May 19, 2014 (Laconia, NH): NHBB has hired George Hobbs as the new Operations Manager of the Astro Division in Laconia, NH. George succeeds Jim St. Pierre, who will retire at the end of this year after 40 years with the company.
Throughout his career, George Hobbs has built a reputation for being driven, results-oriented, and an agent of positive change. The divisions and business units he has managed have all experienced an increase in productivity, rapid improvements in on-time delivery, a reduction in quality escapes, and drastic improvements in customer satisfaction.
George has spent most of his career in the aerospace industry, working from 1980 to 2004 for various business units of Pratt & Whitney in Middletown, CT and North Berwick, ME. Starting in 1995, he was fast tracked into senior-level operations management when he was assigned to lead Pratt & Whitney’s Turbine Blade Unit. The other business units he has managed since then include General Machining, Blade Outer Seals, Aftermarket Service and, finally, Commercial Engines, which is a division with five product lines that contributed to 30% of company’s revenues.
In 2005, George was hired as an Operations Manager by Westinghouse Electric, in Cranberry Township, PA. He then served as Plant Manager of Nuclear Components Manufacturing division before becoming Vice President of Continuous Improvement, the position he held before joining NHBB.
George holds a BS in business from the University of New Hampshire System and a MBA from Boston University. He has also acquired various certifications in leadership development, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma. Notably, George was recognized in 2003 as a high achiever by Boston University.
As part of NHBB’s formal succession planning process Jim will remain on-board in an advisory role to assist with the transition. Jim will be involved in select corporate projects and continue to report to Rich Bardellini, VP of Manufacturing.
