May 2, 2024

Forest City Gear is pleased to announce the hire of Jay Hampton as Quoting Engineer. Previous employee, legacy, and longtime friend of Forest City Gear’s Young family, Hampton returns after more than 25 years.

Hampton started at Forest City Gear as a teenager through connection with his grandmother Gloria Ryerson (lovingly dubbed “Grandma G” by the Young family), a Hobbing Operator from 1969 to 1998. After school and on weekends, Hampton cleaned around the shop, provided maintenance to the grounds, and stood in as a babysitter as needed to now-President Kika Young and shareholder Appy Young.

“Some of the best memories I have of being a kid involve Fred and Wendy Young,” says Hampton. “Wendy and I used to say ‘I love you’ when we saw each other. Our families were that close.”

Hampton joined Forest City Gear as a full-time Machine Operator in 1987. “I was due to graduate high school, it was like the week of my graduation, when Fred pulled me into his office and asked, ‘Are you going to college?’” says Hampton. “And I said, ‘No, I don’t think so.’”

“He said, ‘Well, what are you going to do? My suggestion would be you have your ass here at 7 o’clock Monday morning,’” continues Hampton with a laugh. “So that’s what I did. That was just the relationship that Fred and I had.”

Now as Quoting Engineer, Hampton will review and generate quotes and work directly with Forest City Gear customers to determine their orders’ special requirements.

“I’m really glad to be back here,” says Hampton. “From the moment I was let in for my interview, it was like this feeling of peace. It was really cool.”