Burt Shavitz

Ingram Berg Shavitz, known as Burt Shavitz, was an American beekeeper and businessman notable for founding the Burt's Bees personal care products company along with businesswoman Roxanne Quimby.

He was born in Manhattan and was raised in Great Neck, NY. He changed his name in to Burt in 1953 when he finished high school. He spent time in the Army, and later while living in Manhattan, he took photographs that appeared in Time and Life magazines.

Shavitz eventually settled in Maine, discovered beekeeping as a source of income and met Roxanne Quimby, who would sell his wax candles at local fairs. An increase in sales and production led to them launching Burt's Bees in the 1980s. As the partnership and business grew, operations were set up in North Carolina in 1994. Soon thereafter, the partnership between Shavitz and Quimby waned, leading to Quimby buying out Shavitz's stake in the company.

A documentary film, Burt's Buzz, was released in 2014. The film discussed the life of Shavitz, his history with Burt's Bees, and his later activities as a beekeeper and businessman. Shavitz died on July 5, 2015 at the age of 80 in Bangor, Maine, from respiratory problems. He resided in Parkman, Maine.

Burt's Buzz trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfct3mM3I_g