after working as a salesman for ten years, purtell co-founded the holo-krome screw corporation of west hartford in 1929 and served as its president, treasurer, and general manager until 1952. he also served as president, treasurer, and general manager (1937-1944) and later chairman (1944-1947) of the billings & spencer company of hartford. from 1938 to 1952, he served as vice-president, treasurer, and general manager of the sparmal engineering corporation. he was also director of the hartford red cross and one of the executive directors of the connecticut state prison.