Eric Holmes is the founder of both Tampa Premier and American Outdoor Lighting. His journey to lighting didn’t begin with design, but with discipline, service, and craftsmanship. It started in military school, where he learned the value of structure, responsibility, and leading from the front. He later studied nursing, cultivating a deep sense of care and precision that still guides his work today. Over time, his creative instincts led him to Venetian plaster artistry, drywall, and fine finish work. These fields demand both technical mastery and an eye for subtle, lasting beauty.

Each chapter of Eric’s path shaped the artisan he is today. He approaches every lighting project with the same integrity he brought to patient care, the same polished finish he perfected in plaster, and the same hands-on leadership he learned in uniform. Eric remains personally involved from the first night-time demonstration to the final adjustment, ensuring every detail meets the highest standard. There are no middlemen or shortcuts, only honest craftsmanship and a genuine commitment to excellence.

Outside of his craft, Eric finds his greatest pride as a husband and father, roles that deepen his commitment to every project. He knows a home reflects the life lived within it and brings that same devotion to each installation, treating every property as though it were his own sanctuary. For Eric, lighting transcends service, becoming an art form, a vocation, and a testament to the thoughtful life he nurtures both at home and in his work.