Meet (some of) The Team

Work hard, play hard – an old saying that has resonated with me for years! Whether I am skiing, biking, doing a triathlon or working 30 straight days in the month of November, I do it with passion.

I’m an Orange County transplant from Palm Springs. As soon as I was old enough I moved to cool air to live in the City of Seal Beach with my beautiful wife, three children and a pint size dog. As Founder and President of Dekra-Lite, I wear many hats throughout the year. From shopping the world and trade-shows for new products and services, to helping my Sales and Marketing teams develop the best holiday designs for the upcoming season. I love going to China to find new and exciting products and factories. It gives me great satisfaction to bring a new seasonal product to market that fills a niche in our industry.

It is fun to support my team, great to meet new customers, and very satisfying to hear we did a great job for a client. Quality innovative products, good service, and happy customers make me work hard every day!

I’m a family man living in Orange County, Ca with my wonderful wife, four boys and a girl.

Much of my leisure time the last 20+ years has been at the fields enjoying my kids playing baseball and soccer. With my youngest only at six years old I’m excited to have a new one just starting out and years more sports to come. I believe life should be fun. I can’t think of anything more fun than the holidays.

Doing what we do at Dekra-Lite puts smiles on people’s face and contributes to a magical part of each year. The shopping, the music, the families and friends gathering, religion and the celebrations make the holidays special at my home. As Dekra-Lite’s General Manager for 25+ years I tend to be the strong arm. I have a great job, with a lot of variety. Through our annual cycle I get the opportunity to work with all departments and see all the parts come together each and every holiday season.

Every time I tell people what we do at Dekra-Lite, the inevitable response is “What do you do for the rest of the year?” “Plenty!” is my usual response. We innovate new designs and products, shop the world, buy & stock those fabulous holiday decorations, plan future holiday customer projects, market, sell, and simply improve ourselves to work more efficiently.

Being a part of the Dekra-Lite family is a blessing to me. Everyday I come to work, I get to work with very passionate people, who are all co-owners, since Dekra-Lite is an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program) company. The role I perform also gives me plenty of opportunities to use all the competencies I have gained from my previous careers as a corporate executive in DHL and Amazon and also as an entrepreneur, owning Subway franchises. I really look forward to helping Dekra-Lite fulfill its growth vision for the next 10 years.

Born and raised in Singapore, the U.S. is my third country of residence. I had also lived and worked in Vietnam during those early and exciting years after the country opened its doors to foreign investments. I enjoy traveling, food and the outdoors. I have been privileged to have traveled to many countries including Nepal, Maldives, South Africa and even visited the Killing Fields in Cambodia. A few of the most exciting things I have done are rappelling down a hoovering helicopter and doing aerobatics in an aeroplane. A favorite pastime these days is barbecuing and smoking meats. I have progressed from hamburgers and hot dogs and can now do a pretty good job of smoking ribs and briskets. For the future, It is my objective to take a long road trip with my wife around the United States on a Can-Am Spyder!

COMING SOON

I recently traded frigid Chicago winters and rain filled days in Portland, OR for the warm sunshine of Southern California. I’m a passionate music lover who jams to the rock of the 70’s and 80’s as well as today’s pop and country artists. As an enthusiastic hockey fan, I’m a big supporter of the Chicago Blackhawks. My weekends are reserved for sandy toes and sunshine at the beach.

As Dekra-Lite’s Sales Manager, I’m excited to lead our Sales team in delivering the best custom holiday programs to our customers. I’m excited to apply my twenty years of experience developing sales and marketing programs in the live entertainment industry to the festive world of holiday decor.

With over 20 years of sales/business development and management experience, I have found the optimal career here at Dekra-Lite. I mean who wouldn’t be happy with a job that entails, meeting new people, selling unforgettable holiday experiences and working with an awesome staff? Being able to create magical holiday memories for my customers makes me very happy and filled with pride.

Working for an employee owned company (ESOP) is like working with your family; we are all dedicated to providing the best products and services to our customers. We all play a significant part whether it be design, fabrication, shipping, installation or sales; working together to ensure an excellent customer experience.

I am happily married to an amazing man and we have made Long Beach our home for the last 30 plus years. We have raised two sons, one living in San Francisco and the other in Chicago, and a daughter. My daughter, who is the youngest, is away at college in her sophomore year; so shortly we will be empty nesters.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, going to the movies, hiking, finding the newest wine bar or restaurant, exploring new places and enjoying any activity outdoors. My family teases me that I am always planning the next family adventure, vacation or holiday.

Happy Holidays!

I’m an idea girl, an art enthusiast, vertically challenged on most days and obsessed with Starbucks, obscure movie quotes, blue pens, speaking with my hands and anything that sparkles. I want to live in a world where one day my dog will answer me, where it’s completely acceptable to make up words in every day conversation and where people get to experience Christmas year-round like we do – you have to love life walking into the Santa’s Workshop everyday!

As Creative Manager my eclectic career has prepared me to wear many different hats. I’ve been spreading holiday cheer with Dekra-Lite for three years and I am charged with determining the best ways for us to visually represent our brand while growing our product line and company presence. Working with sales staff and clients I also help to come up with innovative and intelligent solutions to all types of holiday needs – it’s seriously fun work! When I’m not decking the halls, I can be found around town at the best sushi joints, the coolest wine bars, the hottest music venues or … at home getting ready for Christmas.

Hi! I’m Christina. I’m a Starbucks-fueled mom to the sweetest 5-year old twins, a wife to my best friend, a self-proclaimed party styler, and an eternal optimist. I’m also a passionate Marketing Manager that will ramble on about the latest in social media (instagram, facebook or twitter) or my talented art team and their phenomenal creations.

