LIGHTING SYSTEMS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Accounting Administrative Assistant
With nearly 20 years of experience in the lighting industry, Brian has established himself as a seasoned professional. After graduating from Penn State with a degree in Architectural Engineering, he embarked on his career as a lighting designer in San Francisco. In 2014, Brian joined the Lighting Systems family, transitioning to the lighting rep side of the industry.
Currently, Brian plays a pivotal role on the Applications and Technical Support Team, where he focuses on supporting the Lighting Systems sales team. His responsibilities include providing customers with design and specification assistance, conducting lighting calculations, and offering technical support. Brian's expertise is further bolstered by his LEED AP BD+C credential and his status as a Lighting Certified (LC) professional.
Although Brian's childhood involved frequent relocations, including stops in Budapest, Hungary, and Rochester, NY, he has always considered the greater Philadelphia area his home. He continues to make regular visits to the area to spend time with family and friends. Additionally, Brian recently tied the knot with his wife Brooke in a picturesque ceremony on the shores of Lake Tahoe in 2021. The couple just welcomed a new addition to their family in 2023, a baby boy!
When Brian isn't immersed in the world of lighting projects, he indulges in his love for outdoor activities. In the winter, you'll find him chasing powder on his snowboard in the mountains, while in the warmer months, he enjoys hiking, camping, biking, and tending to his garden.
Job Titles:
- Controls Technical Support
Colin Sullivan is joined our exceptional team as a versatile Contractor/Distributor and Specification Sales Team member, bringing with him 17 years of invaluable sales experience in the lighting industry. During his career he has worked in various roles for manufacturers and rep agencies in the Bay Area.
Colin is a Bay Area native and a proud parent of three recent college graduates who attended universities in California and Oregon. In his spare time, Colin follows his passion as an accomplished guitarist.
Deanna Kaminski has dedicated almost half of her 17-year career in the lighting industry to Lighting Systems. Starting out as a Quotation Specialist, Deanna has now become an integral part of our Project Management team.
For the past 9 years, Deanna has brought her trendy persona to our office. We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have her innovative spirit and willingness to explore new and unfamiliar things. From trying out goat yoga and oatmeal lattes to growing loofahs in her home garden, Deanna's adventurous nature knows no bounds.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Deanna is a busy mom to two active boys, Shane (7) and Dylan (4). Together with her husband Scott, they enjoy camping, swimming, and going on vacations.
Eric brings a wealth of experience to Lighting Systems, with a background of 10 years working with major lighting manufacturers and 6 years collaborating with electrical contractors on lighting projects. His expertise in lighting retrofit solutions has gained recognition, as he was featured in renowned publications such as "Practical Wine and Vineyards" and "Wine Business Monthly" for his work in this field. Additionally, Eric's contributions to the lighting industry have been nationally published, particularly for his efforts with Kendall Jackson Family wines.
Notably, Eric's leadership of a local ESCO branch in San Leandro resulted in the team earning 6 PG&E awards. He is dedicated to promoting energy efficiency through LED lighting design solutions, aiming for a sustainable future in California.
Outside of work, Eric loves to travel internationally and spend time with family. Hobbies include most outdoor activities, especially boating at Lake Berryessa in Napa. He also enjoys attending concerts, festivals, and local parks with his daughter in San Ramon.
Jesse, a recent graduate from the University of Colorado, proudly holds the distinction of being the first in his family to earn a college degree. With his degree in communications, Jesse's expertise will prove invaluable as he assists the Project Management Team in various capacities, including order processing and customer service.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Jesse has a passion for photography and motor sports. He blends these interests by capturing shots of his friends' customized vehicles. In his leisure time, Jesse enjoys golfing with family and friends.
Judy Brackin has. a wealth of experience in the lighting industry. Throughout her career, she has made contributions to the industry at Galaxy Lighting, The Jones Lighting Group, Stanger-Boltz, and Alameda Electrical Distributors. Judy's impressive credentials encompass various roles, including inventory control, inside sales, customer service supervisor, outside sales, and project manager. Her diverse background underscores her drive to continuously acquire new skills and apply them with a genuine enthusiasm.
Residing in Castro Valley with her husband Aaron, Judy is embracing the chapter of being an empty nester after successfully raising their two daughters. Outside of work, she is a passionate fan of live theater and cherishes quality time spent with her family.
Job Titles:
- Project Department Manager
With a professional career spanning 30 years, Kim has gained extensive experience in project management and customer service within the electrical industry. Her journey began in Louisiana, where she spent the first 6 years as a Project Admin in the medium voltage sector. In 2000, Kim relocated to California and transitioned into electrical distribution until joining the team at Lighting Systems in 2008. Since then, she has excelled in Project Management, leading to her current position as department supervisor. Additionally, Kim collaborates closely with spec sales to ensure quotes are always up-to-date and accurate.
