Rick Maas

Vice President of Set Lighting Operations

 Rick Maas was named Vice President of Set Lighting Operations in July of 2007 after serving as Manager, Set Lighting for the last 12 years. He has the responsibility of the Universal Studios Operations Group Set Lighting and Electrical Maintenance departments.  He also presides over the newly formed New Mexico Lighting and Grip Company Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico (a wholly owned subsidiary of NBC Universal). In addition, he oversees lighting services for an independent twelve stage studio located in Hollywood, California through the Universal City based operation. Maas reports to Dave Beanes, Senior Vice President, Production Services, Universal Operation Group.

Previously, Maas has worked in many capacities since starting at Universal Studios in 1978. He has spent a great deal of his career transforming the lighting operation at Universal from a studio support department into a world class production support business operating in over fifteen locales throughout North America.

Before officially taking over the department in 1995, Maas worked work his way up through the department. He began his career as a rigger/lighting technician and later moved on to become a best boy and gaffer on various productions for Universal. These productions include features such as Back to the Future, Streets of Fire, Xanadu and The Best little Whorehouse in Texas. Televisions shows Maas worked on include The Incredible Hulk, Quincy, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Knight Rider and Airwolf.