Talent Acquisition Leader

13.8 million square feet and counting: Manufacturing drives Greater Richmond's record growth. As the nation marks National Manufacturing Day on Oct. 2, Greater Richmond has a milestone worth celebrating. The region has more industrial space under construction than at any point in its history, and much of it is being built to make things. According to CoStar data, Greater Richmond reached a record 13.8 million square feet of industrial space under construction in the second quarter of 2026. The companies behind that growth are producing everything from power equipment and heat exchangers to lighting controls, medicines and building bricks. A top 10 market for industrial construction. Nationally, Richmond ranks ninth for industrial square footage under construction, trailing major hubs including Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Chicago and Austin. Every metro ahead of Richmond has a substantially larger population and industrial base. Among metros with fewer than 5 million residents, Greater Richmond ranks third, behind only Columbus, Ohio, and Austin, Texas. This is not a short-lived pandemic boom. The pipeline grew steadily through 2024 and 2025 before reaching its 2026 peak, a sign that manufacturers see the region as a long-term investment. Manufacturers are growing where they already operate. Some of the region's strongest momentum comes from companies that know Greater Richmond best. Demand for power and cooling equipment is driving a wave of reinvestment. Eaton is investing more than $50 million in a new 350,000-square-foot campus in Henrico County, adding 200 jobs to build the switches and power distribution equipment that keep mission-critical systems running. Alfa Laval is doubling heat exchanger production at its Henrico facility by mid-2028, pairing added automation with new workforce training. In Chesterfield County, Super Radiator Coils expanded into a nearly 100,000-square-foot production facility planned for about 120 employees. Lutron Electronics, a global leader in lighting controls and automated shading, invested $28.3 million to build a manufacturing facility in Hanover County, bringing its intelligent building technology to the region's growing production base. Food and beverage manufacturing is growing too. Sapporo named its City of Richmond brewery as its sole U.S. production base, concentrating American production here even as the broader beer market contracted. Landmark projects are reshaping the region. The LEGO Group's more than $1.5 billion factory in Chesterfield County remains on track to open in 2027. Its local team is expected to grow to about 900 by the end of 2026 as it prepares highly automated molding and packing operations. Eli Lilly is investing $5 billion in a Goochland County facility that will produce critical drug components and finished medicines. That project joins a growing pharmaceutical cluster that includes Richmond-based Phlow, a partner in Virginia's Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Tech Hub. In July, the Tech Hub secured a $15.97 million federal award to build a fully domestic supply chain for essential medicines used in emergency and critical care. Why manufacturers choose Greater Richmond. Industrial construction is a strong leading indicator of future jobs and investment. Manufacturers continue to choose Greater Richmond for its long-term advantages: * A central East Coast location with access to nearly half of the U.S. population within a day's drive. * Proximity to the Port of Virginia, home to the deepest harbor on the East Coast. * Competitive operating and real estate costs compared with larger East Coast markets. * Interstates 95 and 64, freight rail access and Richmond International Airport. * A productive workforce, with the region ranked No. 1 among large U.S. metros for food and beverage worker productivity. This National Manufacturing Day, the numbers tell a clear story. With a record 13.8 million square feet of industrial space under construction and global manufacturers choosing to grow here, Greater Richmond is building the next generation of American manufacturing.

