community

Manufacturing in the White Mountains: Meet Hubbell Burndy

January 25, 2023

Nestled amongst the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where tourism is the driving industry, Burndy makes its home and is known for pioneering work in the electrical, telecommunications, and renewable energies markets worldwide. The Burndy brand is an important part of Hubbell Incorporated’s electrical solutions business. Burndy creates and builds thousands of different connectors, fittings, and tools.

Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, Burndy has manufacturing operations in Lincoln, Littleton, and Londonderry. But Burndy wasn’t born in the Granite State. Electrical engineer and science historian Dr. Bern Dibner founded the company in 1924, in Brooklyn, New York. Dibner designed and patented a universal connector that required neither soldering nor welding, allowing a unified grid. Burndy Engineering Company remained family-owned until it was acquired in 1988 by the French corporation Framatome Connectors Internal (FCI). In 2005, Burndy was acquired by Bain Capital.

In 2009 Burndy became part of Hubbell. This global manufacturer of utility and electrical solutions is based in Connecticut. The company’s dependable products and services enable customers to operate safely, reliably, efficiently, and sustainably. With a history of innovation that extends back to 1886, Hubbell solutions empower and energize communities in front of and behind the meter.

Burndy has two locations in the western White Mountains – Lincoln and Littleton. The Lincoln facility primarily manufactures connectors and fittings, while the Littleton facility makes crimping tools used to put connectors and wires together. Both plants have been in New Hampshire since the 1970s, each with approximately 200 employees.

Burndy prides itself in hiring locally. The company trains people new to manufacturing and helps develop their potential and growth with the company. For many individuals, a job at a Burndy plant provides good pay and benefits, allowing other family members to work more seasonal jobs. At the Lincoln facility, making over 13,000 different products gives employees opportunity for variety in their work.

Additionally, with four shifts, employees can enjoy the beauty of the mountains during their time off. The weekend shift is popular, consisting of three 12-hour shifts. It allows families to balance childcare and other obligations or just enjoy the fresh powder and hiking trails without the weekend warriors.

Burndy has a direct impact on the local community and the Grafton County economy, where many of its employees live and spend their money. The company prioritizes working with as many local businesses as possible in day-to-day operations.

The electrification of modern amenities, including modernizing the power grid, requires a significant quantity of electrical connectors. Burndy and the entire Hubbell family is well positioned to meet these needs, now and into the future.

Learn more about Burndy on our website hubbell.com/burndy.

A Community That Gives

January 25, 2023

The Lincoln-North Woodstock community is a small, tight-knit community that is always willing to lend a helping hand or help those in need. The local area is home to some important non-profit organizations that provide vital programs and assistance to some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in the Lincoln-Woodstock area and across New Hampshire. If you’re looking for an opportunity to volunteer your time and expertise or donate your money or gently used items for good, look no further than a few of our favorite non-profit organizations.

Loon Mountain Ministry

Loon Mountain Ministry is a non-denominational church that offers outdoor worship services on the summit of Loon Mountain during the summer and winter. With stunning views of the White Mountains, engaging music, and spiritually uplifting messages, you’ll leave feeling better than you came. Loon Mountain Ministry has many opportunities to give back to the local community, including praying, volunteering, and donating. One of the easiest things you can do for the Ministry and the community is to participate in prayer.

For those looking to get more involved, the Ministry is always looking for some extra hands to help with carrying equipment up the Loon Mountain gondola, serving coffee to your neighbors after a service, or volunteering your time at the Encore Thrift Shop. The Encore Thrift and Coffee, located on Main Street in Lincoln, is a 7,000-square-foot shop with clothing, sporting goods, books, records, and more. Shop at the store and support the mission of the Encore Thrift store. There are also many other ways to get involved with Loon Mountain Ministry, like the missional communities, 811 Youth, Ladies Coffee, and more.

The Bridge Project

The Bridge Project began as a Rotary Club initiative in 2016 to provide a space where people could feel comfortable asking for help. Today, the non-profit focuses on assisting at-risk individuals in the community struggling with addiction, poverty, and other challenging life circumstances. Led by local Lincoln-Woodstock resident Tracy Shamberger, The Bridge Project hosts recovery meetings, individual support, youth mentorship programs, and more. The organization has been successful in helping hundreds in need and is always looking for community members to volunteer their time, fundraise, or donate something you no longer need.

The Bridge Project also hosts four events every year. Pedal it Purple – Ride for Recovery Awareness is a family-friendly bike ride in June that raises money for The Bridge Project. For the golfers, there is the Cap’N Bill Golf Tournament held at the Maplewood Golf Club in Bethlehem. The organization also does the annual school supplies and backpack drive and the annual winter coat and clothes collection.

