Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 2 2 F O C U S M A N U FA C T U R I N G nearing retirement — so, with Hinckley already facing down the baby boomer cliff, it has turned to an innovative pro- gram to bring in more employees, turn- ing to an Arundel boatbuilding school to train people with previous building experience how to build boats. COVID effect Like nearly every outdoor sport, boating saw a surge in popularity (and spending) during the height of the pandemic. Hinckley says that the surge of new boat orders and boat owners led to a dra- matic increase in demand for everything yacht harbors do, and an already tight labor market was squeezed even harder. Hinckley has 190 employees at its Trenton manufacturing site and another 50 at the Southwest Harbor service cen- ter, which repairs and maintains boats. ere are also operations in Portsmouth, R.I.; Stamford, Conn.; Annapolis and Easton, Md.; and Stuart, Fla. Hinckley's reputation helps attract prospective buyers and employees, says one recruiter. "People want to work at winning companies that have demonstrated success, innovation and leadership. We know that Maine needs to attract highly skilled workers from out of state to meet the state's growing demand for economic growth," says Neal Harrell, a Newport, R.I.-based recruiter. "Hinckley is one of the handful of brands that help sell the state." 'Landing' at the Landing School To sweeten the incentives to join the company, the yacht builder this year launched the Hinckley Yachts Student Loan Assistance Program, It is working with the Landing School, which offered a good fit to train future Hinckley employees. Hinckley already has a crew of six Landing School graduates, including engineer Matt Barton and the firm's vice president of sales and new prod- uct development, Scott Bryant, both of whom have undergraduate degrees from other schools. Hinckley offers an unusual work environment, Bryant tells Mainebiz. "e brand allows for great detail and very specific, passion-filled crafts- manship," Bryant says. At the same time, "our biggest asset is our people." A Division of Hammond Lumber Company Discover THE JOY OF A BRAND NEW B A T H R O O M AUBURN • BANGOR • BAR HARBOR • BELFAST • BELGRADE • BLUE HILL • BOOTHBAY HARBOR • BRUNSWICK • BUCKSPORT CALAIS • CAMDEN • CHERRYFIELD • DAMARISCOTTA • ELLSWORTH • FAIRFIELD • FARMINGTON • GREENVILLE • MACHIAS PORTLAND • ROCHESTER (NH) • ROCKLAND • SKOWHEGAN 22 LOCATIONS ACROSS MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE H A M M O N D L U M B E R . C O M | 1 - 8 0 0 - H A M M O N D C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y O F H I N C K L E Y YA C H T S Hinckley Yacht Services has a range of employees, with a wide variety of skills. Its biggest needs right now are for carpenters, electricians and mechanics.

• Cover