(Thompsonville, MI) July 2024 – Iron Fish Distillery is excited to announce the promotion of three key team members: Jeff Eddington to Chief Operating Officer, Katie Lynn to Sales Director of Michigan, and Kyle Behenna to Production Manager. Additionally, Iron Fish welcomes Taryn Woell as the new Director of Food, Beverage, and Retail Operations.
Jeff Eddington, previously the Manager of Production, has been promoted to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). This role will enhance operational leadership across the company’s retail, wholesale, and manufacturing operations. Jeff joined Iron Fish in 2021 and has brought invaluable experience from the brewing, hospitality, and consumer products warehousing sectors, significantly contributing to the distillery’s growth. As Iron Fish embarks on its next chapter of innovation and expansion, the company is excited to broaden Jeff’s responsibilities as COO. Throughout his career in the craft beverage industry, Jeff has demonstrated strong business leadership, consistently delivering measurable results and inspiring both customers and teams with his passion and collaborative approach.
Katie Lynn has been named Sales Director of Michigan, where she will lead sales efforts across the state. With an extensive background spanning over 15 years in the Food and Beverage sector, Katie’s professional journey including 7+ years of corporate sales experience, with a focus on the staffing industry, and most recently Iron Fish Sales Relations Manager she is well positioned to accelerate sales growth and enhance customer service and brand recognition across Michigan.
Kyle Behenna steps into the role of Production Manager, overseeing all facets of the distillery’s production processes. Kyle was brought on board early this year and brings energy, passion, a wealth of knowledge, and good humor to the team. Previously he led teams in the brewing, hospitality and retail sectors.
Taryn Woell will serve as the Director of Food, Beverage, and Retail Operations, bringing solid culinary and events expertise to enhance the distillery’s end destination customer experience. Her previous roles included managing conference services and events as well as directing food service and serving as a head chef in the hospitality sector.
These leadership advancements and new roles reflect Iron Fish Distillery’s commitment to recognizing and nurturing talent within the organization, positioning the company for continued success and growth in the competitive craft beverage market.
About Iron Fish Distillery
Established in 2016, Iron Fish Distillery stands as Michigan’s first farm distillery, cultivating grains, distilling spirits, and aiming to perfect the art of barrel-finishing sourced whiskey. This third party environmentally audited working farm and distillery attracts over 150, 000 guests annually to the agricultural destination, reborn on a long-abandoned 120-acre farm located in rural Springdale Township in Manistee County.
Named for the Steelhead that journeys up the nearby Betsie River, every step of the Iron Fish soil-to-spirit process occurs onsite. The process starts in farm fields where the distillery grows and harvests its own grain. Milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, and barrel aging is on full display for visitors. Iron Fish also carefully sources bourbon for finishing in barrels from around the world. To date, their library of aged spirits exceeds 2,500 barrels. Our award winning spirit portfolio includes accolades from the prestigious ASCOT and San Francisco Spirit Awards.
Iron Fish Distillery’s vision is to be a beloved legacy distillery leaving the land and community a better place than they found it.
