Jim Knight was co-founder with two other partners in the start-up of Amber Engineering, Inc. in December of 1981. The company specialized in integrated circuit design with focus on circuits for use in infrared camera systems. The company developed and produced numerous cameras for defense and industrial applications. Amber was instrumental in building the infrared camera system used on the Clementine space mission used for surface mapping of the moon’s surface. Over twelve years the company grew to 200 people and was acquired by Raytheon Company in 1992. He retired as Senior Vice President in 1994.
Jim and three other partners started Indigo Systems Corporation in March of 1996 and once again started with a business model working with integrated circuit design and infrared cameras with more focus on commercial products such as automotive applications and firefighting. Indigo was largely responsible for bringing infrared technology to the commercial market place. The company grew to 230 employees before being acquired by FLIR Systems in January 2004.
Jim’s history with community involvement began with the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce in 1985 as Co-chair of the Hazardous Materials Committee. He served on various committees and later became a member of the Board of Directors in 1993 and completed five years as a board member and in a supporting role with the Government Relations Committee.
Jim currently serves as co-chair of the Government Relation Committee for the Goleta Chamber of Commerce and recently was elected to serve on the Board of Directors as treasurer. He served on the Board of Directors for UCSB’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Engineering Management (CEEM). Jim has also been serving on the steering committee for the South Coast Business & Technology Awards dinner sponsored by the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara for the last four years.
He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife Janice and has two children, Tricia and Paul and two step children, Mat and Sarah. He enjoys family time and cooking with things containing garlic and onions. Hobbies include fishing, writing and flying small planes.