Privacy policy

Effective Date: 07/02/2026

HL Stearns, Inc. (“HL Stearns,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit our website, submit a form, contact our team, request information, use our online resources, register for education or events, or otherwise interact with us online.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

Personal Information You Provide

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

Name

Email address

Phone number

Company name

Job title or role

Mailing address or business address

Information submitted through contact forms, project inquiries, education or event forms, line card requests, fixture finder inquiries, or other website forms

Project details, messages, feedback, or other information you choose to provide when communicating with us

Communication preferences, if applicable

Any other information you choose to provide to us

Business, Client, Partner, and Project Information

We may collect information related to our business relationships and services, including:

Business contact information

Client, manufacturer, architect, designer, contractor, engineer, distributor, or project-related information

Lighting, controls, specification, quotation, education, or project support inquiries

Event, education, training, or program participation information

Communications with our team

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information, including:

IP address

Browser type

Device type

Operating system

Pages visited

Time spent on the website

Referring website or links

General website usage and analytics information

Cookies, pixels, tags, scripts, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies

2. How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect to:

Provide, maintain, and improve our website, services, resources, and programs

Respond to inquiries and provide customer support

Process requests related to lighting, controls, specification support, quotation support, education, events, manufacturer information, or other HL Stearns services

Communicate with clients, manufacturers, representatives, partners, and industry contacts

Send company updates, event information, education information, marketing communications, or other business communications, where permitted

Analyze website usage and improve website performance and user experience

Maintain the security and functionality of our website and systems

Comply with legal obligations

Protect our rights, property, safety, and the rights, property, and safety of others

3. How We Share Information

We do not sell personal information for money. We may disclose or share personal information in the following circumstances:

Service Providers and Vendors

We may share information with trusted third-party vendors and service providers who help us operate our website, host data, provide analytics, manage communications, process forms or registrations, maintain systems, support business operations, or deliver services on our behalf.

Business and Industry Partners

We may share relevant business contact, project, registration, or inquiry information with manufacturers, representatives, distributors, event organizers, or other industry partners when necessary to support requested services, product or project inquiries, education programs, events, business relationships, or related interactions.

Legal, Compliance, and Safety Purposes

We may disclose information when required to comply with applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request. We may also disclose information when necessary to protect our rights, enforce our policies, prevent fraud, address security issues, or protect the safety of HL Stearns, our users, or others.

Business Transfers

We may disclose or transfer information in connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, financing, or similar business transaction.

With Your Consent

We may disclose information for other purposes with your consent or at your direction.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to help operate the site, remember preferences, analyze traffic, understand how visitors use the website, and improve user experience.

Cookies and similar technologies may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, referring links, and interactions with our website.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Some website features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

If we use analytics tools, advertising pixels, retargeting tools, or similar third-party tracking technologies, those tools may collect or receive information from our website and elsewhere on the internet to provide measurement services, analytics, advertising, or other services. Where required by applicable law, we will provide appropriate disclosures and opt-out choices.

5. Your Choices

You may have choices regarding the information we collect and how we communicate with you, including the ability to:

Opt out of marketing emails by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our messages, where available

Request access to, correction of, or deletion of certain personal information

Adjust browser settings to limit cookies or tracking technologies

To exercise your privacy choices, please contact us using the information listed in the “Contact Us” section below.

6. Oregon Privacy Rights

If you are an Oregon resident and the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act applies to our processing of your personal data, you may have certain rights with respect to your personal data.

These rights may include:

Right to confirm and access: You may request that we confirm whether we are processing your personal data and provide access to the personal data we process about you.

Right to correct: You may request that we correct inaccuracies in your personal data, taking into account the nature of the personal data and the purposes for which we process it.

Right to delete: You may request that we delete personal data provided by you, obtained about you, or derived from your personal data, subject to applicable legal exceptions.

Right to data portability: You may request a copy of your personal data in a portable and, to the extent technically feasible, readily usable format.

Right to third-party disclosure information: You may request information about the third parties to whom we have disclosed your personal data, as required by applicable Oregon law.

Right to opt out: You may opt out of the processing of your personal data for purposes of targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, or profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning you, where applicable.

We do not sell personal information for money. If our practices change, or if any processing activity is considered a “sale,” “targeted advertising,” or “profiling” under applicable Oregon law, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide any required opt-out rights.

We do not knowingly sell the personal data of children under 16. We also do not knowingly sell precise geolocation data. If our practices change, we will provide any notices and obtain any consents required by applicable law.

Sensitive Personal Data

We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal data through our website unless you voluntarily provide it to us or unless it is necessary for a specific business purpose. Sensitive personal data may include information such as precise geolocation data, biometric data, health information, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, citizenship or immigration status, or personal data of a child, as defined by applicable law.

Where required by Oregon law, we will obtain consent before processing sensitive personal data.

How to Submit an Oregon Privacy Request

To exercise your Oregon privacy rights, please contact us by email at [Insert Privacy Email] with the subject line “Oregon Privacy Request.”

Please describe the right you would like to exercise and provide enough information for us to reasonably verify your identity and locate your information. We may request additional information to verify your identity before responding to your request. We will use the information provided in connection with your request only to verify and respond to your request, unless otherwise permitted by law.

We will respond to verified privacy requests in accordance with applicable Oregon law.

Appeals

If we deny your Oregon privacy request, you may appeal our decision by contacting us at [Insert Privacy Email] with the subject line “Oregon Privacy Appeal.”

Please include a copy of, or reference to, the original request and explain why you believe the decision should be reconsidered. We will review and respond to your appeal in accordance with applicable Oregon law.

If your appeal is denied, you may contact the Oregon Department of Justice to submit a consumer privacy complaint.

Universal Opt-Out Mechanisms

Where required by Oregon law, and where we process personal data for targeted advertising or the sale of personal data, we will recognize legally required universal opt-out mechanisms, such as browser-based opt-out preference signals, when technically feasible and applicable to our website practices.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, maintain business records, enforce agreements, and support legitimate business operations.

The length of time we retain information may vary depending on the type of information, the purpose for which it was collected, and applicable legal or operational requirements.

8. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites or third-party resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

10. Children’s Privacy

HL Stearns’ website and services are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without appropriate consent, we will take reasonable steps to delete the information.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of our website or services after any updates means you acknowledge the revised Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, or if you would like to submit a privacy request, please contact us:

HL Stearns, Inc.
Main Office – Portland
5314 NE Irving St.
Portland, OR 97213
Phone: (503) 262-2640
Email: [Insert Privacy Email]

Southern Office – Springfield
3555 Gateway St. Ste 200
Springfield, OR 97477

This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, or interact with our team.