PARK FALLS, Wis. – St. Croix, parent company to St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, Rod Geeks, and the St. Croix Factory Store, has announced the promotion of Ryan Teach to Vice President of Product and Marketing.
Before starting his career, Teach earned undergraduate degrees in business management and product marketing, as well as a Master's degree in organizational development. He turned a passion for fishing into what is now an eight-year career by literally knocking on St. Croix's front door in 2018. "I decided to follow my passion in the fishing industry and St. Croix was simply the only company I wanted to work for," Teach recalls. "They saw my passion for fishing, for new product development, and for their brand, and offered me a job managing the St. Croix Factory Store."
Not long thereafter, Teach was offered opportunities to apply his knowledge and prove his abilities in new product development. He was promoted to Product Manager in January of 2020, and Brand Manager for St. Croix Rod in 2023. In November of 2024, Ryan was promoted to St. Croix's Executive Team as Vice President of Innovation for the full St. Croix Family of Brands.
Today, Teach begins his tenure in an entirely new position at St. Croix's Park Falls headquarters.
"Our new position of Vice President of Product and Marketing recognizes the synergy between the St. Croix brands' angler-driven product-development and marketing functions, as well as Ryan's proven ability to innovate and lead," says St. Croix CEO, Scott Foristall. "We've always been an angler-driven company, and that's a mindset that Ryan has brought into the office every day since he started working here almost nine years ago. He has the diverse background, experience, and unique skill set necessary for success in this new position, but he's also demonstrated that he has a special rapport with almost everybody he comes in contact with – from our anglers and retail partners to our internal staff. The Executive Team and I have the highest confidence in Ryan's ability to continue to do and amplify what he's done since he joined the company, and that's to lead and innovate on behalf of anglers, which has the direct result of growing our premium brands."
"I'm grateful to have had many mentors throughout my career – both here at St. Croix and within the greater fishing and marine industries. These are important people to me who have taken time to respond to questions, inspire creativity, or offer encouragement. I'm also grateful to members of the Marketing and Product Development Teams, as well as the Executive Team for entrusting me with this exciting new role," Teach says. "Our Product, Engineering, Operations, Marketing, and Sales Teams are completely aligned in our continued commitment to support anglers by innovating, designing, and bringing new products to market that deliver better fishing experiences on all fronts. After leading product development, it's especially gratifying to have earned the opportunity to lead the strategy and discussion on how we'll communicate the benefits of these new products to anglers."
In addition to current SEVIIN Reels new-product launches like VELTRIX, LUNEX, and NAUTREX, Teach points to the reimagined St. Croix TIDEMASTER Series for model-year 2027 as a significant example.
"We developed the new TIDEMASTER series in collaboration with our dealers, regional sales reps, and some of the most-respected anglers in each of TIDEMASTER's five distinct regions," Teach says. "We also built it on a brand-new SCIIIG material that's over twice as strong as our incredibly successful SCIII material, with no increase in weight. It's the latest example of how we strive to put anglers first by building premium rods that improve their fishing experiences with real, new, angler benefits; in this case, on a regional, geographically specific basis that encompasses techniques, species, and angler preferences. My new position combining product development and marketing oversight helps ensure continuity so that, ultimately, anglers clearly understand those benefits. And there will continue to be a lot of them. I couldn't be more excited about what's in store for anglers from the St. Croix Family of Brands moving forward."
Teach began his new duties as Vice President of Product and Marketing on September 21.
About St. Croix Rod
Headquartered in Park Falls, Wisconsin, St. Croix has been proudly producing the "Best Rods on Earth" for nearly 80 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, owning and operating two of the world's most-advanced rod-building manufacturing facilities in Park Falls, Wisconsin, USA 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. The St. Croix Family of Brands includes St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, Rod Geeks, and The St. Croix Factory Store.