Meet Bob Shabala

About Bob

Bob Shabala is President and CEO of Niagara Specialty Metals. He has been with Niagara full-time since 1994, beginning as the plant engineer after graduating from the University at Buffalo with a degree in mechanical engineering. Prior to that, he started working part-time in 1993, taking on various jobs on the shop floor.

Why Ownership Culture Matters

For Bob, the best part of working in an employee-owned company is the sense of family and friendship. He believes that everybody here has an intense and vested interest in doing what is best for not only the company, but for each other. They’re consistently looking for ways to make the company better to help their friends and family that work here.

What Customers Might Be Surprised By

Customers are often surprised by how many steps it takes to turn a slab of steel into sheet or plate. They may also be surprised by the breadth of Niagara’s capabilities—especially the extensive cutting options. Niagara can cut full sheets, strips, blocks, and individual parts used across aircraft, cutlery, and industrial applications.

In the Plant

Bob’s favorite equipment right now is the totally re-engineered sheet mill operation. It’s one of the most impactful capital projects Niagara has completed, delivering immediate improvements in throughput and quality. Working with multiple vendors to bring it together, the final result exceeded expectations and continues to raise the bar for performance.

If he could trade jobs with someone at Niagara for a day, he’d choose one of the rolling mill supervisors for the immediate satisfaction of turning a hot piece of steel into a totally different dimension—though he admits one day would be about the maximum he could handle.

Outside of Work

Bob’s first job was a paperboy. Outside of Niagara, he enjoys skiing, golf, and endurance sports.

Advice for New Team Members

If you’re having a difficult time doing something, stop what you’re doing and ask for help. Everybody here wants to see you succeed—and not struggle or get hurt. His next best advice: always look for ways to make the job easier for the next person.

Favorite Memory at Niagara

One of Bob’s favorite Niagara stories is the time Craig Weyers reportedly found a pair of woodchucks in the pit of the rolling mill. Bob wasn’t there to see it himself, but it remains one of the funniest stories he’s heard during his time at Niagara.