Claire Elmer
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — What started in a garage in Eugene in 1999 with a salon owner, a chemist, and a dream has grown into a global company shipping products around the world — all while keeping every step of the process rooted in Central Oregon.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Jim and Lezlie McConnell, Light Elegance built its business around family values, in-house innovation, and what company leaders call a commitment to safer, cleaner products.
The result of the belief that ‘what’s inside matters’ is great chemistry, and success.
After launching in the Willamette Valley, the company expanded to Deschutes County in 2011. Today, its headquarters and manufacturing operation in Redmond handles everything from research and development to production, packaging, and shipping.
“We do everything here,” said General Manager Nate Meyer. “From our formulations, we order and source all of the ingredients that are required for that. We order and source all of the packaging and labeling. We do it all here.”
The company says that full in-house control allows its chemists and technicians to focus on quality, consistency, and safety. Light Elegance formulates all of its own products from start to finish, including HEMA-monomer free nail products designed to help reduce allergic reactions for nail technicians and customers.
Technical Director Alyssa Allen said the company’s philosophy centers on creating products with lower allergy potential in an industry where allergic reactions have historically been common.
“I think it’s the pride of what we put in our containers for the end user,” Allen said. “We are really conscious about having low allergy potential and low allergenic reactions.”
The company describes its mission as “bridging the gap between beauty and biology,” with a belief that safer and cleaner products ultimately create better results.
But beyond beauty products, the company has also branched into unexpected industries — creating specialty products tied to fly-fishing, skincare, and even protective coatings for guitar players’ fingers.
“We like to solve problems,” Allen said.
Growth Manager Stephanie Hooper added with a laugh, “Very Central Oregon — music and fly fishing. Right? Why not?”
While the company’s products are used internationally, leaders say their identity remains deeply tied to Oregon.
“We’re loud and proud that we’re made here in Redmond, Oregon,” Hooper said.
According to company leadership, roughly 95% of employees were either born in Oregon or have lived in the state for more than a decade. The average employee tenure is around eight years.
Company leaders say hiring and training local talent has helped create long-term careers in an industry many employees never expected to find in Central Oregon.
Marketing Operations Manager Natalie Kemnitz said she originally thought she would need to go back to Los Angeles to find opportunities in the beauty industry.
“When I found out that Light Elegance was here, I quickly came here,” Kemnitz said.
Allen shared a similar story, saying she believed she would have to relocate to the East Coast or California before discovering the opportunity in her own backyard.
Employees throughout the company repeatedly pointed to one theme behind the company’s culture: people first.
“Without people, you have nothing,” Hooper said.
Many workers started in temporary positions and stayed for years.
Packaging and Labeling Manager Larry Brannan said he originally walked into a temp agency simply trying to pay a cellphone bill.
“Here I am 11 years later,” Brannan said.
Jason Ahlman, who works in packaging and labeling, joked that he was originally sent to the company as a temporary worker “for three weeks” — adding that it turned into “a long three weeks.”
Others described the company as a support system during difficult times.
Deb Cleveland, who works in quality control and on the production line, said coworkers supported her through breast cancer treatment.
“This place is just amazing,” Cleveland said. “They are our family.”
Production employee Amber Havlik described the workplace as “a very big family dynamic,” while tint maker Kodie Howard said coworkers have become “more like siblings.”
The company has also expanded its investment into education through Light Elegance University, a program designed to help train and support nail technicians entering the industry.
Leaders say the goal is not only to improve professional skills, but to help elevate industry standards through education, safety and product quality.
“What’s inside the bottle matters,” Hooper said. “If you’re using that product, you really need to make sure that it’s a high-quality product, and we stand behind that 1,000%.”
For Meyer, the company’s continued growth is about more than business success.
“We’ll continue to pull resources into Central Oregon,” Meyer said. “It’s going to benefit not only the people that work here with us, but the community as a whole.”
From a garage startup in Eugene to a worldwide brand operating out of Redmond, it’s proof that you don’t need a big city zip code to change an industry — when you invest in people and prioritize quality, you’ll build something great.
Legacy to legendary, Light Elegance is proudly made in Central Oregon.
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