Bevin Bros. Manufacturing Names New President
East Hampton, CT - October 8, 2024: Bevin Bros. Mfg. has announced that Cici Bevin will assume the title of President of this 192-year-old family-owned company. Cici has been serving as COO.
Bevin Bros. was founded in 1832 by four brothers, Abner, Chauncey, William and Philo. Since then, six generations and many members of the family have been involved. Beginning in 1979, Stanley R. Bevin (5th generation) ran the company. In 2011, he sold the business to his nephew, Matthew G. Bevin (6th generation), who assumed the title of President. Cici (also 6th generation) joined the company in 2016 while Matt was serving as the Governor of Kentucky.
“We are delighted to have Cici become the first woman to lead this gem of a company,” said Matt Bevin. “Cici has been effectively managing operations at Bevin Bros. for a number of years. This title change is simply a well-deserved reflection of the work she is already doing.”
Cici will also assume an ownership stake in the company.
“It had long been my dream to someday be involved in this historic business that has been such an integral part of our family and our community for so many generations,” said Cici Bevin. “I am thrilled to be a member of the leadership team that is keeping this company a vibrant and healthy US-based manufacturer. As we head toward our 200th Anniversary in 2032, we are accelerating our efforts to accomplish substantial and sustainable growth. We are working hard to envision what this company is going to look like in eight years and are increasingly excited by the possibilities ahead.”
Bevin Bros. is the oldest (and one of the last) bell manufacturers still operating in the United States. Since the early 1800s, the Bevin family has been crafting bells in the same little central Connecticut town where they first began. The company makes most of the bells that the Salvation Army bell ringers use with their iconic kettles during the Christmas season. Starting in the 1920’s, Good Humor trucks ignited the taste buds of young children as they rang their Bevin Bells throughout the neighborhoods of America. It was a Bevin Gong Bell that opened and closed the NYSE for nearly seven decades. A Bevin Bell gave Clarence his wings in the iconic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Bevin Bros invented and produced the first bicycle bells and cast the ship bell for the infamous USS Maine. Hundreds of notable prize fights featuring such legendary boxers as Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali have been marked by the ringside gong of a Bevin Bell.
Today, Bevin Bros. also has a robust and growing business manufacturing steel cylinders for compressed gas.
“When looking at our bell business, our compressed gas cylinders, and our ability to do metal stamping for outside companies, we see tremendous potential for continued growth. We remain fully committed to the long-term strength and profitability of this company,” said Cici Bevin. “We are also committed to honoring our incredible legacy and are privileged to be working with so many talented and dedicated employees as we move into the future.”
