From DJ Liftoff to HiViz Lighting Founder & CEO: Sam's Story | Part 1

The 24/48

Jan 23 2023 • 1 hr 4 mins

We’re kicking off the first episode(s) by flipping the script: Kaoma Massa, HiViz COO and wife to Sam Massa, puts Sam (firefighter, EMT, and HiViz Lighting CEO) in the hot seat to dig into his past.

Kaoma has been working with Sam for over a decade now, but much of how HiViz came to be stems from Sam’s early years. He struggled with school and didn’t have many friends. A PTA mom gave Sam an idea to change that. Leveraging school resources and his love of Thomas School busses, Sam started a DJ business while in school: He bought a school bus, registered it as an RV, and hired someone old enough to have a driver’s license to chauffeur Sam (aka DJ LiftOff) and his equipment to gigs.

This led to a fascination with diesel engines that eventually sparked a plan to get his GED and start a business focused on biofuels. The business, Massa Green Enterprises, was successful for a few years. Sam then moved to North Carolina to work at Coble Ski School while thinking about his next move but was briefly called back into his old business to convert Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fleet of hummers to biofuel.

After experimenting with imported lights, Sam started the beginnings of what is now HiViz, partnering with Vision X, to bring products to the fire market – but without any experience in the fire service.

Come back next week for part 2, where we learn about Sam’s entry into the first responder world and the HiViz Lighting we know today.

Connect with our team!

· Sam Massa, CEO & 24/48 Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammassa/

· Kaoma Massa, COO: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaomamassa/

· Chelsea Lassen, Marketing Director & 24/48 Producer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-lassen/

· Spencer Carter, Videographer https://www.instagram.com/spencervisual/

· Marina Hunter, Graphic Designer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-hunter/

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For more information about HiViz LED Lighting:

· Website: https://hivizleds.com/

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Thank you for listening!

“The 24/48” is brought to you by HiViz LED Lighting // Produced by Chelsea Lassen // Edited by Spencer Carter // Branding by Marina Hunter