Brent Hardman, P.E. MBA

Brent Hardman started at Powell as a high school co-op. Today, after 25 years, he’s CEO.

A Professional Engineer (P.E.) and MBA by trade, Brent believes in, “leaving everything better than how you found it”. His commitment to education, mentorship, and advancing the chemical industry has profoundly impacted the lives of Powell employees, community members, and industry professionals.

Serving in industry organizations, such as the Chlorine Institute, National Associations of Chemical Distributors, and the World Chlorine Council, Brent uses his professional expertise to advance the safety, efficiency, and operations of chemical manufacturers around the world. Brent actively speaks at industry events and involves Powell in the creation and review of industry education materials. His ability to understand the landscape of the chemical industry and passion for innovation has paved the way for Powell to expand product offerings beyond traditional sodium hypochlorite (bleach) manufacturing options, into custom highly-engineered solutions such as multi-stream chemical blending systems, cloud monitoring and computing, and more.

Brent is a transformative leader, encouraging employees to grow with paid educational opportunities and empowering their growth by fostering a company culture that promotes career advancement. Placing a priority in treating people as people, investing in their story, and being an active part of their experience, Brent has fostered a company culture where employees bring their best selves to work, are committed to the success of the company, and actively support each other inside and outside the organization.

Outside the Powell walls, Brent’s commitment to education and creating opportunity continues into the community. Serving as the Board President for Ithaca Public Schools and partnering with organizations such as the Gratiot-Isabella RESD, Mechatronics, Mid Michigan College, and Central Michigan University, Brent volunteers his leadership skills and resources to strengthen the local manufacturing talent pool while providing opportunities that attract and keep talented professionals in the area.

In his spare time, Brent enjoys spending time with his family including his wife, Karen, and two sons, Carson and Blake. Together, they enjoy summer weekends in Leelanau, University of Michigan football in the fall, and travel sports in between.