Lighting For Profits

This week on the show we welcome Jimmy Tompkins, with 17 years of experience in the Holiday Lighting industry, Jimmy began his journey as a landscape contractor and launched a holiday lighting division in 2006 to retain employees during the winter season. Over the years, his passion for spreading joy through lights has only deepened, motivating him to continuously innovate and challenge the industry norms. As the owner of Lights for Decorators, Jimmy now shares his expertise with both new and seasoned contractors, helping them elevate their businesses and reach their full potential. His love for the craft and dedication to the industry drive his success season after season.

This week, Landscape Lighting Secrets members Paul Gardner, Scott Ruhoff, and Colton Tompkins come together to discuss their major takeaways from the Secrets Summit 2024. Tune in as they delve into the latest trends, strategies, and insights they gained from the summit, offering a comprehensive look at how these key learnings can be applied to enhance your landscape lighting projects.

This week on the show we welcome Dave Carroll, the founder of DOPE Marketing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After successfully exiting his home service business, he launched DOPE to help companies grow using direct mail and traditional marketing. His work has been featured in Forbes, LA Weekly, and Inc. Magazine, and he has collaborated with brands like Nike and the Golden State Warriors, as well as local businesses. Dave’s mission is to show business owners that anything is possible with determination and the right tools.

This week, we’re excited to feature Elwood Bakken, a lighting specialist with 14 years of experience at Action Lighting. Starting with tasks like restacking containers, Elwood now manages everything from sales to video content, showcasing his dedication. Founded in 1987, Action Lighting has evolved from its innovative origins to become a global leader in lighting solutions, serving a wide range of clients with extensive storage and service capabilities.

This week on the show we welcome Dan Platta, a fun-loving, beer-drinking business enthusiast with a passion for balancing the serious world of business with a laid-back, enjoyable lifestyle. Always ready to dive into the latest industry trends, yet equally excited to kick back with a cold one after a productive day. This business nerd thrives on mixing strategy with good times, proving that success and enjoyment can go hand in hand.

This week on the show we welcome Shawn Day, with over 35 years in entrepreneurship, founded Daycorp Mortgage and later Phcs, Inc., a cleaning company sold to Blue Skies Services. At Blue Skies, he introduced a groundbreaking recruiting division in 2016. Now leading Hire Lead Chill LLC, Shawn provides specialized recruiting services to home service businesses across North America. He’s also a speaker, consultant, and community advocate, involved in local initiatives and committed to positive change.

This week on the show we welcome Tim Ryan who has over 25 years of experience in landscape lighting, combining his expertise in landscape architecture and construction. In 2015, he joined The Lighthouse Group as an executive board member and director to mentor the next generation of lighting professionals and build a nationally recognized organization. Tim is also a professional photographer, specializing in architectural and landscape lighting. His goal for the next decade is to train and support new outdoor lighting designers, promoting this under appreciated art form.

Jonathan is an entrepreneur, husband, and father of three. Formerly in IT, he transitioned to building and scaling three successful home service companies, generating multiple seven-figure annual sales. With over 20 years of leadership experience, Jonathan now helps business owners overcome challenges and achieve their goals. As a professional keynote speaker, he offers insights on personal efficiency, time management, and business development to enhance organizational performance.

This week on the show we welcome Adam McChesney, a St. Louis-based entrepreneur, who transitioned from medical sales to entrepreneurship in July 2020. He founded Builders of Authority and co-owns Auto Glass Repair of STL. Formerly VP of Growth at Hite Digital, Adam now offers personal branding coaching and hosts the Builders of Authority Podcast. He lives with his wife Delaney, their son Murphy, and their dog Georgie.

This week on the show we welcome Ryan Williams, born with striking blue eyes and reliant on light, he earned a graduate degree in product development from Brigham Young University before joining FX Luminaire. Over 12 years he has developed innovative lighting solutions for residential and commercial projects. Starting at Hunter Industries in 2010, he advanced from manufacturing engineer to roles in product management, marketing, and business development across FX Luminaire, Holm, and Lumascape. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Ryan now lives in San Diego with his wife Michelle and their four children.