At Heaven Hill, leadership is more than a title: It’s a responsibility to our people, our culture, and the company’s rich 90-year legacy. That belief inspired Leadership Distilled, a new, on-going internal development program crafted to cultivate confident, people-first leaders who empower others and embody what it means to thrive together.

On Friday, July 25, 2025, the first Leadership Distilled class graduated after completing a three-month journey grounded in growth, collaboration, and accountability. Through three sessions, participants explored the essential dimensions of effective leadership.

Congratulations to Our July 2025 Leadership Distilled Graduates: Brooke Ruedel​, Matthew Fenwick, Dakota Jackson, Fred Releford​, Trevor Mattingly​, Stewart Snellen​, Timothy Montgomery, Chance Perrenot, Brian Edelen, Eileen Kristensen, Josh Downing, Chris Morris, Mike Hanson, Cody Nally, Lannon Powell, Logan King, Sydney Jones, Charles McClain, Casey Butler.

“As part of our Raise the Bar strategy, this is a great example of a way that we are investing to Grow our People,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Tony Georges. “Leadership Distilled gives us a platform to put our values into action—developing talent with intention, strengthening connections across teams, and preparing our leaders of today and tomorrow to ensure that Heaven Hill continues thriving together.”

The program begins with Know Yourself, a session that focuses on emotional intelligence and leadership style discovery through the DiSC assessment. Through open conversation and reflective exercises, participants build trust and identify real-time leadership challenges they face in their day-to-day roles.

The next sessions, Leading Others and Growing Others, invite participants to deepen their skills by pivoting focus to working with others. In session two, participants engage with nature at Bernheim Forest, confronting complex workplace scenarios and navigating challenges such as building trust and having tough conversations. Session three equips participants with one of the most important tools: practice. Partnering with Tri-County United Way, Leadership Distilled participants lead coaching conversations with local nonprofit organizations to address real issues.

Throughout the program, cohort members learn from one another and connect with experienced Heaven Hill executives who offered reflections from their own leadership journeys.

“Through Leadership Distilled, we are sharing tools and experiences and getting together to solve challenges, and what we are really doing is building our leadership legacy,” said Eileen Kristenson.

Since 1935, Heaven Hill has grown on relationships built with intention and care—and Leadership Distilled continues that legacy. Through candid conversations, shared challenges, and meaningful collaboration, participants forge bonds that will last far beyond the program. As a peer community, they continue to support each other’s growth, share their progress, and amplify their impact—enabling Heaven Hill’s people, partners, communities and brands to thrive together for generations to come.