This year, Musco Lighting celebrates 50 years in business — a meaningful milestone for the privately held Midwest manufacturer. With a strong team culture and global reach, Musco continues to move forward with momentum.
Known for lighting everything from Little League fields to NFL stadiums, Formula One tracks, seaports and even the “Big Air” ramp for the event held at the Rose Bowl, Musco has quietly become one of the most influential lighting manufacturers in the world.
Nighttime view of Yas Marina Circuit illuminated with Musco’s advanced lighting system. Image courtesy of Musco Lighting.
“Things aren’t slowing down,” says Vice President of Manufacturing Nick Smith, who has been with Musco for 29 years. “When I started, we had around 375 team members. We’re over 2,000 now, and we’re still growing.”
Throughout much of that growth (nearly three decades’ worth) Musco has relied on Van Meter as a trusted partner and extension of its team. This is the story of two Midwest companies aligned in mission, values and a shared belief that people-first organizations build world-class results.
A Midwest Manufacturer Lighting the World
Musco impacts thousands of projects a year, ranging from small community ball fields to massive global installations. What sets Musco apart is its complete-system approach. They don’t simply manufacture fixtures. They deliver everything from foundations and poles to the control systems that tie it all together. And their meticulous attention to detail is legendary.
“Everything is factory-tested and factory-aimed,” Smith explains. “When a shipment arrives on-site, even if it’s Formula One track in the Middle East, it’s a complete system including lighting, electrical, and structural components designed for easy installation. The electrician does the underground electrical work and then hooks up the wires. It’s plug and play.”
This commitment to quality and innovation has been part of Musco’s DNA since its earliest days. Smith fondly recalls milestones that shaped the company’s trajectory — from launching the Light-Structure Green™ foundation-to-poletop product line in 2005, which featured advanced glare control and reduced energy use, revolutionized the industry, to helping expand operations in China and building a new facility in South Korea in just six months. Yet no matter how global Musco becomes, its roots — and its values — remain firmly planted in the Midwest.
Musco Lighting, headquartered Oskaloosa, IA, where innovative lighting technology is engineered for sports venues around the world. Image courtesy of Musco Lighting.
The Values Behind the Light
Musco’s culture is built on three core values:
- Team First
- Do What’s Right Because It’s Right
- We Make It Happen®
These aren’t slogans; they’re operating principles.
“We exist for the benefit of the team,” Smith says. “If you take care of the team, the team will take care of the customer.”
It’s a philosophy that guides everything from daily decision-making to long-term strategy. And it’s one of the biggest reasons the Musco and Van Meter partnership works.
“Van Meter is an extension of our team,” Smith says. “Their values align with ours: people first, community-minded, innovative. There’s a lot of synergy there.”
"Van Meter is an extension of our team. Their values align with ours: people first, community‑minded, innovative."
– Nick Smith, Musco Lighting, Vice President of Manufacturing Nick Smith
A Partnership Built on Trust, Solutions and Shared Success
Musco and Van Meter first crossed paths in the mid-1990s. Their first official purchase order dates back to 1998 — and they’ve been building on that relationship ever since. Why has the partnership lasted so long? Because Van Meter never approached Musco as “just another customer.” They came alongside them as a problem-solver, a resource and, ultimately, a partner.
Reliable Supply and Inventory Management
Musco builds everything to order, often turning around custom projects in just six weeks. That means part availability cannot falter.
“On a 70-foot pole, we might have hundreds of feet of wire,” Smith says. “We give Van Meter forecasts, and they make sure we never run out. They’ve taken that responsibility on, and they don’t miss.”
Through supply chain disruptions, massive industry demand and even the chaos of a worldwide pandemic, Van Meter prioritized Musco’s needs.
“We never missed a single shipment,” Smith says. “That’s when you really see who your true partners are.”
Value-Added Systems and Innovation
Van Meter built online tools so Musco teams can see real-time inventory. They negotiate with manufacturers on Musco’s behalf. They stock specialized materials to keep production moving.
“They always look for ways they can help,” Smith notes. “Not just parts, but value add.”
A Relationship at Every Level
This isn’t a vendor relationship. It’s a web of daily collaboration across both companies.
“We have a dozen people at Musco working with a dozen at Van Meter,” Smith says. “Leadership, operations, purchasing . . . you name it. It’s relationship-driven.”
A Shared Commitment to Doing What’s Right
When a project hits a snag, Smith says Van Meter doesn’t fall back on technicalities. “They look at the broader scope — not just the dollar figure. They genuinely want Musco to succeed.”
Quality, Consistency and Confidence
For a company whose products must perform flawlessly around the world, quality is everything. And Van Meter reinforces that standard.
“When there’s an issue, they jump right in,” Smith says. “They hold their manufacturers accountable. They go to the next level.”
The consistency Musco experiences isn't just operational. It’s cultural.
“Van Meter understands that our motto is ‘We Make It Happen.’ We’re intense about meeting deadlines and customer expectations. They step right into that with us.”
A look inside AT&T Stadium, where advanced lighting and electrical innovation shape an unforgettable fan experience. Image courtesy of Musco Lighting.
Lighting the Future Together
In Musco’s 50th anniversary year, innovation is accelerating. The entertainment market is expanding. New product lines are emerging. Global demand is rising. With growth comes new challenges and new opportunities. Smith is confident about what lies ahead, especially with partners like Van Meter.
“New challenges mean new suppliers, new technologies, new processes,” he says. “But because of partners like Van Meter, we know we’ll be taken care of.”
After all, Van Meter has already been part of lighting some of the most iconic spaces in the world: stadiums for the Chicago Cubs, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys; the Statue of Liberty; and national parks, including Mount Rushmore.
“Something Van Meter provided is on every single job where Musco provides lighting solutions,” Smith says.
"Van Meter is a true extension of Musco. Their people talk to us every day. They know us. They support us. They’re part of our success."
A Partnership That Feels Like Family
When asked to summarize the partnership, Smith doesn’t hesitate.
“Van Meter is a true extension of Musco,” he says. “Their people talk to us every day. They know us. They support us. They’re part of our success.”
And in the spirit of being “Made in the Midwest,” it’s the people — and the shared values —behind both companies that make the story meaningful.
Two Midwest companies. Two people-first cultures. One bright future.