Managing East End logistics: delivering fully furnished homes. For ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) buyers acquiring secondary or tertiary estates along the South Fork - from oceanfront compounds on Meadow Lane in Southampton to private retreats in Sagaponack and East Hampton - the ultimate luxury isn't just exceptional coastal architecture; it is time. Acquiring a Hamptons estate should mark the start of relaxation, yet the traditional post-handover period often devolves into months of logistical friction. Managing deliveries along the Sunrise Highway, coordinating specialized trades, and micro-managing white-glove installations drains valuable bandwidth. Today's global buyers demand a Hamptons turnkey interior designer who delivers total operational completion. When stepping off a private flight into East Hampton Airport (HTO) or Gabreski, principals expect to arrive at a fully functional, flawlessly styled home ready for immediate living on day one. Assembling the East End ecosystem & interfacing with client reps. Executing a seamless move-in across the Hamptons requires managing a complex network of regional and international specialists. As a lead full-service interior design firm, Libarikian Interiors assemble and orchestrate this entire ecosystem months before completion. Libarikian Interiors bring together top-tier custom millworkers, landscape architects, home automation integrators, art conservators, and coastal estate contractors into a single unified workflow. Rather than burdening the principal with daily decisions, Libarikian Interiors interface directly with your family office directors, estate managers, legal counsel, and personal assistants. By serving as the single point of contact for project management, procurement schedules, and trade execution, Libarikian Interiors guarantee total financial transparency and zero operational friction for your team. The unforeseen complexities of "day-one" Hamptons living. A true turn-key estate extends far beyond placing statement furniture or custom millwork. A seamless handover anticipates the environmental and lifestyle dynamics unique to the East End: * Complete OS&E (Operating Supplies & Equipment) Curation: Every drawer, pantry, and linen closet is fully outfitted prior to arrival. Dining pavilions are set with fine silver from Christofle and crystal from Baccarat, while primary suite baths are stocked with monogrammed Frette or Sferra linens, luxury toiletries, and custom-fitted closet storage. * Salt-Air & Microclimate Engineering: Coastal exposure requires specialized material selection. Libarikian Interiors specify marine-grade hardware, UV-resistant textiles, and moisture-stable woods that withstand coastal humidity and salt air without losing their refined aesthetic. * Outdoor Pavilion & Poolside Readiness: Hamptons living centers around outdoor entertaining. Libarikian Interiors fully outfit pool houses, outdoor kitchens, and cabanas with weather-resistant textiles, outdoor dining services, and integrated heating long before your first summer weekend. * Culinary & Cellar Provisioning: In coordination with your local private chef or estate manager, Libarikian Interiors oversee the initial stocking of temperature-controlled wine cellars, walk-in pantries, and espresso bars tailored to your family's exact preferences. * Smart Home Calibration & Digital Estate Manuals: Libarikian Interiors partner with industry leaders like Lutron and Savant to pre-program automated shade schedules, security integration, and multi-zone HVAC profiles. Libarikian Interiors provide your estate staff with a streamlined digital operating manual for effortless management of pool controls, audio, and climate systems. Discreet Long Island logistics & off-site staging. Achieving a flawless handover without local disturbance requires meticulous off-site logistics. As highlighted in coverage by The Wall Street Journal on UHNW estate trends and Robb Report on turnkey luxury real estate, high-net-worth buyers increasingly prioritize moves that require zero personal oversight or neighborhood disruption. Libarikian Interiors receive, inspect, white-glove unpack, and store all furnishings, fine art, and decor at receiving warehouse facilities on Long Island. Unboxing, steam-cleaning, assembly, and quality control occur completely off-site. During installation week - scheduled well ahead of hard deadlines like Memorial Day weekend - its white-glove transport team executes final placement, art hanging, deep cleaning, and full waste removal in single, discreet passes, leaving the property pristine, fragrant, and fully living-ready. Its clients rely on Libarikian Interiors as lifestyle project managers and estate stewards. By bridging the gap between contractors, luxury vendors, smart-home engineers, and family office reps, Libarikian Interiors turn the multi-year stress of home building into a simple key handover. You don't just step into a decorated house; you step directly into your Hamptons sanctuary.

Lutron launches Orluna in North america at CEDIA Expo. Lutron Electronics is using CEDIA Expo 2026 to make what it calls its largest show statement to date, presenting a wider portfolio across intelligent lighting, automated window treatments, controls, software and partner-built integrations for the custom installation channel. The Coopersburg, PA-based company will anchor its presence through its booth, the Lutron Lab, manufacturer product trainings, and the Destination Outdoors collaboration with Coastal Source. Taken together, the program points to a clear message for integrators: Lutron wants to be part of the lighting story inside the home, at the window, and beyond the exterior walls. "CEDIA Expo is more than a trade show for Lutron," Ben Bard, vice president, Luxury Residential at Lutron, said in a statement. Bard said the company has invested in innovations, training opportunities, and tools designed to help integrators create more differentiated customer experiences. One of the most notable introductions is Orluna's North American debut. Lutron acquired the UK-based architectural lighting fixture manufacturer in 2025, and CEDIA Expo will give North American dealers a closer look at the brand's craft-forward portfolio. The collection includes downlights, monopoint and pendant cylinders, and path lighting, with an emphasis on color-consistent light across multiple architectural applications. Lutron says Orluna products are expected to be available for order in early 2027. The company's automated window treatment story is also expanding. Lutron will showcase Palladiom Drapery, a system designed to combine the slim look of a traditional drapery rod with the quiet operation of an automated track. The line includes four end treatments, including an exclusive Swarovski crystal finial. Also debuting at the show is the Ethos Fabric Collection, Lutron's first 100 percent polyester, PVC-free screen fabric. The collection is designed for consistent color and performance across wide spans, an important consideration for large openings and projects where shade appearance must remain uniform from room to room. Palladiom Drapery and the Ethos Fabric Collection are both available for order now. On the controls and software side, Lutron plans to unveil new capabilities that include Sunnata Programming for HomeWorks, expanded app functionality, and Sonos Voice Control for Lutron. The company is also shipping new Palladiom USB-C Receptacles, adding high-performance charging in a form factor intended to complement the broader Palladiom design language. Lutron says all of the new software capabilities are available now. Lutron is also broadening the story around Native by Design, its program for collaborating with design partners whose products integrate with Lutron technology. At CEDIA Expo, the company will show existing collaborations with Cerno and Coastal Source while introducing new Native by Design partners Matthew McCormick Studio, MerlinLight, and Ted Bradley. The collaborations span indoor and outdoor lighting, artwork illumination, and sculptural fixtures. The outdoor experience will continue at Destination Outdoors, presented by Coastal Source. There, Lutron and Coastal Source will highlight VIA, a new outdoor intelligent lighting solution that is now available for preorder. Native by Design partners Insolroll and Niche will also be featured in the Destination Outdoors area. For integrators, the breadth of Lutron's CEDIA Expo plans reflects the way residential technology projects are increasingly being shaped by the quality, control, and continuity of light. The announcements reach across fixture specification, shade aesthetics, control interfaces, voice integration, and exterior environments, giving dealers several new ways to connect design intent with day-to-day user experience.