills IES chapter Past President for Flint Hills IES Chapter (1998-2000)
EXPERIENCE: Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. (Overland Park, KS) - President and sole owner (January 1, 2006 to present) - Vice President/Sales and Marketing (September 2002 to December 31, 2005) Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. (Topeka, KS) Branch manager, quotes, inside and outside sales (1997 to September 2002) Became co-owner of Mercer-Zimmerman (1999) Brack & Associates Consulting Engineers (Topeka, KS) Design Engineer (1993 to 1997) (designed numerous mechanical and electrical projects such as Goddard Senior School, Desoto High School, Carthage Middle School, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Main Campus Renovation)
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Mike Howard
Vice President Mike Howard joined Mercer-Zimmerman as a Distributor/Contractor Sales rep in June 2005 and was promoted in January 2008 to Vice President. A 1993 graduate of Kansas State University in Business Management/Accounting, he worked in the insurance industry for four years before working for an electrical contractor in Lawrence, Kansas.
Howard’s ability to work well with both distributors and contractors, as a result of eight years of experience with an electrical contractor as an estimator, project manager and general manager, makes him a valuable addition to the Mercer-Zimmerman team.
Howard enjoys spending time with his family. He is currently working toward his pilot’s license.
EXPERIENCE: Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. (Overland Park, KS) Distributor/Contractor Sales (June 2005 to present) Vice President (January 2008 to present); Quality Electric of Lawrence (Lawrence, KS) General Manager (2000 - June 2005) Estimator/Project Manager (1998 to 2000); State Farm Insurance (Tulsa, OK) Claim Representative (1996 to 1998); Farm Bureau Insurance (Altamont, KS) Claim Representative (1994 to 1996)
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Dick Coopersmith
After leaving the Navy, Dick Coopersmith's career in lighting began with Lightolier, Inc. of Chicago in 1954. Coopersmith attended the University of Illinois in Chicago and completed lighting at Chicago Lighting Institute before Lightolier transferred him to Kansas City in 1956; he was assigned a sales territory that included Kansas, western Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa.
After a decade, Coopersmith left Lightolier to become a sales manager with Litecraft of California, where he trained salesmen and showroom personnel in distribution.
In 1967 Coopersmith returned to the Kansas City area to become a partner in a lighting sales agency for the next four years.
In 1971, he and wife Maya established Coopersmith Lighting Agency, Inc., representing lighting manufacturers in Kansas and western Missouri.
Coopersmith's time outside the lighting business is spent enjoying his retired wife, daughter and three grandchildren; he is also a sports spectator, and enjoys swimming and steel-tip dart competitions.
EXPERIENCE: Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. (Overland Park, KS) Outside Sales (2003); Coopersmith Lighting Agency, Inc. (Kansas City, KS) Owner (1971 - 2003); Ewert Sales and Engineering Co. (Kansas City, KS) Partner (1967 - 1971); Litecraft (California) Trainer, Sales and Showroom Personnel (1966 - 1967); Lightolier, Inc. (Chicago, IL) Sales (1954 - 1966)
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Brad Hull
Controls Specialist Brad Hull joined Mercer-Zimmerman Inc. in 2001. Graduating from the University of Kansas in 1999 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre Design, Hull possesses an extensive background in theatrical lighting and controls.
Still active in the professional design community, Hull serves as Resident Lighting Designer for Kansas City Civic Opera Theatre and Kacico Dance. He has also designed for Kansas City Symphony, Theatre at Vis, and Music Theatre for Young People.
As the entertainment and architectural lighting worlds continue to converge, this practical experience keeps him current with new technologies and practices in the lighting controls industry.This experience makes Hull a valuable resource to the specification community as he works along side them on the design of lighting control and energy management systems.
In his free time, Hull enjoys running, following KU Basketball, and skiing. He especially enjoys quality time with his wife Jenny and their children Brady and Katie.
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Tim McCray
Tim McCray joined the Mercer Zimmerman staff in February of 2003 as a dimming and controls specialist. Fresh out of college, he began his architectural lighting career in 1985 when he started working at Coopersmith Lighting and came to MZ when they acquired the company. His responsibilities include consultation with architects, engineers, dealers, and end users on the design of lighting control systems.
He graduated from Central Missouri State University in 1984 with a degree in technical theatre, and has continuously been active in the production of live performances since then. Currently, he is the Artistic and Technical Director for Theatre at Vis, a community theatre company based out of Visitation Church, where he is also active as a volunteer and youth minister.
He has been married to Sandie McCray since 1987 and has 1 son, Adam, 6 step children, and currently he has 11 grand children, but the number seems to always be growing.
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Beverly McMurray
Bev McMurray joined Mercer Zimmerman in the fall of 2007 as an outside sales person focusing on architectural, interior and lighting design firms. Her interior and architectural background is a great resource for designers needing aesthetic and technical guidance with their lighting needs.
Graduating in 2000 with a degree in Interior Architecture at KU led her to work on a master’s of architecture at KU from 2000-2001 while working as an intern at Treanor Architects.
Calculating structural loads of beams was not her cup of tea, so she asked Treanor Architects to hire her full time and stayed with them for 6 years. While working for Treanor Architects, Bev became a licensed interior designer and involved herself with IIDA.
Bev took an opportunity to work with a high-end residential designer in Kansas City for 1 ½ years, then went back to the commercial side of design with HNTB for 1 ½ years. Mercer Zimmerman approached Bev with a different career path, due to her knowledge and connections, so she made the leap and has loved it ever since.
