There’s never a dull moment working in the lighting business between working on stage shows for Stevie Wonder and United States Presidents, to lighting local hospitals, colleges, weddings and parties.

From “backyards to ballrooms” Jeff and Shannon Millay, owners and operators of Accent Lighting Productions, do it all.

“My friend got me into it (lighting),” Jeff Millay said. “He was a guitar prodigy who was the guitarist for Stevie Wonder when we were 17 or 18…One day their lighting guy called off and my friend got me in.”

Before starting his business in 2007, he worked in Philadelphia lighting the night clubs, but soon after was hired by a company that tours with different acts across the country. That is where he got to work with Tony Bennett, The Goo Goo Dolls and even lit the stages for both Presidents Bush and Clinton.

“I have worked for 50 to 60 national acts,” he said. “…Just being able to meet with a lot of celebrities; they were just like you and I. It was nice to interact with them.”

In addition to that work, Millay also works closely with the local area to light Lycoming College, events at Penn College and do specialty lighting for annual events and charities.

In October, the Millays also helped light the outside of six of UPMC hospitals pink for breast cancer awareness and in the spring, he helps light Lycoming College for Autism awareness.

This will also be the fifth or sixth year that Accent Lighting Productions will be doing the laser show at the end of the Hughesville Rotary Club Balloon Fest.

“We have done pretty much every venue in town,” Jeff Millay said.

They have also helped light a home behind the Loyalsock Township High School football field, what Jeff called “Friday Night Lights at the Sock Deck.”

He added that he lights the deck in different colors depending on the type of game with Loyalsock Township images like the Lancer. The deck has also been lit to support other local sports teams.

When the pandemic initially hit, there was a struggle for the business having lost all business for roughly nine months before outdoor events were able to be held again.

Though Jeff Millay said that the business is “not back to where they used to be” he is hopeful that more events are able to be held this year between the colleges, weddings and parties.

“I look at it as an art form,” Jeff Millay said. “Besides it being very rewarding artistically, being able to exceed customers expectations…to meet with someone you try and describe it and show them pictures but when they see it in real life they are totally blown away.”

“From lighting a local family’s birthday party at 16 to having them come back at 24 for their wedding,” he said, some of his favorite memories include the ongoing relationship with the customers.