About Us
Hussey Seating Headquarters, North Berwick, ME
Company Overview
We’re not a manufacturing center. We’re an innovation center.
While today we produce the highest quality spectator and audience seating in the world, our real business is listening to, understanding, and solving our customers biggest problems. Almost 200 years ago customers needed plows. Today they need spectator seating solutions custom fit for their audience. They need telescopic platforms that can safely accommodate a high-volume of guests with ease and transform facilities from event to event seamlessly. They need a company they can trust with their biggest moments, and we’re more than prepared for the job.
For almost 200 years our Core Values have not changed:
- We are a family business in it for the long run
- We operate with honesty and integrity
- We care about and empower the people we work with
From high school gymnasiums, tracks, and football fields to professional arenas and performing arts centers, wherever you find spectators sharing a great moment you’ll find Hussey seats. Call your local Hussey Seating expert today-and reserve your seat.
Vision, Mission & Core Values
We are a family business, in it for the long run.
We operate with honesty and integrity.
We care about and empower the people we work with
History
2020s
- 2024: Hussey Seating Company acquires Camatic’s intellectual property, trademarks, designs, and tooling on select seat products.
- 2022: Hussey Seating Company becomes the first manufacturer to receive an ICC-ES Evaluation Report for telescopic seating systems. Hussey Seating Company sells the Clarin portable seating line to California based Spec Seats.
- 2020: Hussey Seating Company partners with the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) as their official seating solutions provider.
- 2020: Hussey Seating Company is recognized as a 2020 Best Places to Work
- 2020: Hussey Seating is awarded the contract for their largest telescopic installation to date by the Alamodome.
2010s
- 2019: Hussey Seating Company is recognized as a 2019 Best Places to Work.
- 2019: After 20+ years successfully operating Hussey’s telescopic platforms, the United Center chose Hussey once again. The home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks is now home to over 23,000 Hussey Seats. Wintrust Arena at McCormick Place, also in Chicago, selected Hussey Seating as their partner for seating solutions and installed over 10,000 seats.
- 2017: Hussey Seating introduces the Quattro Art Series featuring wooden backs, seat bottoms and end panels bringing the idea of affordable elegance to the theater and performing arts center marketplace. With many different ‘live areas’ customers have the ability to add customization to backs, seats, end panels and other areas to create a custom chair in any venue it’s installed.
- 2016: Hussey undergoes a period of transition with Senior Leadership, naming Gary Merrill President & CEO. Gary was the first non-family member to lead the company in 182 years. Letitia Hussey Beauregard also named Chair of the Board of Directors.
- 2014: Hussey introduces its first portable tip-and-roll bleacher, the MAXAM1.
- 2011: Hussey introduces several new products including the Remote Control Operation for Telescopic Seating Systems, the MXP Telescopic Platform System, the Quattro Collection for Telescopic Platforms Seating, and the Hussey Seatway Space Frame Telescopic Platform System.
- 2010: Hussey introduces the Fusion Series.
2000s
- 2009: Hussey introduces the Quattro Performance Series.
- 2008: Hussey introduces the CourtSide XT Seat Spacer.
- 2005: Hussey introduces the CourtSide Seating Collection.
- 2004: Hussey introduces Metro, a rail-based seating system.
- 2002: Hussey introduces Quattro seating.
1990s
- 1999: Hussey proudly introduces a major engineering evolution in telescopic gymnasium seating: MAXAM™.
- 1995: Hussey introduces the Legend stadium chair for Major League Baseball—a nostalgic throwback to the original ballpark seats of the 1940s.
1980s
- 1985: Hussey unveils its new Olympiad polymer stadium chair and immediately receives a contract to provide 65,000 seats for the National Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- 1981: The Hussey Comfort Curve is introduced. The all-polymer gymnasium seat provides improved comfort and the ability to introduce multiple colors into a school’s gymnasium.
- 1980: Hussey enters the upholstered auditorium chair market.
1970s
- 1971: Hussey designs the fold down Sentinel chair. Today, well over a million Sentinels are still being used around the world.
1960s
- 1964: Hussey introduces Pow-R-Trac, an electrically powered system for opening and closing telescopic gym seats and platforms, leading to the successful development and installation of the first 30-row telescopic gym seating system.
