Cerno | Virtual Fellowship
Three friends, three founders; Bret, Nick, and Daniel, each different, each making Cerno a leader in lighting. Daniel speaks to lean manufacturing; Nick talks about the design process and inspiration; Bret about sales and marketing. They’ll explain entrepreneurism – and the beauty of being equal parts making the whole.
“Be Original Americas’ 2020 fellowship pivot speaks to their nimble ingenuity and invaluable role as original design advocates and educators.”
Bret Englander
Bret grew up in Laguna Beach, CA, amongst a melting pot of artists, surfers, hippies, and entrepreneurs, which led to his passion for the natural environment, design, and being an entrepreneur. He credits helping his father in product design in his homebuilding business truly sparked his interest in the creative and analytical sides of running a business. Returning to his true passion in 2009, Bret teamed up with childhood best friends Daniel Wacholder and Nick Sheridan to start Cerno. Bret wears many hats but focuses his efforts on business development as Cerno’s Director of Sales and Marketing.
Dan Wacholder
Daniel grew up in Laguna Beach, CA, among its artistic community and the natural environment, invoking a passion for the ocean and the arts. It was a tight bond with Daniel’s grandfather that led to his insatiable appetite for understanding how things are made. His grandfather embodied the philosophy “if there’s a will there’s a way”, which now Daniel uses to inspire his team at Cerno. He completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California San Diego. Prior to Cerno, Daniel worked in manufacturing and engineering which taught him about the inner workings of a small manufacturing company and the beauty of being a vertically integrated manufacturer. Wacholder embraces old technology and cutting edge 21st-century technology and over the last few years, he has studied and implemented many Lean Manufacturing principles which are already yielding meaningful results.
Nick Sheridan
Nick grew up in Laguna Beach, CA, also, among the artistic community and the natural environment inspired a deep passion for the ocean and design, which continues to influence his design’s today. Nick’s father, a general contractor specializing in Craftsman style homes, exposed Nick to the process of designing and building homes. Nick showed an innate talent for design and craftsmanship, which his dad identified and cultivated. He learned early that if you want to build something you must design it first. Completing a Degree in Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona, he gravitated toward modernism and minimalism. Inspired by the great architects and product designers like Mies Van Der Rohe and Le Corbusier, he continued to develop his modern aesthetic after spending a year in Italy. Using natural materials honestly and what they are best suited for is the DNA in Nick’s designs.
Check out additional talks and watch all of the Virtual Fellowship sessions.