OUR
TEAM
WELCOME
WE ARE SO HAPPY YOU’RE HERE!
At Designing With Light, we believe lighting is personal, and so is the experience of creating it. Whether you’re stopping by online or meeting us in person, consider this your first step into our always welcoming world.
We’re a small but mighty team of design lovers, detail keepers, and lighting nerds who genuinely love what we do. We can’t wait to learn about your project, share ideas, and help bring your space to life — one perfectly placed light at a time.
Enjoy a virtual office tour!
A BRIGHT TEAM, LITERALLY
Meet the team that knows a thing or two about lighting, and a whole lot about making the design process stress-free and fun.
We’re here to make your vision come to light.
MICHAEL BENTIEN
Founder + Lighting Whisperer, LS, C.L.C.Since 1994, Mike’s been the light behind Designing With Light, and the guy who still checks beam angles for fun. With a lighting career that began way back in 1982, he’s seen it all (and lit it better). As a Certified Lighting Consultant and accredited Lighting Specialist with the American Lighting Association and certification from the Illuminating Engineering Society, Mike doesn’t just follow best practices, he’s spent decades mastering them.
Passionate about both natural and artificial light, Mike’s mission has always been to help clients see their spaces in a whole new light. He’s also a seasoned educator, having taught at many colleges and trained the next generation of designers. (Yes, he’s that certified, one of the few qualified to teach Lighting Design across North America.)
When he’s not creating lighting plans or geeking out over photometrics, you’ll find him sharing knowledge, mentoring, or quietly adjusting the dimmer to exactly the right level.
HAYLEY KELLESTINE
Lighting Consultant, D.I.D.Hayley sees lighting as the quiet hero of great design, the element that transforms a space from nice enough to wow!
With a Diploma in Interior Design from the Centre for Arts and Technology (class of 2016, top honours, though she’s not one to brag), she brings sharp attention to detail and a deep appreciation for how light shapes our experience of space.
She’s passionate about lighting that feels natural and intuitive, even when every fixture, switch, and layer has been meticulously planned behind the scenes. Thoughtful, organized, and a bit of a layout-loving perfectionist, Hayley ensures nothing gets left in the shadows.
When she’s not perfecting plans or refining legends, she’s busy wrangling two young boys and one oversized Weimaraner, all while quietly reimagining the lighting in every room she enters.
CLEO
Head of Security (Retired)Though she no longer makes her daily rounds at the office, Cleo remains our honorary Head of Security, keeping a watchful eye from home and maintaining her title with pride. Known for her enthusiastic greetings, impeccable snack detection, and commitment to comfort, she set a high standard for office morale and perimeter awareness.
These days, Cleo enjoys a well-earned retirement filled with sunny naps and neighborhood patrols. Her legacy lives on in every wagging tail and every crumb-free corner of the office.