BRYANT KEIL - CEC CO-CHAIRMAN

Chairman of the Board
Potbelly Sandwich Works

In 1996, fueled by a powerful combination of intense taste buds and the desire to spread the love of the growing Potbelly fans, proven entrepreneur, Bryant Keil, acquired Potbelly Sandwich Works, a unique and wonderful neighborhood sandwich joint located on Chicago's Lincoln Avenue. Since 1996, Bryant has grown Potbelly from the one store on Lincoln Avenue, to include over 200 stores in Chicagoland, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dallas and the Washington, D.C. area.

While Potbelly stores are popping up everywhere, Bryant is dedicated to preserving the individuality of each store in an attempt to keep Potbelly from becoming just another fast food chain.

Although Bryant takes a low-key approach to building the business, the outside world has taken notice of the success of Potbelly. Bryant is the 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient. He was named the 2003 Illinois Restaurateur of the Year by the Illinois Restaurant Association. Crain's Chicago Business tapped Keil as one of its "40 under 40" young business leaders, INC Magazine listed Potbelly as one of our nation's 500 fastest growing companies and Crain's listed Potbelly as the 8th fastest growing company in Chicago. Bryant was recently named a Henry Crown Fellow, a part of the Aspen Institute. Among his other accomplishments are his involvement in investment and entrepreneurial ventures, primarily focused in the hospitality industry.

Bryant is an active member in several community and volunteer organizations including the Economic Club of Chicago, The Young Presidents Organization, Kohl Children’s Museum, Best Buddies, and the 2016 Olympic Committee.