40 Under Forty

January 31. 2012 3:17PM

Carey Chen is helping high-tech company Hypertherm battle back from economy

By MEGHAN PIERCE
Union Leader Correspondent

Carey Chen

Carey Chen, 39

Home: Hanover
Birthplace: Philadelphia
Family: Wife Melissa; son Myles (will be 2)
High school: El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, Calif.
College/post grad degrees: B.S. In applied mathematics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); master of business administration, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Current job: Vice president and chief financial officer, Hypertherm, Inc. in Hanover
Key past positions held: Vice president for finance, Wiremold Legrand in West Hartford, Conn.; vice president and chief financial officer, Bayliner Marine Corp., Arlington, Wash.
Volunteer activities: Vice chair-elect of the finance committee of the American Welding Society, Miami, Fla.; executive committee member and trustee of the Employee Ownership Foundation, Washington, D.C.; board of directors member of The ESOP Association, Washington, D.C.; co-founder, trustee, and treasurer of the Hypertherm H.O.P.E. Foundation, Hanover; investment committee member at Kendall at Hanover, Hanover; leadership committee member at Granite United Way – Upper Valley Region, Lebanon
Most admired person (outside your family): Benjamin Franklin
Key current professional challenge: Hiring professional talent locally
Last major achievement: Personal: Expecting second child in June 2012! Professional: Helping Hypertherm fully recover from the impacts of the Great Recession.
Biggest problem facing New Hampshire: Fiscal health stemming from budget shortfalls
Favorite place in New Hampshire: Lake Mascoma
What book are you reading now? “SuperFreakonomics” by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
How do you relax? Spending time with the family, travel
What web sites do you visit most often? Google and Yahoo
Favorite TV show, radio station or musical artist: Cannot think of a single favorite, but am a big fan of action, science fiction, and comedy

HANOVER - Financial and technology wiz Carey Chen was recruited to work at Hypertherm, Inc. in Hanover in 2006.

The 39-year-old is currently vice president and chief financial officer at the company that specializes in high-tech technology and innovation in cutting metal.

His job includes overseeing the finances of five departments in the company, corporate development and overseeing a team of engineers in the development of new technology.

“My title says financial, but I'm kind of all over the map,” Chen said.

He was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Chinese immigrants. He grew up in California where he earned a mathematics degree at the University of California, Los Angeles. He went on to earn a masters of business administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

When asked who he admires most outside of his family, Chen said Founding Father, scientist, diplomat and writer Benjamin Franklin.

“I kind of have a lot of respect for him. He was never president of the United States, but he always found a way of getting along with different people with different perspectives,” Chen said.

Franklin was also instrumental in the institution of fire departments and libraries in the U.S., Chen said, “centralizing resources for the good of all, so it can accommodate the many and not the few.”

He added, “There was almost nothing he wasn't good at. I kind of respect how well rounded he was and how he tried to make himself better throughout his life.”

Chen lives in Hanover with his wife Melissa and their 2-year-old son, Myles. The family likes to relax in neighboring Enfield on the banks of Mascoma Lake and enjoy swimming and boating in the lake.

“It's just a gorgeous setting, especially in the fall time when the leaves are changing. In the winter you can do snowshoeing on it. It seems like every season gives you an activity,” Chen said.

The family is excitedly expecting a new baby boy this June, he said.