- 1961: Hussey installs its first telescopic platform designed for the adaptation of fold-down chairs at the Pittsburgh Civic Center.
1950s
- 1952: Hussey develops the first closed-deck telescopic gym seating system. This new design prevents spectators’ feet and personal items from slipping beneath the seat riser and is still the most widely used system today.
1930s
- 1931: Philip Hussey designs a portable bleacher and begins selling outdoor bleachers throughout New England.
1800s
- 1895: A fire destroys the plow factory. The company was rebuilt by William Hussey’s grandsons to focus on steel products – such as fire escapes, bridge supports, ski lifts and other sought-after products.
- 1835: The Hussey Plow Company is established by William Hussey, a farmer and native of North Berwick, Maine, who has designed a more efficient plow blade.
Leadership
Brian Deveaux
Brian joined Hussey Seating in 2017 as CFO and has served as President since 2022 and CEO since 2023. Before joining Hussey Seating, he was a partner and co-founder of Leaders LLC, a Portland-based advisory firm that specializes in advising family businesses in strategic transactions. Prior to forming Leaders, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Seabrook International, a manufacturer of surgical instruments for Fortune 100 companies, and held several management positions in operations at Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics. Brian currently serves on the board of the Manufacturers Association of Maine and The Susan L. Curtis Foundation. He graduated from Bowdoin College with degrees in Math and Economics.
Rich Hussey
A previous Hussey Seating Board of Directors member and part of the sixth generation of family ownership, Rich has 25 years of experience working in HR leadership. In addition to his twelve years at Hussey, Rich has worked as Director of Human Resources at Emery-Waterhouse, VP Human Resources at Albany Engineered Composites, and Human Resources Director at Waban Projects. Rich earned his undergraduate degree from Colby College, his master’s degree from Boston University, and the Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) designation from the Human Resource Certification Institute.
Jaimie Rowe
Jaimie began his career as Quality Manager at Northern Trading Co. where he eventually rose to VP of Manufacturing. He joined Hussey as Director of IT and Order Management in 2000 and later served as Director Demand & Supply. In 2013, Jaimie left for a Senior VP & General Manager role at Logically, an information technology services company, and returned in 2015 to hold senior positions in IT, engineering, and operations. Jaimie has BA and BS degrees from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in business from Husson University.
Sean O’Leary
Sean studied Civil Engineering as an undergrad at the University of Maine and later earned his MBA from the University of New Hampshire. He owned and operated a general contracting firm before joining Hussey Seating as a project manager in 1995. After serving in positions of increasing responsibility, he left in 2004 to become GM of the building products company Unilock NY where he was later promoted to VP of Sales & Marketing. Sean returned to Hussey as VP of Sales & Marketing in 2016.
Dave Brzenchek
Dave earned BS and MS degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and is passionate about developing unique and meaningful products. He worked at Ford Motor Company on the F-150 Truck team for 13 years. He also worked in the Defense industry for 9 years developing personal protection equipment for militaries around the world. Prior to joining Hussey Seating in 2022, Dave led organizations at Baxter International to develop medical devices that enhanced patient outcomes.
Chuck Nadeau
Charles (Chuck) Nadeau is the Chief Financial Officer at Hussey Seating Company, where he leverages over 25 years of experience in finance and operations. Before joining Hussey, Chuck served as the CFO and COO at Treadwell Franklin Infrastructure Capital (TFIC), where he also held the position of President for its subsidiary, James W. Sewall Company, a prominent civil engineering consulting firm based in Bangor, Maine.
Chuck’s diverse leadership background spans various industries, including insurance, consumer goods, private capital lending, and infrastructure finance. His extensive management experience encompasses startup ventures, turnarounds, and established businesses, providing him with a unique perspective on the dynamics of successful organizations.
In addition to his executive roles, Chuck founded Balance Point Management, a consulting firm dedicated to providing outsourced CFO and COO services to small and mid-sized companies across a range of sectors, including biomass power generation, financial services, technology infrastructure, and hospitality.
