Gec ownership change

C

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Jan 11, 2006
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Found this on the homepage at GEC....sorry to see him go!



In 2006, when no one locally or in the cutlery industry would take a chance on a new start up cutlery manufacturing company, Ken Daniels was the only person who wasn’t scared by the challenges. He shared my dream and together we created Great Eastern Cutlery.

He has been integral to the company, but as with all things there is change,
and as of December 30th, 2011 the company has purchased Ken’s shares
and he is no longer a partner in Great Eastern Cutlery.

In the years since our establishment, Ken has been an asset to the company, managerially, and as the company representative in the industry. I and Ken share the same values, authenticity, quality, honesty, and loyalty. With much help from Ken, we have built the Great Eastern Cutlery reputation on these values. As we go forward, we will miss Ken but our values as a company will not change.

I and all the other GEC employees owe Ken a big THANK YOU for all that he has done for this company and we wish him the best. We still expect to see him here often and also expect to have a good business relationship with him in the future.

Bill Howard

President

Great Eastern Cutlery
 
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What exactly does this mean? Who is Bill Howard and who is Ken Daniels? What role did/do each of them play at GEC?
 
richstag said:
What exactly does this mean? Who is Bill Howard and who is Ken Daniels? What role did/do each of them play at GEC?
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As I understand it, Bill and Ken both left Queen Cutlery and partnered together to form Great Eastern Cutlery. Not sure of their exact roles but they are/were the top two executives at GEC.
 
Thanks for the info Rick. I just know I like the knives. I hope the company keeps producing the same results or better.
 
As a Pa native I take great pride in GEC.

I have met both Ken and Ryan Daniels and I met Bill Howard. I trust that Ken leaving is all in good spirits and that GEC will continue to thrive and strive for better. I appreciate the influence Ken had on getting this company started and I hope he can succeed with Tuna Valley Knife Co. I don't see a change in knife quality if the future, I will miss knowing that Ken and Ryan had so much to do with these knives, they truly are great guys.

Quality knives come from quality people and we will always see this with GEC.
 
For those who are not familiar with these gentleman, Bill Howard was Founder and President of Great Eastern Cutlery. He is also the Chief Designer and Master Cutler. Ken Daniels was a Co-Founder and Vice-President of Great Eastern Cutlery and was mostly in the Business and Sales end of the Company. Both are true Gentlemen in every sense of the word.
 
Bill is the President, Ken was VP and Ryan was Sales Manager (GEC's Contacts page still hasn't been updated). Ken bought the rights to Tuna Valley Knife Co. There were already 2 runs of knives under the TVKC label produced for Perry Miller (#73 Trapper and #53 4 blade stockman) It sounds like Ken's going to continue this.
 
rma100 said:
For those who are not familiar with these gentleman, Bill Howard was Founder and President of Great Eastern Cutlery. He is also the Chief Designer and Master Cutler. Ken Daniels was a Co-Founder and Vice-President of Great Eastern Cutlery and was mostly in the Business and Sales end of the Company. Both are true Gentlemen in every sense of the word.
Click to expand...

Thank you, that is what I was wondering.
 
I too wish him the best! GEC has become about my favorite knife Co. even though I only have three of them. Thanks Ken!
 
It sounds like an amicable parting of ways. I know Ken has other business interests as well.
I wish both of those knifely guys more success in the future. They have done a great job at GEC, and I am sure it will continue as the best little cutlery in America! (Not so little!)

As the offshore competing companies continue to pollute the earth, and exploit their workers, and buy up our respective countries' assets, GEC employs Americans with pride!
 
Having only been using a GEC knife for a short time I am sure their change will not affect anything and I look forward to the future of GEC.

I see TVC's knives are made by GEC at present, so it will be nice to see what comes of them.
 
Ken did not work for Queen, but did run some of the original Queen City reproductions 10 or so years ago as SFO's from Queen. Ken does have another large business in a non-related industry. Ken and Ryan were not onsite at the GEC factory, thus I don't expect any differences in the quality / value we are accustomed to seeing.
 
Mike,

Nothing like a definitive answer.

Does not leave much room for speculation

Thanks
 
Yeah, thanks for the additional info. Good luck and wishes to all. Glad to hear we should all be happy as well.
 
I've done a few trades with Ryan at the Chesapeake knife shows, and I have voiced my concerns about some models being "too tight". He's good people. As others have mentioned, Bill came from Queen and is good people.
 
I've enjoyed talking and dealing with Ken and Ryan at BLADE the last two years-- both good fellas.

Best wishes to all concerned, and may GEC live long and prosper!
 
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