EverLights President Among First Class of Scholars to Complete 10,000 Small Businesses Program

June 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Kelly Aaron Gallagher, Founder and President of EverLights, a Chicago-based WBE certified company that specializes in fluorescent lamp recycling, was among the inaugural class of scholars who completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Chicago. Only 37 of 150 business owners who applied were selected.

Gallagher and her fellow scholars each received a certificate of completion at a June 12 graduation ceremony held at Malcolm X College here. Mayor Rahm Emanuel hosted the event and delivered commencement remarks alongside 10,000 Small Businesses Advisory Council co-chair Warren Buffet and Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein.

Since starting the program in January, Gallagher’s company has experienced a 25 percent increase in sales. “The experience was one-of-a-kind and tested me in ways I never could have imagined,” said Gallagher. “The information I learned in the program can be applied to my leadership style and will help me develop new goals and strategies for the company. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to participate.”

Gallagher founded EverLights in 1995 and played a key role in helping make Illinois one of the first states to pass a lamp recycling law in 1997. Currently, the company offers businesses two lamp recycling options – a mail in recycling program, called EverMail, or a bulk pick up at the businesses’ location.  EverLights offers additional services, such as electronic waste recycling, GE lamps, and lighting audit and retrofit recommendations.  

Since early 2011, EverLights has been offering a limited number of energy-efficient lamps and related products including LED lamps, adapters, power strips with sensors, high-energy ballasts, occupancy sensors and lighting retrofit kits.  The company received the 2010 Governor’s Sustainability Award recognizing its innovation and sustainability success.

EverLights is located at 9901 S. Torrence Av., Chicago, IL 60617, phone (877) 934-9873. Visit their website at www.everlights.com.