William J. Astary currently holds the position of Founder and Managing Partner of 5 Center Associates LLC, a firm offering temporary executive services and specialty project/project management services. Prior to this assignment he served as the Director of Industry Strategic Partnership for Georgia Tech Professional Education, where he assisted organizations stay current with developments in engineering, science, technology, and business leadership, generating practical results in the workplace through access to continuing education. He also proudly supported the Veterans Education Training and Transition program (VET2), placing military veterans with industry sponsors. Prior to his appointment at Georgia Tech, Astary held the position of SVP Sales for Lumenergi a Silicon Valley-based technology company focused on energy management. A 38-year electrical industry veteran, Astary has also held the position of SVP – Strategic Marketing and Business Development, serving as a member of the executive leadership team of Acuity Brands. He has also held various positions in engineering, product development, marketing and sales, often with an international focus, at the company. A native of Sterling, Ill., Astary holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA in International Business from Mercer University. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program and Dartmouth’s Tuck School brand management course. Astary is a 25-year member of the Illumination Engineering Society of North America. He has served as President and member of the board for the Jim H. McClung Lighting Research Foundation, the advisory board to the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering at UNC Charlotte, alumni board for the Mercer University Stetson School of Business and was a past director of the Robert J. Besal Lighting Education Fund. Astary currently serves on the board of managers for the Tybee Island YMCA, actively volunteers in support of the Rising Tide food pantry, and spends his spring enthusiastically coaching young track & field athletes.