Charles Knuffke Email & Phone Number

San Francisco, Ca, Us

San Jose And San Francisco

In 2013 I was asked to consider leaving my role as the Western RVP to take on the responsibility of managing the Product Development team for Wattstopper's System Product Line - primarily our Networked Lighting Control Panels and Digital Lighting Management (DLM) System. While I greatly enjoyed my Sales role, I agreed to the change to help continue to momentum that had developed around our System products.Within a year, Wattstopper reorganized to facilitate great interactions with Vantage Lighting Controls (a Legrand sister company). While still helping with several Sales and Product Management responsibilities, my primary role is now as Wattstopper (and Vantage) System Evangelist - to ensure that anyone interacting with our Digital Lighting Control Platform is able to get what they need from us to be successful in their projects - this includes Specifiers, Installers, Distributors, Facility Engineers, Tenants, and our Sales Representatives. While most often this is about Education, it also extends to helping with unique Product Applications, making available Training Material, and all around Thought Leadership regarding Lighting Controls as they become more complex due to Integration and the Energy Efficiency Codes.

Western United States, Based In San Francisco.

In 2007 was elevated from Regional Technical Manager to Regional Sales Manager, and later to Regional Vice President.Oversaw all sales functions for Western US during this time - increasing market penetration of all our products, actively promoting products through visits and Regional training sessions, and working closely with our local Sales Representative Partners. Worked diligently to ensure at all times that our customers were complete satisfied with our products, including the tenants occupying the spaces where they had been installed. During these years, the Western Region lead the US with the introduction of WattStopper's revolutionary "Digital Lighting Management" (DLM) product line and our overall training efforts.Because of the efforts previously and during this time, became a leading California resource for presentations on the Title 24 Energy Codes, especially on the 2013 version which included requirements for Dimming of general lights in most spaces, Plug Load Control, and Demand Shed.

Western United States, Based In San Francisco.

In 1999, GE's ED&C group was given responsibility for the GE Wiring Devices and Lighting Controls, and decided to split the joint venture with Horton Controls and take back ownership of the Sales and Product Development aspects of the Lighting Control products. Horton Controls, by their initial contract with GE, still had rights to manufacturer and sell all Lighting Control products that they had overseen as GE's National Representative. In 2000, Horton Controls began selling products that were functional equivalent to the GE products, along with "WinControl" - a Windows Based Software package to run the most advanced level of Lighting Control systems - which offered significant benefits over the previous DOS software.By the July of 2000, Horton Controls was purchased by Wattstopper / Legrand North America, with the intent of giving one company a portfolio combining sophisticated Lighting Control Relay Panels and the highest quality Occupancy Sensors so that they could be the premier Lighting Control company for Energy Efficient Lighting Controls in the US.During this period I worked side by side with Wattstopper's Western Regional Manager. While the RM oversaw sales efforts in the West, I oversaw the training of our District Managers and our Sales Representatives, and helped oversee significant Western projects and those with unique technical requirements. During this time I assisted with the rollout of Wattstopper's DALI products in 2004, our "Lighting Integrator" relay panel family (including the "Automation" and "Complete Control" levels), and became significantly involved with the group overseeing the California Title 24 Energy Code.

Western United States, Based In San Francisco.

In 1994 GE decided to split the responsibilities of GE Wiring Devices and Lighting Controls. Responsibility for the sale of GE Wiring Devices would stay within the organization, but GE entered into a joint venture to sell their Lighting Control systems with Horton Controls. GE would continue to manufacture the systems and perform credit and collections, but Horton Controls would become the National Representative for the product line. I and two other co-workers were moved from GE to Horton Control, and immediately assumed responsibility for all aspects of selling the systems in our three national regions. Responsibilities included specification development, interfacing with distributors, vetting project orders, determining our local Sales Representative Network, and working with Contractors and Owners to ensure systems installed properly and were optimized to save the most energy.This joint venture was almost immediately expanded when Horton Controls was also given primary responsibility for Product Development and Engineering of the Lighting Control System. It was during this period that the GE TLC Systems - "Level 1", "Level 2", and "Level 3" were introduced to the marketplace, as well as Smartwired Contactor (SWC) and Smartwired Switching (SWS) Relay Panels.

Western United States, Based In San Francisoc

Started on April 1st, 1986 as the Western US Sales Lighting Specialist for GE Wiring Devices and Lighting Control. Job was primarily to start up the GE Programmable Lighting Control systems that were being sold in the west, and to train facility staff on the system's operation.After 2+ years was moved into Sales while still acting as startup technician - working independently and with our local representatives to promote and specify these systems. Initially covering the Southern California district, and very soon after that was made the Regional Sales Manager for the Western 13 states, and given responsibility for selling GE Wiring Devices as well as the GE Lighting Control systems.

Schenectady, Ny

Co-op Internship to assist with Plant and Process Engineering tasks while attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During the latter part of the Co-op was asked to oversee 3rd Shift Facilities Staff during an extended Medical Recover by the current Manager of about 3 months. Was given responsibility for Machine Repair, Machine Shop Operators, Crane Operators, and Cleaning Staff - approximately 35 individuals from 11:00pm to 7:00am.

Glen Cove (Long Island), Ny

Co-op Internship while attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Primarily spent assignment analyzing copper bonding characteristics of the company's unique process for multilevel circuit boards, and project management.