BABSON PARK, Mass.—Babson College Skating Center General Manager Luisa Duffield announced the hiring of Jeffrey Atkinson as the facility's new assistant general manager on Wednesday. 
 
Atkinson comes to Babson after spending the last 11 years at the Fessenden School in West Newton, Mass. Originally hired as a rink operator in 2015, he was promoted to the assistant manager for rink operations in July 2018. 
 
At Fessenden, Atkinson supervised all day-to-day operations including managing inventory, performing ice resurfacing, overseeing event setup and staff supervision. He also was responsible for Zamboni maintenance, skate sharpening and retail sales in the skate shop. 
 
"We are thrilled to add Jeffrey to the leadership team at the rink," said Duffield. "His background and technical knowledge will bring a fresh outlook and contribute to our continued high-quality ice, events, and customer experiences!" 

In his new role at Babson, Atkinson will oversee both the ice and facility while leading the rink operations team. He will also handle game operations for all men's ice hockey home games inside the Babson Skating Center. 
 
In addition to his work at Fessenden, Atkinson has worked on the operations staff and served as a game Zamboni operator at the University of New Hampshire. Along with performing ice maintenance, he monitored refrigeration and HVAC systems and assisted with the changeover between hockey and other events hosted inside the Whittemore Center Arena.
 
"I am thrilled to join the team and grateful for the warm welcome I have already received," said Atkinson. "This is an exciting opportunity, and I look forward to getting to work and contributing to the continued success of the department." 

Atkinson, who earned a certified ice technician designation from the U.S. Ice Rink Association, served as the Zamboni operator for the 2024 Division I Women's Frozen Four.