Ken Bryant is Chairman and CEO of Bead Industries, Inc. located in Milford, CT.  Since joining Bead in 1998, Mr. Bryant relocated the company from a four-story factory in Bridgeport to a single story modern facility in Milford, successfully reduced business taxes and environmental liabilities, and implemented lean manufacturing technologies.  Ken also managed a joint venture in the UK and established an outside board of directors to guide Bead’s strategic direction.

Currently, Ken sits on the Executive Board of the New Haven Manufacturer’s Association (NHMA). Formerly, he was the Chairman of the Metal Manufacturing Education and Training Alliance (METAL), Executive Board member of the West End Community Development Corp. in Bridgeport, and a board member of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA. Ken graduated with a BA from Beloit College and has a Masters Degree in Teaching from the National College of Education.  He enjoys golf and has a broad collection of contemporary jazz.

Prior to joining Bead in 1998, Ken spent more than twenty years in Alaska in a wide variety of occupations: sawmill worker, longshoreman, commercial fisherman, Trans-Alaska pipeline worker, news director for local public radio, assessor, land manager and teacher. While in Alaska, Ken served on various city councils, school boards and borough assemblies.