Outside of work, Kim has been fortunate to marry an amazing man in 2022. Together, they are proud parents to a blended family of 11 children and have the joy of being grandparents to 12 grandchildren.
During Kim's leisure time, she enjoys tending to her little farm and garden, and spending time with her family and beloved pets-Bonnie & Roux. Kim and her husband Steven are also working on converting a 40-foot Schoolie for future camping adventures.
Kimberly Ford was destined for a career with Lighting Systems. As a third-generation employee, she didn't fall far from the industry tree. Her knowledge of lighting is deeply embedded thanks to her grandfather, Al Thompson, who was one of Lighting Systems original partners, followed by her father, now retired, former Principal, Dan Thompson.
After completing her degree in design and marketing from Sacramento State, Kimberly started her career at Lighting Systems in 2014 as a Customer Service Rep. She is now one of our many amazing Project Managers working diligently to ensure projects stay on schedule and budget. She loves learning more about the industry with its constantly changing products, technologies, and methods, but most of all she adores her Bay Area clientele.
Kimberly and her husband Jeff are about to celebrate their 8th year of marriage. They recently expanded their family with the birth of Thomas in 2020.
When not working on renovating her recently purchased Roseville home, Kimberly enjoys getting out and kayaking with her family on Lake Tahoe or closer to home on Folsom Lake. In her quiet moments, she likes to bake and read.
Job Titles:
- Specification Sales Manager
Linda Carrillo has been part of our amazing specification sales team since 2013. Her passion shows through in everything she does, and she does a lot!! Linda loves her clients, light and design. She takes pride in helping the Bay Area design community select the best products to make their designs not only well lit, but to create beautiful spaces that uplift and support the overall well-being of the occupants.
Linda's passion for light and design doesn't stop there. She is the director of Light! Design Expo, the only architectural lighting products show in Northern California, and quickly becoming one of the largest light shows in the country. She is also a very active member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
Linda was born in Northern CA but grew up on Long Island, NY. After graduating from Dowling College with a degree in sales and marketing she moved back to California and hasn't left since. She raised 4 amazing sons here and now lives on a 30-acre parcel in West Sonoma County with her husband, Andrew and her pup, Zoe.
A lover of all things outdoors, living, growing, breathing, and moving, Linda's hobbies are numerous. But the top of her list is spending time with Andrew and Zoe and exploring new lands together.
Louie Tran handles all of our Literature and Sample requests, among other duties. He is an East Bay resident and graduate from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in music.
Louie's past times activities include playing his saxophone and rooting on his Warriors, Sharks and Brewers. Not necessarily all at the same time.
Marisa Rader is a member our outstanding Specification Sales Team. She was born into the home improvement lifestyle with both parents working in the industry. Although she spent 15 years in the beauty industry, her passion has always been lighting. For the last four years she has been following that passion as the Bay Area account manager for Visual Comfort & Co. In this role she assisted customers with lighting design and layout. Marisa also acted as the project manager for her projects at Visual Comfort.
Marisa is a California native and calls Petaluma home, where she resides with her husband, two young daughters, and their English Springer Spaniel, Humphrey. She enjoys gardening, camping, and hunting for antique treasures.
Michelle brings a wealth of experience in leading account operations to Lighting Systems, having worked with companies of various sizes in Northern California. After completing her education at Chabot College in Hayward, CA, Michelle has dedicated her career to office management and optimizing internal operations. By leveraging data analytics, she has successfully identified and resolved inconsistencies while streamlining workflow processes across industries such as pharmaceuticals, material handling, and optics.
Outside of work, Michelle finds joy tending to her vegetable garden and cherishing moments with her husband Bob, their five rescued kitties, and Bella, their beloved rescue dog. She eagerly looks forward to Sunday dinners, as they mark the highlight of her weekends when she can gather with her entire family.
We are delighted to have Myra leading our Quotations Team as the Manager. Myra brings over 12 years of experience in the lighting industry, with three of those years dedicated to the Lighting Systems Quotation Team. Her background includes valuable insights from both inside sales and outside sales, giving her a comprehensive understanding of our customers' needs from both the specifier and end user perspectives.
Originally from Chicago, Myra earned a BFA in Interior Design from Harrington College of Design. She began her lighting career as an intern with Artemide Lighting and eventually made her way to San Francisco, where she managed the Artemide Lighting Showroom. It was during this time that Myra's passion for lighting was ignited.