Marketing has been my driving force for as long as I can remember. At a very young age, I fearlessly rolled up my sleeves and dove head first into the creative world working for one of the largest advertising agencies in San Francisco. Surrounding myself with talent of that magnitude allowed me opportunities to dip my toe into all aspects of marketing, branding, and advertising. After one of my first successful ads landed on a billboard in Union Square, I was forever hooked!

My passion for marketing, all things Christmas, and creativity collided when I found Dekra-Lite, and I am incredibly grateful to experience and create holiday magic every day of the year!

Give me a little stretch of beach to walk and maybe some water sports and I’m very happy! Although I love living in Southern California for just this reason, I can relate to my friends and clients all over the US after growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, IL and living in Jacksonville, FL for a few years.

As a member of Dekra-lite’s sales team, I recently celebrated 11 years with the company. In that time, I’ve had the pleasure to represent a wonderful evolution of Holiday decorations and designs, one of the many perks of being with an innovative Holiday Décor company. One can say that the buisness world of art, design and retail sales are all that I’ve ever known professionally. Prior to joining Dekra-Lite, I represented highly aclaimed artists in the wholesale art business for 5 years, and prior to that I owned and operated a thriving True Value Hardware store for 10 years. I am very happy to say I’ve traded hammers, paint and frames for garland, bows, ornaments and some of the tallest Christmas trees ever!

Coaching others is my passion! I’ve spent the last 8 years answering to Coach Stacey, coaching competitive cheer leading and now I am a health coach, encouraging others to win at the weight loss game…one bite at a time!

For over a decade I have been cheering on new business prospecting and development at Dekra-Lite. As a Senior Account Executive, I promote new sales by introducing our innovative LED products as long-term solutions to many industries including Cities, Theme Parks and Shopping Centers within a specific targeted territory. I thrive on scheduling client introductions and meetings, preparing presentations and proposals. The enthusiasm continues when attending training workshops to increase product knowledge and to stay abreast of new products. Besides Christmas, my favorite time of year is spring, when I participate in trade shows, promoting our company image and coaching our clients towards another winning Holiday Season!

My name is Chris Madsen. I have been a Southern California native my whole life. I have always loved living here and growing up down the street from Disneyland. I have an amazing family and a beautiful fiancé that I spend most of my time with. Whether I am playing golf or going snowboarding, I always keep a smile on my face. I am very thankful for my life and to be working at Dekra-Lite.

Since working at Dekra-Lite I have grown immensely as an account executive. I have worked with companies like Saks Fifth Ave., SeaWorld Entertainment, Toys R’ Us and the San Diego Zoo to name a few. It is a great feeling to bring my grand holiday ideas to fruition. My customers have always been left feeling good about their experience with Dekra-Lite and myself. I look forward to many more successful holiday seasons. Give us a call and I will bend over backwards to be helpful and attentive to your needs. Have a great year!

As a Southern California local I grew up surfing the waves and enjoying the coastal lifestyle. Never wanting to leave the luxury I grew accustomed to, I reside in Seal Beach with my beautiful wife and amazing son and daughter. Although I do literally live for the holidays, I love summer nights and summer vacations with my family. I’m pretty good with a guitar and my daughter loves singing along – we make quite the duo!

I’ve been bring holiday magic to the masses with Dekra-Lite for 5 years now and it’s always as exciting and magical as it was my first season. I’m lucky enough to service some of Southern and Northern California with accounts such as Disneyland, Biola University and the City of Industry. Coming from the restaurant industry, my first priority has always been the customer experience and it has certainly carried over to Christmas. I take great pride in knowing that the holiday decor process has been easy for my clients and an experience they enjoyed. Call me so we can start decorating!

I’ve been sprinkling holiday cheer for over 4 years now. I began my career at Dekra-Lite on the Operations side of things, where I was decorating and building some of our most sought after designs. I then had the opportunity to move to the Receptionist position where I greeted our visitors and callers, I also had the chance to aide in the Accounts Receivables department. But, I quickly found a calling in the Sales Department. Here I began assisting the Sales Executives and discovered a passion for helping our customers bring their holiday visions to life.

Today, I’m a bilingual Dekra-Lite Account Executive and proud ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program) committee member who enjoys working with my clients in both North and South America on creating their most memorable holiday experiences yet!

When I’m not at the North Pole, I’m savoring the Southern Californian life with my husband and two sons (14 years and 7 years).

Feliz Navidad!

I have 15 years in business development experience including opportunities working with well-known brands such as DHL and Bank of America and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. I look forward to putting my experience to work for you as we design your best holiday season yet.

When I am not in the office, I am enjoying soccer. I was proudly a part of my University men’s soccer team and reached the Final Four of NCAA Championships.

I’m an elf at heart. I enjoy spreading holiday happiness, whether it is decorating my home or volunteering at one of the charities I support. I’m dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized service for all of my clients. I take great pride in the relationships I build and always work relentlessly on my client’s behalf to help them achieve their holiday lighting and decor goals.

I work with a talented team of experts that represents the best and brightest in the industry, and we’re always striving to lead the field in holiday cheer innovation and creativity.

My philosophy is simple: clients come first. I pledge to be in constant communication with my clients, keeping them fully informed throughout the entire process. I believe that if you’re not left with an amazing experience, I haven’t done my job. I don’t measure success through achievements or awards, but through the satisfaction of my clients.

When I’m not helping to create holiday magic, you can find me on the amazing Southern California waterfront at my favorite hiking spot, or exploring new areas of the South Bay. I love shopping, creating unique art, and spending time with my family and friends.