Frank Serruto, Jr. | Kerry Higgs | Julie Serruto | Mario Serruto
Len Applefeld | MJ Marqua |

Frank Serruto, Jr.
CEO/Owner

Excel Lighting Services was founded in 2005 by Frank Serruto Jr.  Frank is committed to providing high quality equipment and service for rentals and sales, as well as superior production and installation services for the live concerts and theater, television, movie and video production and special events.  Frank began his career in the lighting industry at Bash Theatrical Lighting in 1993, working various shop positions and freelance production jobs on the side.  Bash was purchased by Production Resource Group in 1997 and Frank continued on with his freelance lighting career. During this time, he worked on many different theatrical and televised presentations and developed lasting relationships in the industry. These relationships, combined with Frank’s hard work and determination, would later provide the foundation for Excel Lighting Services.  His vision was to create a company that would not just develop a client list, but would solidify trust, and -  most important – relationships. Frank believes that by providing exceptional service on a personal level, these relationships will flourish and benefit all.  As the President and CEO, Frank provides vision, assures high quality and oversees the day-to-day operations of this primarily family-owned and operated business. Contact Frank directly.

Kerry Higgs
Vice President

Kerry Higgs is the newest addition to the Excel team, joining us in 2010 as Vice President. His business acumen comes from over thirty years of business experience in industries as diverse as primary aluminum smelting, residential siding manufacturing and distribution and retail leisure products manufacturing and distribution.  Kerry has held numerous positions in operations, administration and manufacturing.  Armed with his MBA, he comes to Excel most recently from consulting to both large and small businesses. Contact Kerry directly.

Julie Serruto
CFO

Julie has been with Excel since its inception. In Excel’s early days, Julie and her husband Frank ran the company themselves. Now, she is the Chief Financial Officer. A former special education teacher, Julie holds degrees in Communications from Towson University and a Masters Degree in Special Education from Loyola College in Baltimore.  Her passion, attention to detail, and dedication has helped create the Excel Lighting Services’ core identity and high standards for customer service. Contact Julie directly.

Mario Serruto
Operations and
Rentals Manager

Before joining Excel full time, Mario spent six years as the Assistant Technical Director for the former Baltimore Opera Company.  His responsibilities included set construction, rigging and crew management, as well as traveling with  rented opera sets to oversee set-ups and load-outs at other companies. Mario has extensive experience with large scale productions like Wrestlemania, Kenny Chesney’s Poets and Pirates Tour, Beauty and the Beast,  the BSO Holiday Spectacular, Capital 4th and  V-Fest , to name a few.  His career started in 1994 with Bash Lighting doing shop work , building stage cables, pulling shows, and repairing equipment.  Mario’s varied professional assignments have included grid installs, counter weight systems, custom flying rigs and custom traveler track rigging.  He’s Excel’s “go to guy” for chain hoists, moving lights and all other manner of things that help Excel meet its goal of customer satisfaction. Contact Mario directly.

Len Applefeld
Account Executive

Len comes to Excel having worked the full spectrum of production services – from concerts to industrials to trade show and convention work to film and television and everything in between that needs lights, cameras or action!  He’s headed electrics for Merriweather Post Pavilion, the former Baltimore Opera Company and the BSO Holiday Spectacular.  He worked on the movie Sex and The City, WWE televised wrestling spectaculars, the HBO series The Wire, the movie Transformers 3 Dark of the Moon and Michael Jackson:  30th Anniversary Special.   He was the Lighting Director for V-Fest. Len sees the whole picture for Excel clients and he makes those pictures come to life. Contact Len directly.

MJ Marqua
Shop Foreman/Onsite Support

MJ Marqua did his first lighting job when he was 9 years old, helping install colored spotlights on trees for an outdoor charity fund-raising event.  In the 18 years since that gig, he’s become a seasoned theatrical production pro, working on movies and television production, operas, rock-and-roll shows, stadium concerts, arena productions and festivals.  MJ is also experienced in all manner of live event production, including trade shows, computer-run multi-media presentations, wrestling matches, weddings, parties and hometown hero celebrations.  MJ shot the onstage video for the Jay-Z’s Heart of the City concert in Baltimore and he has worked  in both television and movies, including the HBO series The Wire, VEEP and Bruce Willis’ movie Live Free or Die Hard and Angelina Jolie’s film Salt.  MJ joined Excel Lighting Services in 2010 and is proud to be working for a company that mirrors his own commitment to doing right by customers, no matter what it takes! Contact MJ directly.