Richard Anderson is co-founder and COO of the family-owned Iron Fish Distillery, established in 2016 on an abandoned rural farm. He also serves on Michigan’s Craft Beverage Council, an industry advisory group setting the ag-research and marketing agenda. Bringing diverse leadership and innovation skills to his role at Iron Fish, Anderson previously had a career as a consultant on strategy, community change, and technology commercialization for companies, communities, and national foundations. He co-founded Innovation Network for Communities, where he continues to serve on its board, and founded and led Northern Initiatives, a community development financial institution in rural northern Michigan. In 2018, Iron Fish was named one of Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch.
Previously
Rural communities dotting America’s middle may lack the economic luster that characterize Silicon Valley and the DC Beltway, but innovation and entrepreneurial zeal are more t...