Bead Industries Blog

Alchemic Rhetoric

Bead Industries Awarded 2024 Multi-Generational Family Enterprise from UVM School of Business

| September 29, 2024

Bead Industries, Inc. received the 2024 Multi-generational Family Enterprise on Friday, September 27 at the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business. This was the 13th edition of the Vermont Legacy & Family Enterprise Awards, a ceremony which celebrates enterprises that excel in their innovative practices, corporate governance, and contributions to their communities and industries. “Each … read more

Bead Industries Celebrates 110 Years of Innovation and Excellence

| March 15, 2024

Bead Industries celebrates its 110th anniversary, highlighting its journey from a company that initially manufactured Bead Chain® for light pulls to a diverse multinational corporation. The company emphasizes its commitment to innovation, quality, and community engagement, including scholarships and apprenticeship programs. CEO Jill Mayer expresses gratitude for the longstanding support from customers and employees, reiterating … read more

CEO of Bead Industries Inspires Graduates to Be Courageous

| May 16, 2023

Jill Mayer, the CEO of Bead Industries, encouraged Quinnipiac graduates to meet every opportunity with courage as the theme of her Commencement address for the School of Business and the School of Computing & Engineering on Saturday, May 13. As a fifth-generation leader, Mayer charted a career path that took her from a biotech company … read more

Leading the Workforce Revolution

| December 13, 2022

Today CEO’s are dealing with a workforce that’s unlike any they’ve ever witnessed before. These days, workers can choose whether they’ll work in the office, remotely, or a mix of both, forcing CEOs and business owners to figure out what model works best for them. The Key to Hybrid? Accountability & Performance. “Companies that stubbornly … read more

Connecticut Tech School Invites Women in Manufacturing to Speak to Students

| November 22, 2022

To celebrate several notable women with careers in manufacturing, the Emmett O’Brien Technical School invited them to speak to more than 30 female students at the school.  Schwerdtle Inc. CEO Kathy Saint, Bead Industries CEO Jill Mayer, and Exello Tool CEO Marcy Minnick met with 32 female students in the school’s precision machining technology program. Schwerdtle manufactures tools, dies, stamps, and … read more

‘Ready to Spring Back’: Manufacturers Look to the Future

| November 11, 2021

The next generation of Connecticut manufacturing leaders are bringing fresh perspectives, new ideas, and a willingness to listen, learn, and adapt as they navigate the sector’s significant challenges. “It’s being able to see what is coming at you and just react quickly,” says Brittany Isherwood, president of Farmington-based Burke Aerospace.  Isherwood was one of three … read more

How to Prepare to Lead Your Multi-generational Family Business

| March 31, 2021

If your parents or grandparents are part of a multi-generational family business, odds are you’ve been asked more than once if you plan to follow in their footsteps.  But according to Family Business Magazine, only 10-30% of family businesses survive the second generation under the same company name and ownership. How can you prepare for … read more

Resiliency Drives Employers’ Pandemic Response

| October 21, 2020

“Not on my watch.” That’s how Bead Industries CEO Jill Mayer recalls her attitude as she and her leadership team mapped out the company’s strategy in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re a 106-year-old manufacturing company,” she told fellow business leaders Sept. 24 at CBIA’s annual The Connecticut Economy conference. “We’ve been through … read more