Bev enjoys working on residential construction and interior projects, nights and weekends, while trying to balance time for husband Scott and lab named Paris.
Experience: IIDA Board – Present Vice President of Professional Development - 2008-2009; Retail management – 12 total years Clinique cosmetics manager and rep for west Texas and west Oklahoma – 7 years
Education: University of Kansas – Master’s of Architecture (Half way through) – 2000-2001; University of Kansas – Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture with honors, focusing on architecture, lighting and environmental design – 1995-1999
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Scott McMurray
Scott McMurray is a lighting designer formerly with Derek Porter Studio. His interest in lighting began with numerous theatrical and video productions while in school, and working for the production department at KUCE. Scott’s lighting design experience has evolved with his architectural career.
McMurray graduated the University of Kansas with a Bachelors of Film and Theatre in 1998, and a Masters of Architecture in 2001. In addition to working for an architect in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Scott has continued working on small independent design-build projects.
With the past 4 ½ years focusing on architectural lighting design, Scott brings to Mercer Zimmerman a balanced experience of design and construction experience.
Outside of work, Scott is active in video production, and residential remodeling projects, and spends time with his wife Beverly and their dog Paris.
Experience: Mercer Zimmerman (Overland Park, KS) Sales (2008 to present); Derek Porter Studio (Kansas City, MO) Lighting Designer (2003 to 2008)
Awards: IESNA - The Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award for Interior Lighting Design 2008 - Hodgdon Powder; IESNA - Sectional Lighting Design Award 2007: Kirkwood Residence; IESNA - Sectional and Regional Lighting Design Award 2006: Civil Rights Visitor center, Southern Poverty Law Center
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Kate Wimer
Kate Wimer joined Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. in 2002 as a specification salesperson. Wimer brings an enthusiasm and zest for working with her clients.
Upon graduating from the University of Kansas in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Wimer began her career with Eveready/Energizer. There she dealt with electrical distributors and industrial accounts within the region.
However, after joining Regent Lighting in 1996, she realized her passion for lighting. From that time, Wimer became a manufacturer's representative in the lighting industry where she has worked closely with area architects, engineers and lighting designers for numerous years. One of the most rewarding aspects of her career is seeing a person's design become a reality.
In her free time, Wimer enjoys gardening, yoga, creating jewlery, and spending time with husband Bob and dogs Simi and Frodo.
ASSOCIATIONS & HONORS: Past board member for Heart of America IES Chapter; Past President (2001-2002); Bob Mabes Award recipient, Heart of America IES Chapter (2005)
EXPERIENCE: Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. (Overland Park, KS) Specification Sales (2002 to present); Foley Group, Inc. (Kansas City, KS) Specification Sales (1997-2002); Regent Lighting Corporation (Burlington, NC) Regional Manager (1996 - 1997); Eveready / Energizer (Saint Louis, MO) District Representative (1990 - 1996)
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Chad McCall
Chad McCall has spent almost 2 decades in different aspects of the construction and lighting industries. Most of these years were spent in Seattle Washington where he worked in distribution and as Operations Manager for Active Engineering, a large electrical contractor specializing in design build projects.
He is very excited to be on staff with Mercer Zimmerman where he can put his experience and problem solving skills to good use. He enjoys building relationships with customers and being a resource for them.
In his free time he is involved in his church and loves to play ice hockey with his two boys. He's been married to his wife and best friend Jessica for 18 years.
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David Engstrom
David Engstrom joined Mercer Zimmerman as a Quotations Specialist in January 2006. Previously he was the Quotes Manager for a manufacturer's representative firm in Florida after serving as the Lighting Specialist for an Electrical Wholesale Company in northeast Kansas.
Engstrom has more than 30 years' experience in the electrical industry and looks forward to bringing that experience to help you on your next project.
When Engstrom is not working, he enjoys golf and is a founding member of the Lawrence Corvette Club.
EXPERIENCE: Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. (Overland Park, KS) Quotes Manager (2006 - present); Lighting Dynamics, Inc. (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Quotation Manager (2004 - 2005); Stanion Wholesale Electric Inc. (Lawrence, KS) Lighting Specialist (1983 - 2004); A&D Electric (Junction City, KS) Master Electrician (1974 - 1983)
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Clint Elliott
Previously employed at the Coopersmith Lighting Agency, Clint Elliott joined the ranks of Mercer Zimmerman in January 2003. When Mercer Zimmerman merged with Coopersmith Lighting, Elliott continued his role(s) in Inside Sales, quotations and project management. Elliott is responsible for bidding and negotiating lighting packages for commercial construction; and design/build projects.
His ability to work well with distributors makes him a valuable addition to the Mercer-Zimmerman team.
Elliott has a B.S. in Mass Communications from Central Missouri State University, with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice.
He enjoys spending his free time with wife Andrea and their two boys, Gabriel and Elijah.
EXPERIENCE: Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc. (Overland Park, KS) Inside Sales / Quotations (2003-current); Coopersmith Lighting Agency, Inc. (Kansas City, KS) Quotations / Customer Service (2002 - 2003); DST Systems (Kansas City, MO) Product Consultant (1998-2000)
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Ross Hasler
After two summers of internships with Mercer Zimmerman, graduating from Kansas State University with a bachelors degree in Theater, Ross started working for mercer Zimmerman full time. Using his background in theatrical lighting design and experience with building electrical systems design. Ross designs and completes layout requests as well as answer the phones.
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