After nearly 40 years in the lighting industry – 33 of which were with domestic manufacturer House of Troy – Bill Brown has announced his retirement, effective September 30.
Most recently, he and his wife Betsy Levin (also a House of Troy alum), established Montclair Light Works in collaboration with a domestic manufacturing company specializing in commercial RLM lighting. Montclair Light Works was created to appeal to the decorative lighting market as industrial-look styling became increasingly popular in homes.
Brown began his career at House of Troy in the 1980s, when the Vermont-based manufacturer was owned by Kent and Natalie Mitchell, and later served as President of the company when the couple retired.
“I’ve been thinking about retirement for a while, and I think it’s time. I will miss the people in the industry most of all,” Brown says. “I enjoyed my time with House of Troy and Montclair Light Works and am able to retire happy.”
Brown fondly recalls arriving in Vermont on a Greyhound bus from Boston in his 20s. “My friend and I decided to be ski bums,” he jokes, adding that his first job after arriving was washing dishes at a ski resort for $35 a week. The pay didn’t matter as much as the ability to ski as often as he wanted.
Later, his enthusiasm for the outdoors led to a love of fishing — an activity he excited to spend more time on. “I wish all of my friends in the lighting industry great success,” he comments.
Betsy Levin will continue in her role with Montclair Light Works as the company continues to grow.
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