Experiential Landscape Lighting Initiative

Educate

• Customized training packages
• On-site personal training
• On-line personal & group training
• Books, documents, and videos
• Excellent photographic works

Separate

• By defining the practice and artform
• By establishing parameters & measures
• By understanding what ‘good’ design is
• By peer recognition
• By developing advanced landscape lighting designers

Mark directs and manages all educational operations, acting as Administrator. He is the primary visionary of this endeavor and oversees a team of three that implement ELLI’s vision. Also, Mark is both a content creator and instructor. His ability to develop and build course programs is an essential part to the expansion goals ELLI has. As courses come online, ELLI will select an appropriate instructor to teach these courses/classes, as well as find suitable replacement instructors to continue this long-term offering.

As a visionary leader, Mark’s personality profile allows him the ability to focus on both the logical and creative needs within this entity. He has served the Green industry since 1985, performing within the landscape architectural and construction communities. Additionally, he has management and leadership experience within the U.S. Army, and the window fashion and food service industries. Mark is also an active, professional drummer that performs in the Sacramento market.

ELLI was created by Mark to fulfill a long-time, existing problem—the huge lacking of ‘design’ education and training available to the lighting professions. Mark felt it was time for someone to step up and tackle this issue, so he did. Only a few lighting design professionals (Nightingale, Locklin, Watson, and Moyer) have managed to push the ‘design’ agenda forward since its inception with Frank B. Nightingale (1933). However, much of this progress was left at a relatively basic level of practice. ELLI’s vision is much bigger than our profession has taken it.

Mark has always been a “mover & shaker” and this effort is no different. He has faced many adversities in life, but they have never stopped him from achieving successful results. We wish to associate ourselves with those who desire to see this vision come to full reality. We have outlined a ‘path’ for lighting designers to take so that they may progress to an end-point or destination. Our profession has never identified these things nor have they provided a means to get there. This is how and why we are different. In other words, Actions, not talk…achieves Results.

As far as the ELLI team, Mark has been identifying key inviduals across the country who possess three important traits/skills: 1) individuals who are willing to learn and who do not exhibit ego-issues, 2) individuals who are highly skilled/experienced in a specific discipline related to our subject matter, and 3) individuals who have character, passion, and a positive demeanor to help in teaching others.

Out team development will provide for this current generation, as well as to help create the necessary content to pass along to the next generation of educators and ELLI leadership for implementation. Ultimately, our vision is to provide “betterment”—this can be in the form of knowledge and skills, but it will also include betterment in health/well-being for humans, as this is our end-goal.

Chris coordinates and manages many of our partnerships and associations between those entities and individuals who believe in the ELLI vision. He provides the ELLI team with extensive experience and value because of his continued relationships and involvement with other prominent groups: International Landscape Lighting Institute (ILLI), Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP), Landscape Lighting Secrets/ Lighting For Profits, and a few others.

Of the outstanding attributes Chris brings to our team, there are two that stand out-- communications and relationships. He is very much a ‘people person’ and that is the reason he is our our VP of Business Relations. Chris is a wonder to be around, as he has a distinct knack at getting to the “root” issue of most things, due to his ability to question and analyze everything. ELLI is fortunate to have such ability on our team, as it allows us to identify and resolve matters quickly so that we can continue to move forward.

Chris was the first person to be included onto the ELLI team. He immediately saw the “vision” and the impact this entity could have on this profession’s future. Additionally, Chris has been a confidant and friend of Mark since 2006—there is a level of trust that has built over the years that many never find. He is essential to our ability to ‘raise-the- bar’ and to do something bigger than any one individual.

The experience Chris has is an excellent match for ELLI’s goals—he has over 20-years experience in design and the field operations of landscape lighting, and he has served in the healthcare industry for 4-years. As mentioned before, our long-term goals address the positive human health concerns all humans face, so Chris’ direct experience will be essential in working in conjunction with this other industry.

Leonard coordinates and manages much of our marketing efforts, as well as our video productions. He brings an “outsider’s perspective” to the ELLI vision and goals, as he offers both a worldly view and a creative view to what we are doing. Again, this is a huge asset to the ELLI team. Leonard is the counter-balance to Chris, as it applies to creativity and logic. With that said, Mark, Chris and Leonard make up a well-rounded team that can effectively function.

Leonard has a wide span of professional experience in multiple industries, to include performing at an advertising & marketing agency for several years. He is a producer and developer within the film & television industry, providing 18 major motion pictures, 10 independent films, and 6 reality network TV shows. In addition, he is a performing, professional bassist—he and Mark first became friends by performing in the same band in the Sacramento market. Leonard had many years of touring professionally, as well.

Although Leonard is new to the ELLI team, he became very interested in this effort when he began working with Mark on some video productions. He too, saw the vision, and felt it was very much in-line with what he did to promote and build another very successful project—“Titans of CNC”. Leonard believes we are on the cusp of taking off just like it and they are a multi-million dollar success story. With that said, this is the type of encouragement, leadership, and attitude we desire on this team.