SUSAN BENNETT, FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING

"Lighting is more than illumination, it has the ability to enhance our lives...."

When it comes to lighting and lighting design, Susan Bennett is passionate. She has worked with interior designers for the past 17 years as a lighting designer and most recently, for the past 5, as a designer/installer. "I thought to myself a long time ago," she reflects,"that if I am going to design a lighting plan, I better well know how to implement the plan, work with the electricity and install the lights!" So, in a very decisive move, she decided to get her contractor's license. She was only one of two women to take the course and take the contracting test for licensure. She passed on the first go.

Does Susan sound determined. Tenacious is a better word. She started her career in lighting in 1986 in the Newport Beach, California area where she worked as a sales person in a specialized lighting showroom. She was so turned on (no pun intended) by the fixtures and displays of lights that she decided to learn more about lighting design and took just about every class or lighting seminar she could. Soon, the owners of the showroom let her venture out and start consulting on small lighting projects. In 1991, she decided it was time to go out on her own. By 1993, she had an established reputation in South Orange County and took on a partner. For the next 7 years, Susan and her partner took in all aspects of lighting both indoor and outdoor landscaping projects in both Southern and Northern California. Susan was always researching new products and uncovering better ways to install. She was utilizing very unique lighting transformers early on.

In the year 2000, Susan's partner made a decision to move out of state, which left Susan to develop a company on her own. She was a bit apprehensive with many challenges facing her, but determined as ever, she created Full Spectrum Lighting. Already well networked with interior designers, Susan was eager to develop a stronger exterior lighting division. It was during this time that Susan got her electrical contractor's license and started education and working more with landscapes. She had already shared much in the theory of creativity in lighting property and was excited and enthusiastic about the expect of lighting. "Lighting is more the illumination," she emphasized, "it does have the ability to enhance our lives". There is nothing more beautiful than lit gardens, waterfall, trees-it adds grace and architectural wonder after dark. A person's mood can literally be affected for the better when around such grace and beauty."