Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/991733
18 Hartford Business Journal • June 11, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com By Andy Thibault Special to the Hartford Business Journal T om Barnes has a bounce in his step as he bolts up the circular staircase that evokes an image of a spring. The staircase, illuminated by a skylight, naturally is in the center of the Barnes Group international headquarters in Bristol. At age 69, Barnes exudes the spirit of a cheer- leader who as a youngster played third base, the hot corner where line drives can take you out in the fraction of a second. He's on his toes, alert, four years after retiring as an employee of this multina- tional corporation that has flourished in one form or another over 10 generations. Still serving as chairman of the board and the company's charitable foundation, Barnes rep- resents the fifth genera- tion of the family to have been actively employed by the Barnes Group entity founded by his great, great grandfather Wallace Barnes. Tom Barnes' father, Wallace "Wally" Barnes, served as the company's presi- dent and chief operating officer from 1964 to 1977, chairman of the board and CEO from 1977 to 1991, and then chairman of the board from 1991 to 1995. The history of the Barnes Group is to a great extent the history of the Industrial Revolution. Among the early family endeavors: producing wire for women's hoop skirts and patenting springs for clocks. The company would become one of the world's largest producers of springs also used for guns, valves, bicycles and cars. An 1860 advertisement for a Barnes partnership ON THE JOB Guiding business principle: Treat people fairly, give back to the community. Best way to keep your competitive edge: Be prepared, get a good night's sleep and keep your commitments. Proudest accomplishment: Founder of Valley Bank and the Main Street Community Foundation. Goal yet to be achieved: Have every employee of Barnes Group have their opportunity to buy stock in the company. Favorite part of the job: Meeting our employees around the world. Least favorite part of the job: Telling one of our directors it is time to step down. Personal touch in your office: Family pictures everywhere JUDGMENT CALLS Best business decision: Selling Olson Brothers, a small screw machine shop I owned for 10 years. Worst business decision: Developing a 60-lot subdivision. Biggest missed opportunity: Not holding onto Federal Realty stock when we sold the Bristol Shopping Plaza. Best way to spot trends: Listen to your customers. Next big move: Completely retiring at 75. Your pet peeve: Being late PERSONAL SIDE City of residence: Bristol Favorite way to relax: Watch shows with my wife and get away to our house in Vermont. Hobbies: Golf, bridge and travel, especially cruising Last vacation: March CBIA meeting in Orlando with three of our 11 grandchildren Favorite movie: "Caddy Shack" The car you drive: Ford Navigator Currently reading: "Gold Coast," by Nelson DeMille Favorite cause: Too many to list Second choice career: Meteorologist "We've had to transform ourselves many, many times to survive." Tom Barnes carries on Barnes Group Tom Barnes Chairman of the Board, Barnes Group Inc. Size of organization: 5,500 employees; $1.4 billion in sales Highest Education: MBA from UConn Previous job: Vice President of Carpenter Construction Co. HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2018