Bryan Whitehead
The name Whitehead carries a certain gravity—British in origin, measured and composed. Upon meeting Bryan, the name fits. Trim and deliberate, he exudes the quiet confidence of an intellectual. And indeed, his career tells that story.
A military brat, Bryan’s early life was nomadic—Illinois, Idaho, Colorado, Kansas, and Minnesota all called home for a time. After earning his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, he pursued his MBA in international business and finance from DePaul University in Chicago. What followed was a distinguished career managing divisions in public accounting, robotics, and automotive manufacturing—often on a global scale.
Now in semi-retirement and back in Minnesota to be closer to his children and grandchildren, Bryan’s story could have neatly ended in the boardroom. But beneath the rule-following precision of a career executive beats the restless heart of an adventurer.
Bryan is passionate about motorcycles—not the polished, chrome-drenched kind, but those built for endurance and exploration. His chosen terrain: Canada’s vast and remote landscapes. Three times, he has made the grueling trek from Chicago to the Arctic Ocean on an adventure bike. He’s even crossed the Alps on his 1200cc BMW GS. “It’s a challenge. It’s occasionally difficult to do it—and I love it,” he says with a glint of quiet pride.
The wild calls to him in other ways, too. Bryan built his own cedar-strip canoe—just to paddle solo through the serene, rugged beauty of Quetico Provincial Park. And now, with more time to give back, he’s restoring some former farm fields in Brainerd to their original prairie ecosystems, getting his hands dirty in service of nature’s rebirth.
Still sharp and deeply engaged, Bryan continues to consult with businesses and nonprofits, balancing his love for wilderness with a mind wired for solving problems. As a member of Round Table, he sees an opportunity to blend his two worlds. He’s currently working to launch a speaker series designed to explore timely topics, guided by thoughtful conversation—fueled, of course, by cigars and a good pour of scotch.