There is excitement at the top management level of award-winning domestic lighting manufacturer Hubbardton Forge in Vermont, tapping the talents of those both inside and outside of the industry.
Following the retirement of Ray Langton as CEO in March, Bubba Sandford has stepped into the CEO role as of April, bringing along extensive C-suite experience in his previous CEO, COO & President roles of highly successful, publicly traded firms such as Sonoma Pharmaceuticals and Command Center, among others. Sandford’s strong background in staffing and business acumen, MBA from Cornell University, combined with his service as a U.S. Navy SEAL, make him uniquely qualified in helping the company successfully navigate through the pandemic-related manufacturing shutdown and reopening to full production in his first two months.
“I’m excited to join Hubbardton Forge,” Sandford states. “We’ve successfully navigated the COVID crisis and expect to come out of it as a stronger organization. We design great products and we make great products right here, under one roof in Vermont.”
Joining the executive team on June 1 in the newly created role of President & COO is renowned industry veteran Maria (Scutaro) Mullen, who is a familiar face to the decorative lighting industry, having held several leadership roles with Feiss over a 11-year period, culminating in her role as President of Feiss/Monte Carlo until the company’s relocation from its long-time headquarters in New York City to Generation Lighting’s Skokie, Ill. facility. Mullen also notably led the sales efforts at Uttermost for four years, and most recently founded the sourcing company, Kalizma, which offers turnkey design-through-production for various brands’ lighting collections.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible people and for great brands in my lighting career; I am thrilled by the opportunity to join the dynamic team at Hubbardton Forge. It is a line I have long-admired and I am excited to bring ‘Made in Vermont’ lighting to new heights,” she says.
Renowned for his design vision at Hubbardton Forge for the past 11 years as Design Director, David Kitts has been promoted to the role of VP/Design & Product Strategy. Holding a Master’s degree in Industrial & Product Design from Pratt Institute and a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Cornell, Kitts has been responsible for some of the company’s most iconic designs as well as the leadership of the design, engineering, and customs teams, including the Hubbardton Forge, Vermont Modern, Synchronicity, and Art + Alchemy brands.
“True design talent is what built the Hubbardton Forge brand and David has led that effort for many years,” Mullen comments. “This is a well-deserved promotion and another step in David’s distinguished career.”
Kitts adds, “I’ve been very fortunate to do what I love and be a part of something special here in Vermont with Hubbardton Forge. I look forward to working with both Bubba and Maria as they lead us into the next chapter of our story.”
