April 26, 2023

5 Big Questions: Rick Angel from Lutron

We catch up with Rick Angel, Senior Vice President with Lutron Electronics, who is retiring after a remarkable 38-year career with the worldwide leader in lighting controls.

Rick Angel's career with Lutron began in the mid-1980s and he quickly rose from sales management ranks to various executive management roles that contributed to Lutron's exponential growth over the course of his career. Rick's strategic business acumen has played a significant role in shaping lighting controls markets which have grown tremendously since Lutron invented the first solid state dimmer in 1961.

During his final week before retirement, Rick joins Al Uszynski of inside.lighting for an "exit interview" where Rick shares insights into the past, present and future of lighting controls markets while peppering in thought-provoking references to red wine, pickleball and fax machines.

Topics we explore:

How has the electrical distributor channel evolved over time and how was Lutron able to establish such incredible strength in that channel? (1:17)
How has Lutron been able to maximize business opportunities in so many different channels (distributor, showroom, big box retail, resi dealers, etc.) while minimizing customer conflict and pushback? (3:31)
Where is the category of Lighting Controls heading in the future? (5:00)
SPEED ROUND: Rick's short answers to a flurry of questions including: (6:26)

Who is the toughest negotiating Electrical Distributor?
Lutron’s most important product launch during Rick's career?
Who is Rick's favorite agent principal to have dinner with?
If Rick could only use one residential dimmer for the rest his life, what would it be?