In her spare time, Myra loves visiting her friends and family in Chicago and cherishes quality time with her niece, Gabby. She also travels abroad as often as possible. Outside of work and her travels, Myra enjoys hiking, wine tasting, and hosting dinner parties with friends.
Job Titles:
- Pricing & Training Coordinator
Peter Antrim's career in the lighting industry spans an impressive 43 years, with three separate stints at Lighting Systems. Alongside his time at the company, he has also gained valuable experience working for manufacturer reps and electrical distributors. Peter has held various positions at Lighting Systems, including customer service, quotations, and inside sales. Currently, he excels in his role as the Pricing & Training Coordinator.
Beyond his professional achievements, Peter is a passionate classic car enthusiast and an active member of the Freewheelers Car Club. He takes every opportunity to drive his beautifully restored 1964 LeMans around the state. In addition, Peter enjoys pursuing his hobbies of photography, traveling, and cooking. During his leisure time, he tends to his garden, which includes caring for his roses, rhubarb, and lemon tree.
Job Titles:
- Outside Sales
- Specification Sales
Rafael runs a tight regiment in our Nevada office, thanks to his military background. He is an Army, Gulf War veteran who participated in Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Provide Comfort. In addition to his military service, Rafael brings 30+ years of experience in the lighting industry to Lighting Systems. He has worked for distributors, lighting manufacturer, electrical contractor and lighting agencies.
Rafael and his wife Jackie have four children living in all corners of the United States.
In his free time, Rafael enjoys golfing, fishing, scuba diving/spear fishing, hiking, target shooting, and he recently took-up snow skiing.
Thomas joins Lighting Systems with a decade of manufacturing experience, with a focus on sales both inside and outside. He has spent over five years working with local SF lighting manufacturers, gaining valuable knowledge and expertise in the industry. Thomas's journey started in Marin, where he attended Novato High School and pursued architecture in college, before making major change (pun intended!) to forestry studies. As a park ranger for the County of Marin, he dedicated 14 years to preserving and enjoying the great outdoors.
Outside of work, Thomas maintains his passion for nature, regularly engaging in activities such as hiking, biking, and kayaking throughout Marin. He also loves traveling with his wife Jennifer, exploring new destinations together. Additionally, Thomas takes pride in visiting his son Logan at Berklee College of Music in Boston, supporting his artistic pursuits.
Tod Fisher brings his extensive lighting experience to our Specification Sales Team. His career in lighting has spanned various markets including commercial and industrial lighting for multiple manufacturers. Tod has experience managing sales teams and working closely with customers. Additionally, he has experience in unique markets such as aircraft, medical, semiconductors, and film.
Originally from Iowa, Tod resides in San Francisco where he enjoys riding his E bike, walking the streets of San Francisco with girlfriend Sue, and downhill skiing in the winter.
With over 15 years of experience in the field of electrical engineering, Tony Zamarripa is a seasoned professional. Having worked with reputable firms such as LP, Interface, Rexmore, and Electrical Design Consultant, Tony has honed his skills and expertise in the industry. His primary responsibilities included serving as a CAD/Revit operator, where he drew up electrical layouts for various commercial buildings.
As a valuable member of Lighting Systems' remarkable Technical Support Team, Tony is dedicated to supporting the sales team by providing customers with specification assistance, lighting calculations, and technical support. He is also CAD certified from the Precision Technical Institute, further demonstrating his proficiency in this area.
Trish Dortch brings an extensive background in customer service and account management to our team. Spanning over 26 years at Finelite, her previous role involved managing high-profile clientele, representative agencies, and lighting projects from inception to successful completion. Trish is a dynamic project manager known for her dedication to delivering exceptional customer service.
Originally from the Bay Area, Trish and her husband, Shaun, have recently made a move to Roseville, where they are enjoying their new surroundings alongside their fur babies, Harley and Axel. As avid NASCAR enthusiasts and recently discovering a passion for trap shooting, Trish embraces new experiences with enthusiasm and a zest for life.
Job Titles:
- Technical Support Manager
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Vicky Bischof to our esteemed Technical Support Team. She found herself immersed into the lighting industry purely by accident after graduating with a BFA in historical preservation from Savannah, GA. Now she has nearly a decade in the industry under her belt. Vicky began as a drafter in lighting design and progressed through multiple departments, culminating in her current position as lead application engineer in projects engineering. We are confident that Vicky's expertise and drive will greatly benefit our team and enable us to continue delivering exceptional technical support to our valued clients.
Originally from Santa Rosa, Vicky now resides in Sonoma with her partner Jose, her two stepchildren, Damian and Gianna, and a menagerie of animals which includes chickens, a horse, two cats, and a dog. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and gardening.