Samuel Haines, president of Gear Motions, was named to the Manufacturers’ Association of Central New York Hall of Fame at the organization’s 93rd annual meeting. According to an association press release, the Wall of Fame honors regional manufacturers who have contributed to the economic well-being of the community. Randy Wolken, president of MACNY, says, "Sam Haines is the perfect addition to our Wall of Fame. Not only has he developed and implemented cutting edge technologies and products for the gear industry, but he has grown a locally-owned-and-operated company into a profitable worldwide presence despite difficult economic times." According to Haines,59, joined what is now known as Gear Motions on a temporary basis over 30 years ago to help out my father, Samuel R. T. Haines. He used my MBA thesis as a business plan to borrow money to expand his new company, Rawling Gear. Little did we know that, 30 years later, his small business would be a multi-million dollar outfit and I would be its president!" Gear Motions purchased Oliver Gear of Buffalo, NY, in 1973 to add large-diameter gearing and coarse pitch rack manufacturing to the company’s capabilities. The expanded company acquired Nixon Gear of Syracuse, NY, in 1978 to bring precision ground gearing and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) volumes to the company. The Plastic Gearing Services Division was created, and a national sales force was developed. In 1985, Haines’ father retired, and Samuel Haines became president. Haines recently implemented an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), which will transfer ownership of the company to the employees over the next ten years and help insure that company will remain in its community. Today, Gear Motions has facilities in Syracuse and Buffalo, customers worldwide, and annual revenue of more than $15 million. The Oliver Gear division focuses on large-diameter, small-volume gearing, while Nixon Gear offers state-of-the-art production gear grinding services. Gear Motions won the 1999 Donlon Award for Employee Centered Practices; the 1997 American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) Board of Directors Award (the organization’s highest honor); and the 1993 AGMA E.P. Connell Award. Haines has served on the board of directors of MACNY since 1989, was chairman of the board from 1995-1997, and was Factory Managers Chair from 1985-1988. He served on the AGMA board of directors from 1988-2000, and was chairman of the board from 1999-1999. He was a member of the AGMA Foundation Board from 1999-2006, including chairman of the board from 2003-2006. In the immediate future, Haines is planning some research trips to China, investigating whether to open a Chinese facility for Gear Motions.