Ed Byrd

n 1974, while working in Raleigh, NC, Ed’s entrepreneurial nature kicked in and he decided to forge out on his own. Ed and his wife, Polly, moved to Hickory and opened Kontane, Inc. in 1975. The original business manufactured wooden storage containers used by the moving and storage industry and freight forwarders. The company quickly grew to include more services and by the mid-1980’s, Kontane, Inc. had built a reputation as one of the leading packaging designers and suppliers in the Southeast.

In 1995, Ed and Polly founded Kontane Logistics, now a leading dedicated third-party logistics provider with six locations in NC and SC.

Today, Ed continues to oversee all operations across the board at Kontane and Kontane Logistics, including maintaining a vital partnership with COO Rusty Byrd to achieve the organization’s mission, monitor all financial planning and set corporate-wide strategy. As a family-run business, Kontane continues to flourish as they utilize innovation, customer service and experience to maintain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

Raised in Spruce Pine, NC, Ed originally came to Hickory to attend Lenoir-Rhyne College. Finding something very special about the close-knit, foothills town, Ed decided to plant his roots in Hickory, raising two children, Annie and Rusty, and becoming deeply involved in the local community. Ed generously volunteers his time and resources to a variety of charitable causes, including Piedmont EducationalFoundation, Corinth Reformed Church, Lake Hickory Rotary Club, North Carolina Community Foundation and the Board of Advisors for First Citizens Bank.