As the CEO of Indiana Beverage and a notable contributor to the Northwest Indiana community, Jon Leetz carries a strong family legacy and an undying love for humanity, and he believes that giving back to the people is a blessing.
Leetz is the third generation of his family to serve in this capacity. His predecessors, Harlin Leetz, Bruce Leetz, and other family members have been doing business in Valparaiso since 1859. Indiana Beverage provides 1,600 brands of beer all throughout Northern Indiana and represents 92 breweries throughout the state. The company distributes beer from 24 different U.S. states and 27 different counties, including Ireland, Amsterdam, and Mexico.
“The special thing about Indiana Beverage is that it’s all about the people and culture,” Leetz said. “The leadership team and I work to build a people-centric environment and forge strong relationships with others who care and give back to the people of Northern Indiana. We sell one of life’s simple pleasures, so my job is to support the hundreds of employees and nurture the company’s culture.”
Leetz further commented that giving back to the community is part of Indiana Beverage’s mission statement, a recent example being the St. Jude children’s hospital fundraiser where the company raised over a million dollars. He stated that the company’s desire to support the community stems from his family’s own deep roots in Valparaiso.
“I’m so proud of the work the employees do to pay it forward,” Leetz said. “This country has been a great place to live in and do business, so both Indiana Beverage and I feel obligated to support the community that supports us.”
Leetz himself embodies the mission of Indiana Beverage. He has made it an obligation to give back to the community and has been involved with non-profit organizations and his church.
“Working in service of the community made me realize how blessed I am to be associated with such great people,” Leetz said. “My life is a very social one, and by interacting with so many people, I have heard countless stories about humanity and its drive to do good. We need to keep learning and bettering ourselves.”
“I’ve always believed that your ultimate legacy is your family and children,” Leetz said. “I grew up with a strong passion for serving the community, so I’m raising my children with the same core values so that they can carry on the tradition of working hard and paying it forward.”
Leetz is a proud father of four, and when he is not working, he is spending time with his family.