Ken Kollwitz is no stranger to diving and underwater photography. Certified in 1976, he took a break for some life stuff but got back into it in 1991. While he's a bit of a newbie in the cinema world, he's eager to learn more to better support Ultralight Camera Solution customers. In the mid-90s, he joined the Channel Islands Underwater Photographic Society and met Terry Schuller and Dave Reid, the previous owners of Ultralight Control Systems.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Ken moved to Southern California with his family at 18 months old, eventually settling in Riverside, CA. With a knack for mechanics, he became a Heavy Equipment Road mechanic for the County of Ventura, CA, where he worked for 31 years before retiring in 2013 to join Ultralight Control Systems. In March 2020, Ken purchased the company and rebranded it in May 2023 as Ultralight Camera Solutions.
Ken isn’t an engineer by trade, but he loves developing new products based on his ideas and suggestions from Brand Ambassadors and customers. Since buying Ultralight, he’s introduced many new products, some even with color options. Ultralight has been around for over 30 years, and Ken is committed to maintaining their dedication to quality USA-made products with a lifetime warranty.
A family man with great-grandkids, Ken has been with his wife Tessie for over 40 years. They love traveling, RVing, camping, and spending time with family. In his spare time, he runs Channel Islands Dive Adventures, organizing local dive trips and dive vacations.
Bill Kendig's love for diving took off at age 13 during the summer of 1975, when "Jaws" hit theaters. Through high school and college, he worked at a local dive shop and earned instructor certifications with NASDS, NAUI, and PADI. Bill also played a key role in equipment testing for Scuba Diving Magazine and served as the SCUBALAB Director in the early 2000s, contributing to the development of diving gear and safety standards.
In the film industry, Bill worked as both an instructor and safety diver, ensuring the safety of actors and crew during underwater scenes while enhancing the realism of the movies. Additionally, he volunteered as a diver for the National Park Service. As a videographer using Ultralight products at Channel Islands National Park, he educated schoolchildren and visitors about marine ecosystems.
Bill joined the ULCS team during a period of significant growth and rebranding, marked by new innovative products and a revamped website. While he is often busy building, packing, and shipping products, he is always available to answer questions and help you assemble the perfect camera rig for your next adventure.
