Ep 66: Behind the Controls: Steve Petrotto on Revolutionizing the RC Hobby with Horizon Hobby

In this episode, Stephen Hallman interviews Steve Petrotto, Director of Brand Experience at Horizon Hobby—the world’s largest RC (radio-controlled) product developer and distributor, covering airplanes, cars, boats, and more.

Steve shares his journey into the RC hobby, starting from high school at a Hobby Town store. He highlights Horizon Hobby’s mission to make RC more accessible through user-friendly innovations like stabilization systems.

Steve Petrotto Bio: Steve Petrotto has spent 13 years at Horizon Hobby, transforming the RC industry with innovative projects and products. As the Director of Brand Experience, Steve has launched over 100 products, including the Spektrum Smart ecosystem, and led Horizon’s signature events worldwide. With over a decade of experience in product management and marketing strategy, he’s not only a driving force in the industry but also a dedicated enthusiast. He is the 2024 Scale National Champion and a former runner-up at the Drone World Championships in wing racing. Steve also runs a YouTube channel, @StevesRC, and a BBQ channel, @SmokingMeatsBBQ. His goal is to make the RC hobby accessible and enjoyable for all, leading Horizon’s efforts to shape brand experience across events, retail, and more.

Key Discussion Points:

• Therapeutic & Educational Benefits: Steve explains how RC offers relaxation, learning, and hands-on skills development.
• Competitive Aspects: From RC racing to flying disciplines, the hobby caters to newcomers and competitive enthusiasts alike.
• Getting Started Recommendations: Steve suggests the Hobby Zone Aeroscout as a great beginner plane for learning takeoff, flight, and landing.
• STEM Education & Community Involvement: Horizon Hobby supports STEM through partnerships and its non-profit, Hobbies for Good.
• Upcoming Events: Look forward to events like Horizon’s RC Fest and Joe Nall, showcasing RC community and competition.

Tune in for a deep dive into the RC hobby, Horizon Hobby's impact, and the ways you can get involved—whether you’re into casual or competitive flying!

www.horizonhobby.com

 https://linkedin.com/in/spetrotto/

 www.youtube.com/stevesrc

 www.youtube.com/smokingmeatsbbq

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