Ryan Teach and Dan Johnston tapped for expanded roles in support of better fishing experiences
St. Croix Rod, handcrafters of the Best Rods on Earth® for over 75 years and parent company to the SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and Rod Geeks brands, announces the promotions of Ryan Teach and Dan Johnston. Teach, formerly Product Manager and Brand Manager, is appointed to the newly created position of Vice President of Innovation. Former National Sales Manager Dan Johnston has been appointed Director of Sales.
“St. Croix has always been and will always be an angler-focused company,” says St. Croix CEO, Scott Forristall. “We have grown significantly over the past five years, but that growth hasn’t come from any simple desire to become larger. It’s been a deliberate response to the needs of anglers, fueled by our unique ability and desire to provide new and better products that help them enjoy fishing even more. That takes imagination and innovation, but it also requires experienced leadership. Ryan and Dan have proven their ability to spearhead the desired growth of our brands through creative execution and by always putting anglers at the forefront of our decision making.”
As a new member of St. Croix’s Executive Leadership Team, Teach will lead the product-development activities of all St. Croix brands.
“I’m grateful to the Executive Team for entrusting this role to me, but I’m most excited about what actually having a newly created Vice President of Innovation means to our anglers,” Teach says. “It’s an outward show of our continued commitment to support anglers with new products that deliver better fishing experiences on all fronts. Our Product, Engineering, Operations, Marketing, and Sales Teams are completely aligned in this commitment, and everything we’ve done during my tenure with St. Croix has been for that purpose.”
Whether it’s been TRIGON, SCIII+, SCIV+, the GRASP 2 angler-adaptive reel seat, agglomerated cork, re-entering the premium fly-rod market, starting an all-new reel company from the ground up, or doubling down on its commitment to provide the best angler service and warranty in the business, St. Croix continues to lead by listening to anglers and developing programs and products that increase their satisfaction in one way or another. “It’s why each of us comes to work here every day,” says Teach. “And despite all the innovation anglers and dealers have witnessed from St. Croix over the past couple of years, our ceiling remains high. The freshwater and saltwater products we’ll release in the coming year will bring all-new levels of performance and satisfaction to anglers.”
A 25-year veteran of St. Croix’s Sales Team, Johnston will serve an expanded role in his promotion to Director of Sales for the company’s St. Croix and SEVIIN brands. A self-described brand warrior, Johnston says his passions for fishing and for St. Croix are only exceeded by his desire to build and support the partnerships that breed success and growth in fishing at all levels.
“I’ve committed the great majority of my career to St. Croix because of my love affair with the brand and its people,” says Johnston. “St. Croix’s values align with my own, and because of that, this has never felt like work. I’m surrounded every day by an incredible team, which includes everyone from our passionate and skilled employees to our anglers to our hardworking reps and dealer partners. It really is a family here, and we work, learn, and grow together.”
Despite the new title and some additional responsibilities, Johnston says his overarching role remains constant. “I’ll be doing what I’ve always done; working creatively day in and day out to help our dealers and our anglers succeed,” he says. “The fishing industry is changing, and part of my job is helping our partners navigate those changes. But fishing – at its core – remains the same; it will always be about fun and the other unique rewards it delivers to each angler. That can never be overlooked or forgotten. But from an angler’s perspective, it’s becoming difficult to know if a brand they used and trusted yesterday is the same company that’s worthy of their trust and business today. It’s our job at St. Croix – every day – to prove that we are.”
“Working with the rest of our team, Ryan and Dan have consistently developed and delivered the kinds of meaningful innovation and leadership that create better fishing experiences for growing numbers of anglers,” states Forristall. “The St. Croix Executive Team is excited to move Dan and Ryan into these expanded roles where their creativity, work ethics, and fishing knowledge will accelerate and expand our mission and promise to give anglers the upper hand on the water.”
About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly producing the “Best Rods on Earth” for over 75 years. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing processes with skilled craftsmanship, St. Croix is the only major producer to still build rods entirely from design through manufacturing. The company remains family-owned and operates duplicate manufacturing facilities in Park Falls and Fresnillo, Mexico. With popular trademarked series such as Legend®, Legend Xtreme®, Avid®, Premier®, Imperial®, Triumph® and Mojo, St. Croix is revered by all types of anglers from around the world.
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