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Intalco Hires New Plant Manager by Dave Gallagher Bellingham Herald, October 21, 2010

One of Whatcom County's biggest manufacturers has a new leader.

Barry Hullett has been promoted to plant manager at Alcoa Intalco Works, near Ferndale. He replaces Mike Rousseau, who has taken a similar position at the Alcoa Mt. Holly facility in Goose Creek, S.C. Rousseau began his new job earlier this month.

Hullett has been at the Intalco facility for six years, originally hired as the production manager. An engineering graduate from Montana Tech of the University of Montana, Hullett has worked in the aluminum industry for more than 30 years. He previously was production manager at Alcoa's Rockdale smelter in Texas.

Rousseau took over plant operations at Intalco in February 2004, overseeing a tumultuous period when the facility was nearly closed while company officials tried to negotiate power contracts with Bonneville Power Administration. A shutdown was avoided when a short-term contract was reached in December.

Earlier this month, BPA announced its intention to extend the current contract through May 2012 while the agency continues to work on a longer-term contract with the smelter.

Alcoa Intalco Works employs about 530 people, producing about 180,000 tons of aluminum metal a year with two of its three potlines.