The Bissell corporation boasts a rich corporate history spanning over a century, beginning in 1876 when Melville Bissell and his wife Anna invented a specialized carpet sweeper in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to clean sawdust out of their crockery store carpets. Following Melville's passing, Anna Bissell assumed control, becoming America's first female corporate CEO and building the enterprise into a global household cleaning giant renowned for innovative floor care appliances.