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www.HartfordBusiness.com • June 11, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 25 define Orr's career, volunteer work my time and efforts even though I had very little business experience. I'm proud that we refinanced and grew the company." KTI emerged from bankruptcy in six months. It became the first business in the East Windsor Industrial Park, where it thrives today. KTI grew from eight employees to nearly 50, diversifying into overhaul and repair of jet-engine components and automotive, biomedical and defense work. The company also processes water purification systems for submarines, cameras for drones and parts for hypersonic rockets. The laser or electron beam welding process, Orr explained, is necessary to make pure and distortion-free welds. Orr received his bach- elor's degree in econom- ics and business admin- istration from Drury College in Springfield, Mo., and his MBA from Western New England College in Massachusetts. He began his career at Hamilton Standard during the heyday of the space program, negotiating with NASA on air-conditioning systems and rockets. "I was a financial guy, it was a lot of fun," Orr said. "[President] Kennedy said we were going to land on the moon and then it happened. The space program was riding high." Balboni cites Orr's role as a mentor among his leadership qualities. Orr sent him to Brazil in the 1980s to train workers who produced saw blades. "His ability to work with people from another country made my job easier," Balboni said. "That was quite a growing experience for me." Community connections Orr, a native of Suffield, has served on more than 30 nonprofit boards and commissions including Suf- field's Economic Development Commission. In 2012, he earned the "Volunteer of the Year" award from the Northeastern Economic Developers Associa- tion. During his tenure on the commission, Suffield's Mach One Industrial Park was developed as a joint venture between the town and the state, opening 33 acres for development. Among his favorite charities are Hilltop Farm in Suffield and St. Francis Hospital's Curtis D. Robin- son Men's Health Institute in Hartford. Hilltop Farm is a 79-acre working farm and nature preserve. Programs include "Little Bugs," for young children ages four to six, billed as an introduction to ecology. Orr helped form the nonprofit corporation for the farm and get its designation on the National Register of Historic Places. The Men's Health Institute addresses the preva- lence and disparities of prostate cancer among men who are uninsured or underinsured, particularly African-Americans. The program is named in rec- ognition of a $1-million gift from Curtis Robinson, a member of St. Francis' board of directors who is, himself, a prostate cancer survivor. The institute encourages prostate cancer screenings for African- American men who are 2.5 times more likely to die of the disease than Caucasian men. Winston Samuel, 68, came to the United States from Guyana in 2010 and began working at Walmart in Hartford. He had no health insurance. Samuel found a doctor and was referred to the St. Francis program. He learned he was a diabetic and was di- agnosed with prostate cancer. "I broke down and started crying," Samuel said in a phone inter- view. "I was lost. I didn't know what to do. "They took care of me." Samuel began treatment at St. Francis, where he now works full time. He became a U.S. citizen in 2016. He's not out of the woods for the disease, but is being monitored and treated. With a legacy of building a successful internation- al company from the ashes and voluminous com- munity service, Orr's biggest challenge now is the successful transfer of ownership of KTI. WE PROVIDE CT BUSINESS LEADERS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY RUN THEIR BUSINESS. ARE YOU IN THE KNOW? SUBSCRIBE BY GOING TO WWW.HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM CLICK ON "SUBSCRIBE" "I didn't know what I was doing but I had guts." LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2018 Honoring a Lifetime of Achievements Barnes Group Inc. congratulates Tom Barnes on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hartford Business Journal. The passion and dedication that Tom brings to the community sets the standard for the way we work at Barnes Group Inc. Furthermore, his support has inspired countless individuals, both at Barnes and in the surrounding communities. Thank you, Tom, for all that you do, and congratulations again on this outstanding accomplishment!