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David is deeply involved in lighting design through professional and personal pursuits, as well as his work with associations. He attributes his passion and approach to his mentor, Candy Kling, with whom he worked directly for 14 years and succeeded as President of CM KLING + ASSOCIATES. His architectural lighting design portfolio includes national and international projects in hospitality, corporate, residential, government, religious, convention centers, and mixed-use. The 2U Headquarters in Lanham, MD and American Greetings Headquarters in Cleveland, OH received lighting design awards in 2018. David served as the IALD President from 2018 to 2019, and he has held various positions in the organization, including President Elect, Treasurer, and Director-at-Large. He is also involved in the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), serving on its Hospitality Committee. Presently, he serves as the treasurer/secretary on the board of directors for Business of Light. The newly established Certification of Lighting Designers is the first internationally-recognized, evidenced-based certification for professional lighting designers and, in 2017, David was the 29th professional to receive CLD Certification. David continues to design scenery and lighting for local productions. He’s a company member with the Rorschach Theatre, where his work has been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award.

As a leader in the architectural lighting industry, Angelica Santana has served as one of the youngest District Chairs for IES District III, and past DC Section President. She has led award winning lighting projects including 7th Street Pier in DC, Javits NYC Convention Center, Las Vegas Convention Center, and more, as Senior Associate at CM KLING.

In 2020 she founded Union Yoga Wellness for Lighting – to provide a way to blend the health benefits of light and mindfulness. Angelica enjoys teaching and speaking on the principals of lighting and illumination engineering, and has been featured on podcasts, industry conference panels, and print publications. She is a Pennsylvania State University graduate and continuing contributor to the student community.

Angelica is a registered Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) and an associate of the International Association of Lighting Designers.  In 2014, LD+A magazine featured her as a leaders in the lighting design emerging professional community. Angelica’s lighting design and project management portfolio includes hospitality, sports, government, civic and residential projects. After graduation from Penn State, Angelica moved to New York City where she worked with Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design on a variety of international projects. Angelica joined CM KLING + ASSOCIATES in 2013 and leads the in-house mindfulness and wellness through light + yoga initiative.

Ashley joined CM KLING + ASSOCIATES after graduating from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelors in Architectural Engineering, focus in lighting and electrical design. Ashley is involved in organizations and industry associations, including the current Treasurer for the IES DC Chapter. While a student, she was the IES Penn State Chapter Vice President, the SSAE House Head & Secretary, and member of the G.R.E.A.T. Program (Growing Regional Engineering through Academics & Training). Her volunteerism supported social networking, professional networking, and mentoring programs for engineering students at Penn State. Ashley lives in Northern Virginia and spends her time between the local kickball league, exploring Washington DC, and Penn State football games.

Brian’s expertise is in lighting controls and systems programming with a background in theater, dance, opera, museum exhibitions, hospitality, and convention centers. His architectural lighting design portfolio includes Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, AZ; Memphis Convention Center in Memphis, TN; Element Skysong Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ; and M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD (home of the NFL Baltimore Ravens). His theatre lighting design portfolio includes award-nominated lighting designs took stage at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Theater, New Victory Theater, Ailey Citigroup Theater, and the CityDance Center at Strathmore. And his museum and exhibit lighting design portfolio includes over 100 exhibits for private and national museums.

Ben has a strong background in the theatrical and event production industries. Prior to his recent venture into architectural design, Ben held a variety of roles ranging from lighting and projection design to audio and video tech. His focus shifted toward architectural design as a freelance technician with CMK’s sister company, Pixelumen Lab, before joining the team at CM KLING.
In his theatrical work, Ben focuses on the integration of lighting with physical and auditory environments to enhance a production’s narrative. This interest in the mesh of artistic and technical elements drives him to explore how the coordination of lighting and other systems in the architectural world can curate user experience.

Danielle started her career in architecture. When her mentor pointed her in the direction of interior design, she gladly walked towards it and found her way into the world of architectural lighting. Beginning her lighting journey with HDLC in NYC, she has worked on projects ranging from residential, commercial, hospitality, and corporate offices.

