Meet the team …
Tara Bradley Connell
Owner, Ion Lighting
During my studies domestically and abroad in architecture and photography school, I learned the importance of lighting early in my design career. And with my design background, I appreciate the use of proper lighting not just for the art world but also by incorporating it into our living and working spaces.
Since joining Ion Lighting in 2014, we have guided our clients through the careful formula of fixture choice, temperature selection, and luminosity so that their projects exude the mood, feel, and ambiance they desire.
Whether we’re implementing fixtures for a grand conference room, spacious hotel lobby, or zen-worthy spa, we are never short on ways to create just the right mood and feel.
At Ion Lighting, we strive to give our clients lighting options that are part functional and part economical without compromising the art of lighting.
Jamie Connell
CEO, Ion Lighting
With over 20 years of experience in the architectural lighting and design industry, Jamie Connell brings his lighting expertise to companies throughout the country.
After finishing high school, a Massachusetts-born Connell enlisted in the infantry stationed in Germany and served in the Gulf War. Upon returning from the Army, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida. With a drive to succeed, Connell then went on to work for General Electric Company in Boston. While there, he was part of the technical sales leadership program, became a Six Sigma Black Belt, and ultimately moved into consulting, where he oversaw quality control projects.
Four years later, Connell moved to General Electric’s Florida location as a sales engineer in their electrical division. After 10 more years with the company, Connell decided it was time to go out on his own. And in 2011, Ion Lighting was established.
“I decided to start my own lighting company by meeting directly with the manufacturers,” Connell says. “By having these relationships, I am able to build and create custom lighting fixtures that I can then deliver to my clients.”
Whether it’s a need to create custom LED lighting solutions or lighting controls, Ion Lighting has a wealth of resources from Asian and North American manufacturers to their own manufacturing facility in Orlando. Some of Ion Lighting’s most innovative projects have resulted from successful collaborations with companies that include Disney and Universal, as well as resorts, hotels, and commercial and multi-family projects throughout the country.
“I liked to be challenged with new projects and ideas,” Connell says. “It’s great to bring a new product to market while helping customers complete their projects on time.”
Harrison Wright
Lighting Designer/Quotations Manager
My introduction to the lighting world was made on movie and television sets, working as a crew member in the electrical/lighting department. I was instantly attracted to the power that light played in setting the desired mood for the production for an audience to experience. It is an art that I spent time over the years honing my skills to master. Meanwhile, I have always had a passion for architecture. And after I made the decision to return to school for a degree in Historic Preservation and Architectural History at the College of Charleston, I was introduced to the specialized field of architectural lighting design. I was captivated by the craft of designing lighting layouts and selecting unique and bespoke fixtures, designed with the user of the space in mind. It is now my goal to create the finest lighting design solutions to provide a distinguished lighting experience for my clients.
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