About Us
My name is Rob Barbaree, I'm the Founder and CEO of Ambient Illumination and inventor of Illumacrown. I was born on October 1, 1974 in Kathmandu, Nepal. I moved to the United States with my family when I was 2 and grew up in Houston, TX. As a child I was fascinated with woodworking and by the time I was a teenager I was a good carpenter. I moved to Pleasant Hill, CA at 17 where I graduated from high school and attended Diablo Valley Community College later transferring to Cuesta College near San Luis Obispo. I studied automotive fabrication, welding and entrepreneurship. I worked in construction and developed my skills as a trim carpenter during my college years.
Since then, I have worked in automotive hot rod shops and body shops doing everything from fabrication to electronics, engine building to finishing work, this is where I learned all about practical engineering and fabricating things as well as how to make new technology work in very old systems. No matter what I was doing I was always into trim carpentry and restoration of antique furniture. I decided to move to Washington and worked in sales at a large automotive dealership group in Poulsbo, WA. I was quickly recognized as a top performer and moved into management. I managed the fleet and internet department during the early stages of the internet and online marketing. I know how to manage website development and create sales through online marketing.
When my grandfather fell ill and went into hospice in 2000, I moved to Florida to help take care of my grandmother. I quickly found employment with Clear Channel Broadcasting and learned about the advertising and marketing business from the inside. After a year I realized that the corporate structure just wasn't for me and I began working in construction once again. I have worked for contractors in residential and commercial air conditioning, electrical installations, framing and finish carpentry where my skillset excelled with natural talent. In 2004 I opened my own construction management and consultant firm which rapidly grew and was very profitable until the building industry collapse in 2008. That’s when I switched focus to commercial property maintenance where I have learned about the benefits of LED lighting and energy efficient building design and upgrades. While working as a consultant for a company in New York, I performed a lighting systems energy audit and helped design a retrofit system that is currently installed in Penn Station in Manhattan. Over 60,000 lightbulbs to swap with LEDs, which will save Amtrak over 3 million dollars in operating costs over the lifespan of the new lights.
I have designed many 12V, 24V and 48V direct current low voltage lighting systems for various installations including a system that allows someone to change the color the walls of a building with the flick of a switch. I have also designed and installed a low voltage LED lighting system specifically for helipads. This system meets all FAA regulations and requirements.
This combined skillset has led to the formation of Ambient Illumination, Inc. 