Katie Welter
Katie Welter is the Director of Sales and Marketing for her family’s beverage distribution companies, Beerco and City Beverage, businesses that have been serving Northwest Ohio since 1948. Based in Tiffin, Ohio, Katie is part of the next generation of leadership guiding the family-owned company into the future. The company distributes major beverage brands including Anheuser-Busch, Constellation Brands, and Yuengling while adapting to changing consumer preferences, including the growth of non-alcoholic beverages and ready-to-drink cocktails. Katie is passionate about maintaining the strong relationships her company has built with customers, suppliers, and the local community over decades of operation.
Katie’s career in beverage distribution has been shaped by both family tradition and hands-on industry experience. Before stepping into leadership at Beerco and City Beverage, she worked for Anheuser-Busch InBev in several sales and management roles across Missouri, Oklahoma, and Alabama. These positions gave her valuable insight into wholesaler-supplier partnerships, sales strategy, brand management, and leadership development. Since returning to the family business, Katie has helped oversee sales execution, marketing, employee onboarding, customer communication, and supplier relations. She is known for her upbeat leadership style, strong customer service skills, and belief in fostering employee morale, diversity, inclusion, and mental health awareness in the workplace.
Katie earned her degree in Entrepreneurship and New Business Venturing from the Miami University Farmer School of Business in 2014. During her time at Miami University, she studied abroad in Europe, participated in business and entrepreneurship programs, and was active in campus organizations. Beyond her professional role, Katie is deeply involved in community service and philanthropy. She supports organizations such as United Way, First Step, local churches, and the Alzheimer's Association. For Katie, giving back is an essential part of both her personal values and her family business legacy, a tradition she is committed to carrying forward for future generations.
• Business - Farmer School of Business
• Miami University of Ohio
• Entrepreneurship and New Business Venturing
• Miami University Farmer School of Business- B.S.
• John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship- B.A.Sc.
• United Way
• Alliance For Women In Beer
• Leadership Council
• NBWA Next Gen
• Distributors Against Human Trafficking
• National Beer & Beverage Wholesalers' Association
• Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio
• Seneca County Young Professionals
• Building Relationships and Empowering Women
• Center for Creativity and Innovation
• First Step (Domestic Violence Organization)
• United Way
• Local Churches
• Community Nonprofits and Charities
• Alzheimer's Association®
• Tiffin Women In Action
• Daniel G. Klepper Scholarship Advisory Board
• The Ritz Cinema & Theatre
• Calvert Catholic Schools
• Hope’s Landing
• M. Klepper Donor Advised Fund
• Beautify McCutchenville
• SCYP Downtown Pizza Party
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, determination, strong relationship building, excellent customer service skills, and staying goal-oriented, while always keeping my family, children, and love of the outdoors at the center of what matters most.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to never quit, keep pushing forward, manage your time well, be a good listener, and never be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get the job done.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to be confident, keep your head high, and wake up every day ready to attack the day with determination and purpose.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Currently, we're facing the decline in alcohol consumption, which I always like to see as it promotes responsible drinking. But conversely, we're also seeing this huge explosion in non-alcoholic beers and in ready-to-drink or canned cocktails. So while we're looking at this overall decline in alcohol consumption, we're also seeing this huge upswing in a different kind of segment, which we're not used to seeing - the canned cocktail. Additionally, we're looking at some of our suppliers not performing well versus other suppliers who are having a really great year. We've introduced a couple new suppliers, we've had to drop a couple suppliers, so it's always looking at acquisitions and partnerships, which is always difficult. Legislatively, we're always working with our state representatives and senators to communicate to them the things that are important to us, and that's always an ongoing process.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important thing to me is maintaining relationships - we have amazing relationships with our customers and suppliers. Being important in the community is also crucial. We give back to the community through nonprofits, charities, donations, and volunteering. We're very involved in the community. That philanthropic mindset is something my dad and grandfather were so passionate about, and I learned that growing up as his daughter. Now, stepping into his position, I see how important it is, and it's become something very important to me. That's something we will always carry on. In my personal life, being a mom is my favorite thing in the whole world. I come home from work, and all of that sheds off, and I just play with my kiddos. I also love going to church. I'm Catholic, so I love exploring more of my faith, and spending time at church, praying, reading the Bible, listening to the Hallow app.