About
Forty-four years of keeping facilities lit.
From a single national retail contract in 1982 to commercial and industrial lighting across the country.
Our story
NLMS was founded in 1982 as National Maintenance Company, providing lighting services to K-Mart stores nationwide. That contract built the company. What started as a small operation grew into a trusted partner for national retailers, lighting retrofit firms, manufacturers, and property managers.
In 2024, founder Jerri Merrill welcomed Sandy Woods as a partner and relocated the headquarters to Louisville, Kentucky — a new chapter for the company. Today, as a certified Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) partner, NLMS represents women-led leadership in an industry that has not seen much of it.
The evolution from a single retail partnership to a national commercial and industrial lighting provider reflects the values the company started with: honesty, craftsmanship, and genuine care for the people we work with.
What drives us
NALMCO-certified technicians complete more than 20 hours of safety training annually. We keep clean, organized work environments and treat every property with respect. That sounds like a small thing. On an active plant floor or in a hospital corridor, it is not.
A woman-owned business
As a WBENC-certified woman-owned business, NLMS reflects real progress in this industry. The certification underscores a commitment to leadership, opportunity, and accountability — and it means something concrete to the organizations and public agencies that have supplier diversity requirements to meet.
Where we work
Louisville is the headquarters, not the limit. Crews travel, and multi-site national rollouts have been the core of the business since the beginning. We have lit retail portfolios from coast to coast, distribution centers, plants, hospitals, school districts, and municipal facilities.
Past performance
Facilities we've lit.
Four decades of national retail rollouts, industrial plants, distribution centers, hospitals, school districts, and municipal facilities.
Retail
- Wal-Mart
- Target
- Home Depot
- Kohl's
- JC Penney
- Walgreens
- Dollar General
- Dollar Tree
- Menard's
- Office Max
- Staples
- Sherwin Williams
- TJ Maxx / Marshall's
- Golf Galaxy
- Toys R' Us
- Kmart / Sears
- Circuit City
- Ames
- Goody's
- Oak Express
Industrial & Manufacturing
- UPS
- North American Stainless
- Gates Corporation
- Berry Plastics
- Amcor Pet Packaging
- Greif Brothers
- Metalsa
- Armor Metal Group
- Bel Brands
- Dorman R&B
- Marzetti
- St Bernard Soap
- Total Logistics Control
- Wild Flavors
- Scott Company
Institutional, Office & Municipal
- St. Mary's Hospital
- Fifth Third Bank
- AT&T
- Edward Jones
- Kenton County Schools
- Presidential Park, D.C.
- LA Fitness
- First State Bank
- Legacy Property Management
- United Properties
- Remke Market
- Woodfield Suites
- America's Best Vision
- ACE Cash Express
- Buffets, Inc.
- Whitehall Jewelers
- Riverview Apartments
- Silhouette Travel
- Associated Premium
- Ruth Lyon's
In their words
What clients say.
NLMS responded to an RFP online to quote new lighting for our county government parking garage and were awarded the bid. Their crews were responsive, professional, and completed our project ahead of schedule.
Scott G.
We called NLMS to gather information about changing to new LED lighting in our warehouse. We not only received a great proposal, but they also provided us with an energy rebate report showing us how we can save on our monthly energy bills.
Jeremy K.
Worked with Sandy and NLMS on an install and they are a fantastic company to work with. Great prices, great service and great people.
Cruz M.
They are the best lighting contractor in Jeffersontown. They did a sports lighting project for me — exceptional and great services. The staff is highly professional.
Jake A.
Want to talk about a project?
Talk to the people who will run the work.