In Episode 74 of the Killer Growth podcast, Samuel McVay sits down with Brandon McLey, founder of Titan Lighting, to discuss the lucrative but complex world of commercial lighting retrofits. Brandon walks through his career journey from managing CED (Consolidated Electrical Distributors) across six Kansas locations to launching Titan Lighting in 2023 alongside a former colleague. The conversation covers an often-overlooked business opportunity: Evergy's lighting incentive program, which covers approximately 50% of qualifying LED retrofit project costs through actual rebate checks-not just energy savings recoupment. Brandon explains how these grants work, what qualifies, and why many business owners are leaving money on the table by not exploring this option. The episode also touches on the broader marketing and lead generation challenges lighting contractors face, including the importance of staying top-of-mind with past connections and establishing a strong online presence in a competitive local market.
Brandon McLey's path to founding Titan Lighting started in a small Missouri town north of Kansas City with 40 people in his graduating class. After earning a scholarship to Northwest Missouri State University, he landed a role at CED (Consolidated Electrical Distributors), a billion-dollar multinational electrical distributor. For nearly two decades, Brandon worked his way up, eventually managing warehouse operations in Wichita and overseeing six locations throughout Kansas-all while feeding the construction, maintenance, and retrofit industries.
In 2023, Brandon made the leap to start Titan Lighting with a former CED colleague. Unlike the broader electrical distribution model, Titan focuses exclusively on lighting-a strategic narrowing that allows deeper expertise in a specific market segment. The company handles new construction (roughly 40% of business), retrofits, and project management across Kansas.
The Evergy Lighting Incentive Opportunity
One of the most valuable insights Brandon shared is how Evergy's LED retrofit rebate program works. Many business owners don't realize that Evergy covers approximately 50% of qualifying LED upgrade project costs-and it comes as an actual check for hardware and labor, not just energy savings recoupment. The rebate program essentially subsidizes the fixture costs and installation, making energy-efficient lighting upgrades far more affordable than most companies assume.
This represents a significant opportunity for contractors and commercial property owners in Kansas who haven't explored these incentives. The conversation highlighted how contractors with strong local relationships and visibility can position themselves as the go-to experts who help clients access these programs and navigate the application process.
Building a Lighting Business in a Competitive Market
Brandon emphasized that much of his business comes from relationships-people who know him, past connections, and consistent outreach. He mentioned the importance of "knocking on the door," staying visible, and reminding people he's still operating. This approach reflects a timeless business truth: staying top-of-mind matters as much as having a great product or service.
For contractors and service businesses in Wichita, this underscores why having a strong local online presence-through SEO, a conversion-optimized website, and consistent digital outreach-is critical. While Brandon's success relies heavily on face-to-face relationship building, pairing that with a digital marketing strategy ensures your business stays visible to both warm leads and new prospects searching for your services online.
How much does Evergy actually cover on LED retrofit projects?
Evergy's incentive program covers approximately 50% of qualifying LED retrofit project costs. The rebate comes as an actual check that covers hardware and labor, not just energy savings recoupment. This makes upgrading to energy-efficient lighting significantly more affordable for commercial property owners.
How can lighting contractors use digital marketing to reach more businesses exploring LED upgrades?
Contractors can build visibility through local SEO, ensuring they rank when commercial property managers search for LED retrofit or lighting upgrade services in their area. A conversion-optimized website explaining the Evergy rebate process, combined with Google Ads targeting decision-makers, can turn online searchers into qualified leads. Social media and email campaigns keep past connections engaged-staying top-of-mind when they're ready to upgrade.
How does KillerGrowth help contractors like lighting companies grow their customer base?
KillerGrowth specializes in helping local service contractors gain visibility and generate leads through local SEO, Google Ads, and paid advertising. We build fast-loading, conversion-optimized websites designed to turn visitors into calls and quotes. We also implement GoHighLevel CRM automation to nurture leads and keep contractors top-of-mind with past connections-exactly the kind of scalable outreach that complements relationship-based selling.
What does KillerGrowth do differently from other digital marketing agencies in Wichita?
KillerGrowth focuses exclusively on local service businesses-contractors, HVAC, plumbing, pest control, lighting, and similar trades. We don't just build websites; we drive measurable results through integrated local SEO, paid advertising, and CRM automation. Our founder Samuel McVay deeply understands the challenges these businesses face, and we combine strategic thinking with execution across the full digital marketing stack.
How can a local Wichita contractor get started with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call at https://killergrowth.com/booking. Samuel McVay will walk you through what's possible for your business, audit your current online presence, and show you exactly where untapped growth opportunities exist.