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www.HartfordBusiness.com • June 11, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 19 offers cast steel skirt springs, coil springs and skirt materials of all kinds at a "Manufactory" in Bristol and a warehouse on Murray Street in New York. Tom Barnes routinely visits schools and commu- nity groups wearing what some audience members perceive as a scary mask representing his 180-year- old or so great, great grandfather. "I'm sort of the company historian in my genera- tion," he said. Asked about the burden and privilege of carrying on the legacy, Barnes responded, "It's important for anybody to work hard. I was fortunate I could work construction in Bristol." Barnes recalled some early adventures in con- struction around the time he earned a business degree from the Uni- versity of Hartford. He worked four summers as a welder, carpenter and payload operator. On one occasion another business in downtown Bristol put out an emergency call for help. A sewer drain valve was shut tight. Could anyone help? "We got it open," Barnes said, noting that he ended up wearing much of the evidence. "I've learned not to open sewer drains since then." Barnes would go on from sewer drain operator to earn his MBA at the University of Connecticut and work as an executive for the local construction firm and the former Connecticut Bank and Trust. He also served as a director for Barnes Group and became a senior vice president in 1993. He was elected chair- man of the board in 1995. One of his sons, Elijah Barnes, is a principal in a Washington, D.C. commercial real estate group and has served as a Barnes Group director since 2016. The company now bills itself as an industrial and aerospace manufacturer with more than 5,000 employees worldwide, $1.4 billion in revenue and market capital of $3 billion. "We've had to transform ourselves many, many times to survive," Barnes said. Community involvement While continuing to steer the ship of the Barnes Group as chairman, he becomes animated talk- ing about the numerous community organizations he serves and related philanthropic projects. The community involvement is encouraged throughout the company and the Barnes Group has matched gifts by more than 200 employees to organizations including a local nature center. "The company involvement," he said, "makes our employees feel good about their company. It also builds camaraderie." When Barnes believed the big banks operating in Bristol were not as responsive to small business as they should be, he helped found a community bank. "We were concerned," he said, "there was not enough attention paid to the local community." Currently Barnes serves as a director of or- ganizations including the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, the Connecticut Forum, Connecticut Science Center and the Bushnell. He is a past direc- tor of groups including Renbrook School, Main Street Community Foundation in Bristol and the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. He is a former chairman of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. "Talking to Tom is like talking to a neighbor," said Cindy Bombard, president and CEO of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Com- merce. "He's never too busy to take a call if I have an idea." Bombard said Barnes eagerly served as a guest speaker for an event honoring local small businesses. "All the Barnes family has been extremely gener- ous to our community," she said. legacy "The company involvement makes our employees feel good about their company. It also builds camaraderie." LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2018 #legacy A lifetime of discovery, inspiration, and innovation. Television CPTV | CPTV Spirit Radio Connecticut Public Radio | WNPR.org Connecticut Public Learning Learning Lab | Institute for Advanced Media | PBS LearningMedia Connecticut Public congratulates Tom Barnes on his well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. His generosity, dedication and steadfast support of our mission helps us to inform, educate and inspire Connecticut's citizens every day. . From all of us, thank you, Tom, for all you do for our communities.