Designing for social change is extremely important to Danielle which is why she choose Temple University for her Master of Architecture. She used the landscape of North Philadelphia and knowledge of her hometown to educate and inform others of the dangers of gentrification. Danielle is a Caribbean-American (Trinidad & St.Vincent) Brooklyn native and believes in the power of design and light in the built environment to create urban design, and urban policies for social justice.

Daniel Velez joined CM KLING + ASSOCIATES in 2015 as a consultant to assist David in refining the accounting system. As the firm expanded, the need for a finance director arose, leading to Daniel’s appointment.

With a background spanning accounting, modeling, database development, and reporting, Daniel brings diverse finance expertise to the team. Originally from the Dominican Republic, he was raised in NW DC and currently resides in Lincoln, NE.

Jeff is a designer with 13+ years of experience and a knack for sustainable design building practices utilizing new technologies. His lighting design and project management portfolio includes commercial high-rise offices, residential, hospitality, educational facilities, and other specialized spaces.
While in New York City, he worked for Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design where he managed multiple high-priority projects. He is also an educator at the New York School for Interior Design where he has taught courses in studio-based lighting design for the BFA, MFA, and MPS programs. Before designing architectural lighting and spaces, Jeff began his career in theatrical lighting where the experience has greatly informed his design process.
He has served on the Board of Managers for the NYC section of the Illuminating Engineering Society, as well as the section’s co-chair for the Education Committee. In 2018 Jeff was featured twice in Lighting Design Magazine’s 40under40 on the international and North American list.

Trained in Design Thinking, Jen James has specialized in strategic design in architecture and the AEC industry for over 16 years as an advisor at the connection between human experience, product, and venture with expertise in constructing mechanisms to meaningfully address challenges.

As the Director of Strategy and Sustainability, James oversees R&D efforts examining human experience design and health and wellness in the built environment, design methodologies, technology, and materials. Leading CMK’s Sustainability and Health In Design Committee, and the Innovation Lab (+LAB). She works closely with the firm’s principal and CEO, executive team, and designers to advance the firm’s knowledge and enable state of the art of design and innovation in the industry and built environment. 

She holds certification in Design Thinking from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification, and is LEED AP BD+C. Her research interests revolve around evidence based research in the built environment, sustainable design and behavior, and human centric health in design.

When she’s not evaluating or conducting new research on the built environment and its inhabitants, Jen can be found distance trail running, climbing mountains, wood working, mentoring, performing behavioral evaluations for shelter dogs, or, most often, spending time with her senior rescue pit bull, Mischka – in training to be a therapy dog to children’s hospitals, senior communities, and veteran groups.

Interested in partnering with CMK on your next built project or design research? Contact Jen here

Formally trained as an architect, Toro-Ortiz has more than 15 years’ experience in lighting design. She graduated with a BFA in Architecture from Catholic University of America and attended the MFA Lighting Programme at Parsons.

Born in Puerto Rico, she lived in the United States for 10 years, working with lighting design firms such as HLB Lighting Design and Brandston Partnership. She moved to Mexico in 2010 and has worked with local design firms such as Avantgarde Lighting Design, Artec3 and Ideas en Luz. Most recently she served as the Regional Lighting Manager for Wework, where she designed and oversaw more than two million square feet of office space in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico.

Focused on one integral Architectural Lighting experience for both interior and exterior environments, her expertise is backed by a diverse background that includes Art, Architecture, Lighting Design, Graphic Design and Retail, combined with years of project management, construction experience and inherent passion for all things fashion, art and design which served a key role for shaping Retail experiences through Visual Merchandising and Art Direction.

Saskia’s journey with lighting began in high school theater and progressed through Marlboro College, where she earned a degree in Design and Production for Theater and Film. With 12 years of experience as a lighting designer and production stage manager, she pursued her MA in Exhibition Design at George Washington University, completing it in May 2022. Now part of CM KLING + ASSOCIATES, Saskia aims to prioritize accessibility in her designs, striving to create spaces that are comfortable and usable for everyone.

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