Outside of his professional commitments, Chuck enjoys traveling and spending quality time with his wife and three children. He has a strong passion for athletics and leadership, which he cultivated during his 21 years of coaching high school baseball. Chuck holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Maine and a Master’s degree in Finance from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Lynn Spring
With a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine, an MBA with a concentration in Finance, and a Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics from the University of New Hampshire, Lynn has cultivated a strong analytical and financial background. Since joining the company in 2009, she has held various financial roles, gaining valuable experience and insights. In 2022, Lynn transitioned to Information Systems, where she leverages her skills by leading a team that enhances technology-driven solutions and optimizes business processes across the organization.
Corporate Board
Letitia Hussey Beauregard
Letitia began her career at Bank of Boston where she rose to the rank of Senior Trust Officer during her fourteen years working in the Trust Department. Since 1999 she has worked at Family Capital Trust, a private corporate trustee that manages family trusts and multi-generation wealth, of which she is a founding member. Letitia has graduated from Alfred University with a BS in Business Economics and the ABA National Trust Graduate Program. Letitia is part of Hussey Seating Company’s 6th generation of family ownership and has served on the Board of Directors since 2013.
Peter Hussey
Peter joined the family business in 1957 and made key contributions, including leading the development of the Olympiad Stadium Chair, which helped expand and grow the company into the market leader it is today. Peter worked in various executive leadership roles at the company including those in manufacturing, general management, and sales until he retired in 2001. Like many members of the family, Peter is a graduate of Colby College.
Gary Merrill
Gary began his career in public accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers before joining Hussey Seating as Accounting Manager in 1986. Gary served in various finance, international sourcing, and operations roles until 2005 when he left to join Emery-Waterhouse Company as CFO. He returned to Hussey as CFO in 2009 and was named President & CEO in 2016. Gary now serves as a member of the Hussey Seating board after having retired in 2023 and holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Maine, and an MBA from Babson College.
Bruce Merrick
Bruce founded Dant Clayton Corporation in 1979 and still serves as Chairman of the industry leader in designing, manufacturing, and installing bleacher and stadium systems. He has previously served on eleven not-for-profit boards and six corporate boards including international food ingredients company DDW, Thermoview in the home improvement industry, architectural railing and staging equipment company Staging Concepts, and Smartworks in the cellular technology industry. Bruce is a graduate of Western Kentucky University.
Gene Geiger
Gene joined GeigerGroup, a 5th generation family-owned and operated distributorship, in 1973. He served as President of the company from 1978 to 2019 and is currently Board Chair, a position he has held since 1994. Gene has held more than a dozen business and civic positions with organizations including St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), Maine Governor’s Business Advisory Council, Fleet Bank of Maine, Lee Auto Group, and White Rock Distilleries among others. Gene is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Economics.
Catherine Cloudman
Catherine serves as a strategic advisor and board member to public, private, and non-profit organizations. She was a founder and CFO of Apothecary by Design (ABD), a multi-site specialty pharmacy, and later served as a board member and CFO at Village Fertility Pharmacy (ABD’s successor). Catherine is the current President and Board Chair of Waynflete School and serves on the boards of publicly traded staffing firm Kforce, IT services firm Systems Engineering, Gorham Savings Bank, and Zachau Construction. She has a dual degree in accounting and advertising from Syracuse University, an MBA from Boston College, and has received the CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight from Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute and the NACD.
Anne Hussey
Anne is a partner at Quad Group, a family business consulting firm providing solutions to address governance models, succession planning, strategic planning, and team building. Previously Anne worked at Hussey Seating Company for fifteen years, including five years as General Manager of Hussey Products, and for seventeen years at Unum where she worked as Project Manager and later as Director of Marketing Operations. She has earned a BA in English from Colby College and an MBA from the University of New Hampshire. Anne is a member of Hussey Seating Company’s 6th generation of family ownership.
David Leopold
David Leopold brings a wealth of experience as a multi-faceted business leader with over 20 years of experience across several industries, including officer and senior management positions in Fortune 500 companies in the insurance and telecommunications industries. In 2018, Leopold acquired Criterium Engineers, a leading North American consulting engineering firm, where he oversees the management of the company. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School.
