Over 100 years and four generations later, the Hobart's are still cutting stone.
The first fifty years of Hobart stone consisted of a small, local flagstone setting company in Binghamton, New York. When Richard Hobart (third generation) came along he had bigger ideas. In 1960 he incorporated and Hobart Stone Dealers, Inc. was born. After Richard Hobart’s passing in 2017, the family business still continues to thrive. A dedicated team of skilled craftsman lead by Richard’s daughter Bridgette continues to carry on Richard Hobart’s vision.
Hobart Stone Dealers, Inc. CEO
Bridgette received her BS in Accounting from Nazareth College of Rochester and an MS in Accounting from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
Bridgette founded Paradigm Technology Consulting, LLC (PTC) in February 1999 and has more than thirty years of professional experience in accounting, tax and technology. Bridgette sold PTC in 2017 to ISS Solutions, Inc., a Geisinger entity, and remained President of the PTC division to allow her to invest in Hobart Stone upon the passing of the founder, Richard Hobart.
Throughout her career, Bridgette has combined her knowledge of accounting, business processes and technology, as well as exposure to many industries, to benefit her clients and family businesses. Her diversified background has enabled her to fulfill a variety of business management, operational and technology-related project roles.
Bridgette has brought her background in accounting, financial solutions and business processes to Hobart Stone Dealers, Inc. Upon the 2017 passing of Hobart Stone’s founder and her father, Richard G Hobart, Bridgette took a leadership role in the reorganization of the company’s overall strategic direction and management team. On June 25, 2018 Bridgette became the sole owner of Hobart Stone and related entities. Under Bridgette’s leadership, Hobart Stone sold Finger Lakes Stone and related properties which freed up working capital and returned the company to their core strength of architectural stone fabrication.
She is a member of the New Jersey Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs, and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Bridgette is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Strategic Finance Magazine, West Windsor Lions Club and a past member of Nazareth College of Rochester’s Board of Trustees. In 2015 she was awarded the Nazareth School of Management Distinguished Alumni Award, West Windsor Lion of the Year and was honored with receiving the Lions International Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. In 2016 Bridgette was honored as one of the Top 25 Leading Woman Entrepreneurs in New Jersey. In 2018 Bridgette was name President of West Windsor Lions Club and Lion of the Year. In 2019 Bridgette was announced as a member of the 2020 Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame. She volunteers for One Step Closer Animal Rescue (OSCAR) and enjoys fostering rescue dogs to prepare them for adoption.
Bridgette is a member of US Masters Swimming, World Open Water Swimming Association, Marathon Swimmers Federation and Channel Swimming Association. She is the Event Director for the Lake Hopatcong Open Water Swim Festival and Finger Lakes Open Water Swim Festival, charity events raising funds for animal rescue groups & K9 Teams. Bridgette focuses on marathon swimming and has participated in these events to raise awareness and funds for charities focusing on health & wellness, youth programs and animal rescue groups. Bridgette has completed multiple marathon swims, including Around Key West, Tampa Bay, Ederle, Manhattan Island, Catalina Channel, Cape May NJ Circumnavigation, AZ SCAR Challenge, Rottnest Channel, English Channel, 120 mile 8 Bridges on the Hudson Staged Swim, completed the length of all 9 swimmable NY Finger Lakes in the 2015 swim season, completed a 25.3 mile Lake Hopatcong, NJ perimeter swim, which raised funds for Jefferson Township Fire Company 2 where her husband serves as a volunteer and 36 mile END WET down the Red River in North Dakota. Upon completion of the English Channel on September 18, 2014, Bridgette became the 107th person in the world to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming (Manhattan Island, Catalina Channel & English Channel). Bridgette was awarded the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Association Women of the Year and the 2015 Marathon Swimmers Federation Overall Performance of the Year by a Woman. Bridgette founded Dogged Perseverance, Inc., a non-profit entity, in 2018 to focus on additional fundraising through endurance events to benefit multiple causes.
Bridgette resides in Lake Hopatcong, NJ with her husband, Bob, and many rescue pets. In addition to her career and marathon swimming, she enjoys speaking on her marathon swimming adventures and on how through visualization, focus, positive thinking, learning from failure, team work, and embracing challenges you realize you can do just about anything.
As they have grown, Hobart Stone Dealers has become a force to be reckoned with in the Bluestone industry. With plans for plant expansion and a new sales team, our growth is assured for at least another 100 years!
Contact us today, to learn more about our 4th generation stone cutters, our latest technology in stone cutting, and the many products we can offer you to meet your stone needs.