Jim & Tricia Burks

OUR BACKGROUND

My love for lighting began in 1965 at the age of ten in Fort Seneca, OH, on my parents' dairy, livestock, and grain farm. The hip roof barn on our property played a crucial role in sparking my interest in lighting. During the summer, we filled the barn with hay, and in the late fall, we cleared space to play basketball indoors. The only light was a 60-watt lamp far from the basketball hoop, prompting me to solve this lighting problem.

As our family transitioned from dairy and livestock to fruit and vegetable farming in the late 60s, I had further opportunities to enhance my lighting skills. Harvesting equipment arrived without lighting, so I upgraded from 60-watt to 2-100 watt lamps and experimented with 400-watt HID fixtures salvaged from a local college.

In high school, I worked with 12-volt DC lighting, learning about loads and alternators, solidifying my passion for lighting. After 26 years in the produce business across various states, I reconnected with lighting in the late 90s when my sister-in-law invited me to help with outdoor lighting projects in Georgia. The experience reignited my enthusiasm, leading me to discuss entering the lighting business with my wife, Tricia.

Gaining industry experience, I founded Pinnacle Lighting Group. This business rapidly expanded from the southeast to the midwest and central United States. Over the past 23 years, we have designed, installed, and serviced lighting for over 15,000 properties in 32 states.