Deane C Davis Award Finalists: HUBBARDTON FORGE

Vermont Business Magazine, May 01, 2004 by Tebbetts, Vicky Parra

Blacksmithing shaped by molten Yankee ingenuity: Hubbardton Forge of Castleton has capitalized on the Vermont Brand by invoking the spirit of "a tradition that is quality-focused, hardworking, individual, and even stubborn." Recognizing the power of choice in a free market, Hubbardton's philosophy supports "an ethic that nurtures continuous improvement and innovation to ensure a small American Company a place in an increasingly global market."

Reed Hampton and George Chandler founded the company in 1974 in a drafty barn in the town of Hubbardton. The mentors of the Forge were craftsmen from a fading era, and Forge founders scavenged through New England gathering genuine, albeit rusty and forsaken, tools of the trade.

Hubbardton Forge is now among the country's oldest contemporary commercial forges, committed to creating distinctive, high-quality, wrought iron lighting and accessories. One of the few lighting companies still manufacturing in the United States, artistry meets modern technology to set the standard for "handforged" pieces.

Today, nearly 200 Hubbardton Forge employees service more that 1,500 accounts, seeing a 165 percent increase in sales between the years 1997 and 2002. Chandler credits this increase with adding value to their customers' businesses through creating and delivering quality lamps, lighting fixtures, and accessories in a genuine and environmentally sound manner.

In 2003, Hubbardton Forge was honored with the prestigious Vermont Business Magazine "5x5x5" Growth Award, celebrating the top five fastest growing companies over the past five years, in each of five categories. Within the past couple of years, Hubbardton Forge has also won coveted industry design awards.

Hubbardton Forge is an active participant in a small community. A company "donations team" evaluates requests based on whether the request comes from a local organization, services their corporate community, includes Hubbardton Forge employees and their families, and whether the request serves goals and values similar to the Forge's goals. Annually the company donates to dozens of likeminded organizations.

An innovative corporate philosophy results in lucrative employee benefits: the Company needs 7 percent to be healthy, grow, provide opportunities for all employees, and to realize a return on investment. Beyond the 7 percent, the company has shared 50 percent of every dollar of profit with the employees through their bonus plan. In 2003, Hubbardton Forge distributed well over one million dollars in employee profit bonuses, split between employees' 401(k) retirement accounts (every worker begins their career at Hubbardton Forge fully vested) and direct cash distribution. This benefits combination averaged about 20 percent of each employee's annual contribution. This team approach allows each employee to play a direct role in the company's success.

Hubbardton Forge is a three time recipient of the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. Proud to be recognized multiple times by the State of Vermont, the company has long believed in the necessity of using the most environmentally sound means of creating their product. They have adopted and pioneered new methods for cleaning and finishing, reducing process waste, and managing energy. Rather than joining in the sometimes trendy desire to be "green," the Forge emphasizes the continuing mission to create the best possible product by the best possible means.

"Value," implied or explicit, is a word that surfaces time and time again in the Hubbardton Forge materials. Providing value for customers, employees, and back to the company itself, Hubbardton Forge has set the standard in industry quality, design, and profitability.