Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Jacob Howard

Jacob (call sign Crimson King) entered the drone industry in 2016, quickly learning and upgrading gear until he found he couldn't stop. As CEO, he focuses on two core principles: running a stable, sustainable business and ensuring the company adapts to continually meet industry needs.

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Jacob sets the tone for direction and innovation. When he's not focused on strategy, he's likely imagining some new way to wow the next audience (last time he made the drones do backflips)!

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Email: jacob@illuminatedrones.com

Lead Pilot and Warehouse Team

Tongi Finau

Tongi’s (call sign Tongolian) journey into the drone world has been one of serendipity. He had no idea what he was getting into, but now he’s ready to Illuminate the skies with us.  From the ground up, you can count on Tongi being involved. His go-getter attitude has made him a valuable part of the team and you can always count on him to get the job done right.

When he’s not in the warehouse or out on the field, you can probably find Tongi in the kitchen. He’s an avid cook and baker with a natural spice for life! Once you get Tongi excited for something, there is no stopping him!​​

Chief Drone Light Show Designer

Nihat Algingul

Nihat Algingul  (call sign The Hat) is responsible for overseeing all show files—from animations to lighting effects. As Chief Designer, he constantly experiments with new ideas and adds innovative touches to the shows, thus earning his call sign for all the magic tricks he pulls out of the hat.

Outside of design, he’s always sketching and exploring new concepts on his digital canvas, and frequently shares his ideas with the team. His hobbies include designing, experimenting with different visual concepts, creating short animations, and working on inspiring projects.