One of the most rewarding aspects of being a leader is the opportunity to give back to the communities that support our business. Jeff Lyons, Regional General Manager at Columbia Distributing, serving Oregon and Washington, knows this well. Lyons has been with Columbia Distributing for 39 years and currently oversees operations at the Springfield and Medford branches. Here, Lyons discusses our recent partnership with Pabst Brewing to serve universally beloved members of the community – our pets.
Bringing Smiles and Wagging Tails Throughout Springfield
Columbia Distributing proudly serves beverage retailers, restaurants, bars, and other venues where alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic products are sold. Out of the Springfield and Medford branches alone, Columbia Distributing serves 1,800 customers and about 850 customers, respectively. To say Columbia Distributing can have an impact on these communities is an understatement.
Recently, Columbia Distributing partnered with Pabst Brewing to hold a fundraiser for two local humane societies – Wiggly Tails Dog Rescue and SafeHaven.
With so many opportunities to give back, why these humane societies? Lyons provides insight: “They are local to our Springfield branch, and with the company and employee passion for these organizations, the opportunity aligned with our values.”
The Columbia Distributing team proved how much these humane societies meant to it by the success of the fundraiser.
“Through the sales generated at participating on-premise accounts, Columbia and Pabst donated a portion to these wonderful organizations,” Lyons explains. “We also hosted dog adoption events during the two-month promotions accounts.”
Columbia Distributing has many options for partners but was inspired by Pabst Brewing’s national program, Pabst for Pets. “We modified the program to make it effective locally,” Lyon says.
A Complete Beverage Distributor
It’s not just a commitment to enriching the lives of people (and pets!) in the communities we serve that makes Columbia Distributing stand out. As a total beverage distributor, the company is distinct from other distributors within the industry.
As Lyons indicates, “Our diversity of portfolio, being that we’re truly a total beverage distributor with wine, spirits, beer, and non-alcoholic products, allows us to stand out.”
It is this component of Columbia Distributing that keeps the job fresh and exciting for Lyons, bringing new challenges each day. Being a complete beverage distributor requires advanced business strategies, which Lyons points out.
He states, “As a company, we have the best-in-class logistics, covering the entire northwest of Oregon and Washington. Additionally, our people are best-in-class, and that’s what really drives us day in and day out.”
Choose Columbia Distributing as Your Community Partner
Motivated by core values, Columbia Distributing continually seeks to give back to communities in Oregon and Washington. Discover stories about past events in our blog. You can also contact us to learn more about our focus areas for philanthropy or complete the charity partner application today.