Bauer CEO and Babson Alumnus Pivots Production with Purpose

Bauer face shield
Listen

Two weeks ago, a Bauer employee approached CEO Ed Kinnaly ’87 with a suggestion for a solution.

“I’ve got a crazy idea,” the employee said. “Shoot, go for it,” Kinnaly responded.

The conversation was the beginning of a company pivot—from producing hockey equipment to medical face shields—in order to address the shortage of personal protective equipment for health care providers as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

It also exemplified that a significant shift like this isn’t just limited to companies led by founders.

“We exist to create,” said Kinnaly, who first joined Bauer in 2000 and has served as CEO since 2017. “Entrepreneurship is the essence of the company.”

It Starts with Adaptability

A move from producing hockey to medical equipment requires flexibility, a trait that Kinnaly said comes naturally to Bauer employees.

“It’s amazing because we’re able to do something outside our wheelhouse,” Kinnaly said. “It’s not amazing the way our employees stepped up. It’s how we conduct ourselves as a business.”


“This was the easiest decision we ever made, people needed help. We wanted to do our part as good corporate citizens.”
Bauer CEO Ed Kinnaly '87

The plan also required employees to be comfortable with stepping out of their traditional roles. Since the production shift, manufacturing workers have taken on shipping-related tasks, while project managers have brainstormed marketing campaigns and information technology teams have helped take orders.

This nimble approach to business is ingrained in the company, and Kinnaly termed it as “integral in our success.”

Taking it to Market

Technical drawings of the face shields swiftly led to a market plan, and then hours after that, a prototype.

“It was a short amount of time where the genesis of the idea came to fruition,” Kinnaly said.

Production conversations with Bauer facilities in New York and Quebec helped the company gather materials. Demand is so high that orders already have been halted.

By late April, the company plans to produce 70,000 face shields a week. Because it has stopped taking orders, Bauer has shared its specifications for producing shields with other companies, and also is redirecting orders to alternative manufacturers.

“A network of companies attacking the problem provides the best chance for everybody to win here.”

Kinnaly said as a group passionate about athletics, Bauer employees viewed the virus as a competition.

Solving problems for athletes for years, they’re now playing that role in an effort to end a pandemic.

“This was the easiest decision we ever made, people needed help,” Kinnaly said. “We wanted to do our part as good corporate citizens.”

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

More from  »

Latest Stories

Collage of four photos depicting Babson teams celebrating
Keeping Score: A Look at Babson Athletics’ Success by the Numbers From national and conference championships to academic achievements, Babson’s student-athletes continue to post impressive statistics. Here is a look at the numbers behind Babson Athletics’ successes.
By
Eric Beato
Editor / Writer
Eric Beato
Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.
July 2, 2025

Posted in Community

A clear tip jar with cash sits on a counter
What Ending Taxes on Tips Could Mean for Workers and Tippers Babson thought leaders on tax policy explain how a federal proposal that includes eliminating taxes on tips might reshape the tipping economy.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
July 1, 2025

Posted in Insights

Members of the Babson community behind a Pride banner at the parade
Passion and Pride: How the Office of Belonging and Inclusion Supports the LGBTQ+ Community Babson’s participation in the Boston Pride Parade caps a busy and productive year of support for the LGBTQ+ community by the Office of Belonging and Inclusion, as it advances the College’s commitment to Inclusive Excellence.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
June 27, 2025

Posted in Community