Bobbi Burns is general manager Global Plating in Fremont, California, where she handles just about everything for the operation, from receivables to HR, quality, purchasing, regulatory compliance, and EHS.
With a background in selective metal finishing as well as tank plating, she is also president of the Metal Finishing Association of Northern California, representing surface finishing companies at the state and national levels. In 2019, Burns was awarded the NASF Award of Merit for her dedication to the industry.
How did you get your start in the finishing industry?
Through my father, I am a second-generation finisher.
What do you enjoy best about the industry?
Never the same day twice.
Is your glass half full or half-empty?
No one is ever happy with the glass “as is.”
What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
Knife, matches, and towels.
What was your favorite subject in school?
Not math.
What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?
Nothing unusual.
Do you collect anything?
Live tarantulas.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Mild extrovert.
Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest?
Smell.
Are you related or distantly related to anyone famous?
No.
What do you do to keep fit?
Krav Maga, running and hitting the bag.
Does your family have a “motto” – spoken or unspoken?
No, but we should get one.
If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce?
Mandatory training and a license to make and raise children.
What three things do you think of the most each day?
How to stay positive, not say the wrong things, and be helpful.
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Caution: Contains PFOS/PFAS.
What song would you say best sums you up?
There is not just one song.
What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?
Marilyn Manson.
What's the most interesting thing you can see out of your office or kitchen window?
Nothing interesting.
On a scale of 1-10, how funny would you say you are?
8.5.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully in good health and surrounded by the people I love.
What was your first job?
Plating Shop; racking and packing.
How many languages do you speak?
One.
Who is the most intelligent person you know?
My dear friend, Aneela Rafique.
If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be?
I want to say something cool, like a lion or tiger, but I think I am really a squirrel.
What is one thing you will never do again?
Live with a man.
Who knows you best?
Not sure.