New England Disabled Sports

New England Disabled Sports (NEDS) provides adaptive sports instruction to students of varying abilities that meet certain criteria. Every year, the non-profit provides sports activities for close to 600 student-athletes in the White Mountains. Headquartered at Loon Mountain, the organization provides year-round programs. During the winter season, NEDS offers programs in alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and snowshoeing at Loon Mountain and Bretton Woods. During the summer months, student-athletes can participate in kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, cycling, golf, and downhill mountain biking. NEDS also has a military program for veterans and offers camps.

If you’re an active outdoors person, then volunteering with NEDS might be right up your alley. NEDS is always looking for compassionate and hardworking volunteers to serve as volunteer coaches for various sports. If you’re short of time, NEDS welcomes monetary donations and items on their “NEDS Wish List.”

Lincoln Woodstock Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Lincoln-Woodstock is a dedicated group of Lincoln-Woodstock residents who share a passion for community service. Rotary is a global group of volunteer leaders committed to tackling some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges in their own communities and abroad. There are over 1.2 million rotary members across 200 countries. The Lincoln Woodstock Rotary Club meets Wednesday mornings at 7:00 am at the Woodstock Inn & Brewery. The Rotary’s “Community Chest” project supports various programs and services that help the most vulnerable members in the local community, especially during the holidays.

Loon Mountain Area Community Fund

The Loon Mountain Area Community Fund exists to help improve the quality of life for community members in need. For many years, the resort has operated under a guiding principle that employee involvement and charitable outreach is an integral part of their overall philosophy. Funds are used to help locals facing adversity due to circumstances involving injuries or accidents, medical needs, loss of life, fire, natural disasters, etc.

Funding comes from events like the Golden Gala and through a voluntary payroll deduction program (which Loon matches). Donations are also accepted and encouraged especially from local business in order to help support the overall cause.

In addition to all the non-profit organizations above, shopping local is always a great way to support the many locally-owned, small business owners and the hardworking people that call the Western White Mountains home.

Medicare Information Session

October 7, 2022

Free Local resource to guide you through the Medicare enrollment process. We will help clear up some confusion on the Medicare Supplement Insurance options and help clarify the difference between Medicare Supplement plans and Advantage plans. Refreshment served. All are welcome to attend.

Local Business Spotlight: Lincoln Sign Company

July 6, 2022

Located on Route 3 in Lincoln, Lincoln Sign Company is the White Mountains longest running sign shop. Specializing in dimensional, handcrafted signs, the shop was started in 1972 by Rick Weisbrad, who was a formally trained sculptor. About nine years ago, Roy Whitaker purchased the business from JD and Vicky Iles and has since grown it to include Littleton Sign Company in Littleton and Paquette Signs in Meredith.

As a serial entrepreneur, Roy Whitaker first moved to the Lincoln area to run New England Disabled Sports (NEDS). He fell in love with the mountains and needed to find a way to stay. It just so happened that Vicky was looking to retire, and Roy jumped at the opportunity to purchase the sign business with no real sign-making experience. Despite having no sign-making experience, Roy had years of small business consulting and understood the value of being part of the local community.

Roy was able to learn some of the many skills you need to make the beautiful dimensional signs that you can find throughout the Lincoln and North Woodstock region of the White Mountains from the longtime employee, Lee Lamontagne, who was famous for his hand-carved signs and gold leaf lettering. Over the decades, the small shop has made some famous signs, including the New Yankee Workshop sign back in 1988. In 2005, Norm Abram visited the sign shop to film an episode of The New Yankee Workshop to learn “how a router, a sandblaster, a hand chisel, and a sophisticated computerized machine can be used to carve modern signs.”

Lincoln Sign Company work can be found throughout the region. A few of Roy’s recent favorite signs are RiverWalk Resort and the Gypsy Café, which was recently remade from the original sign built by the company years ago. Roy believes that it is an honor to be asked to make a sign for a company and that it’s important to continue to build upon the craftsman’s genius and skills that came before him. You’ll also see their signs around town at Rhythm Handcrafted Beverages, Arnold’s Wayside Diner, Alpine Adventures, Indian Head Resort and NCCA Jean’s Playhouse… just to name a few!

Roy’s philosophy when it comes to sign-making is all about the vision of the client. As he says, “Everyone has an idea of what they want to see. Most sign companies find out what the client wants and make it. We work with our clients to create their vision together.” Sign making isn’t as simple as carving and painting wood either. You need to have a good grasp of design, composition, electrical, woodworking, painting, and more to make it work. You also need to consider where you put it, how you hang it, and how you light it.

While Lincoln Sign Company specializes in dimensional and hand-carved signs, the shop also does vehicle and hand-painted signs among other types. You can see many of the shop’s high quality art in the form of signage throughout the White Mountains. In addition to creating beautiful signs, Roy also strongly believes in being involved in the community. He currently lives in North Woodstock and serves on three non-profit boards. If you’re interested in working on a sign for your business or home, or just want to see some beautiful signs, visit Lincoln Sign Company for more information.

community

Manufacturing in the White Mountains: Meet Hubbell Burndy