Bright young things

RUSS ORTIZ and SUSAN HORNBEAK-ORTIZ

Before she and her husband launched Shine Home, Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz dabbled in sculpture, painting, photography, poetry, film and interior design, the products of which have been exhibited in galleries, film festivals and interiors throughout the world. While she was mastering this steady stream of creative endeavors, her husband Russ was sprinting along the senior management track at Nike headquarters in Oregon where he ended up as a director of strategic planning and brand management.

A couple of years ago, the two ventured off in a slightly different direction when they decided to combine their artistic and business talents to form a company that reflected their shared passion for vintage lighting. They started in 2005 with hand-blown glass table lamps, added pendant lamps and porcelain in 2006, and quickly established a brand known for its eye-popping colors, shiny finishes, and modern renderings of classic motifs and early 20th century themes. This year, Shine Home's product lines have expanded to include case goods, accent tables, dining tables and some of Susan's original artwork.

"Susan and I have always had a passion for vintage lighting," Russ said. "We received as a gift a 1920s table lamp that was absolutely exquisite. The colors were a vibrant chartreuse and espresso and fit perfectly in our home. After examining the lamp more closely, we discovered that the construction was opal glass, hand-painted with wonderful color and design."

A bit of research revealed a manufacturing technique that was almost obsolete. "We discovered that almost all of the hand-painted art glass factories in the U.S. have gone out of business over the last 30 years," Russ said. Further research led the couple to a dusty storage room in an old glass factory on the East Coast, where they discovered dozens of cast iron molds dating back to the 1930s.

The discovery eventually fueled the June 2005 nationwide launch of Shine Home's first line of glass table lamps, named for some of early Hollywood's most glamorous leading ladies: Audrey, Ginger, Ava, Marilyn, Ingrid and... Mabel? "Mabel is a lovely woman we met at the glass factory who hand-paints each of our designs on a manual turn wheel," Susan said. "She worked with such diligence and passion on each and every piece that we decided to add Mabel to our constellation of stars."

Susan and Russ grew up in Southern California, he in San Clemente and she in Newport Beach. So when Russ left the corporate world of Nike, he and Susan also made the decision to leave their home in Portland, Ore., and return to their native environs.

Nowadays, home for the couple and their four children is a recently remodeled "modern hacienda" on the beach in San Juan Capistrano, where they enjoy spending time with their family. "We both love the beach and enjoy hanging out with the kids," Susan said. "Russ also likes to hit the waves and is sometimes joined by his dad who, at age 65, still surfs." The support of their parents, who live nearby, has also helped with meeting the demands of growing a new business. "Russ's mom Dolores has really stepped up," Susan said, "watching the kids when they're not in school and spending the night at our house when we travel together," which they do extensively, traveling to more than 12 markets a year.

They also make time for public service through charities such as Women of Vision, a group the Ortizes have been involved with for more than a decade and to which a portion of Shine Home's profits are donated. Both have volunteered their time and talents for the group, a worldwide humanitarian ministry founded in 1950 to help women and their families in need through relief and developmental programs.

"We call it our Care Principle, one of the foundations of our brand as it is one of the main reasons we founded Shine Home," Russ said. "We are also about to announce a donation in the name of our 10 largest customers that will provide shelter and basic furnishings to impoverished families in Mongolia."

The challenges presented by the company's rapid growth are met with the support of a strong, competent staff and the successful blending of Susan and Russ's experience, talent and energy. Design, production planning and visual merchandising are full-time commitments for Susan, who received a BFA from UC-Riverside and an MFA in sculpture and installation art from UCLA. Russ, who oversees the sales, financial and operations side of the business, played for the USA National Rugby Team while earning a political science degree from UCLA, supplemented later with a CPA certification.

They contribute equally to Shine Home's marketing and brand development efforts, each bringing something unique to the table. "We both have clearly defined responsibilities and rely on each other's expertise," Russ said. "Working together, we have found great balance."

Shine Home is the result of Susan and Russ Ortiz's shared passion for vintage lighting, a successful venture that merges her intense creative energy with his keen business acumen.