By Kate Bartlett
Steelbound is proud to announce Navi Kang (pictured with his daughter) as their new Manager of Sales and Marketing. With an extensive background in hospitality and tourism, Navi brings both a strong knowledge base and passionate vision for the Steelbound brand’s future.
Having grown up in both the Dunkirk/Fredonia area and Canada, Navi’s diverse background has shaped his approach to hospitality. His journey led him to discover the quaint town of Ellicottville, along with Steelbound Brewery and Distillery. “I reached out to Bill Bursee and began assisting Steelbound with a few small projects last year,” says Navi. “I’m excited to be a part of the team and looking forward to promoting this great company.”
Navi’s entrepreneurial journey has shaped his approach to business development. “My tourism and hospitality background has helped us perfect the guest experience, but my entrepreneurial drive pushes us to keep innovating,” he explains. The results have been remarkable – Steelbound has consistently dominated at Buffalo’s National WingFest, collecting three awards in both previous years, and this year set a new record with four prestigious awards: First Place for Best Craft Brewery Wing, Second Place for Best Sriracha Wing with their Flying Goose Wing, Second Place for Best Creative Sweet Wing Sauce, and Third Place for Best Dry Rub.
While Steelbound has built its reputation on craft beers and award-winning wings, their spirits program has achieved exceptional recognition as well. Most notably, they earned the top prize for Best Cocktail at the American Distilling Institute Awards, one of the most prestigious accolades in the liquor industry. The company has also earned a Best in Class at the Los Angeles Invitational and a Double Gold for their Bourbon, demonstrating their commitment to excellence across all beverage categories.
location in Las Vegas this week, they are proving their concept resonates
across diverse markets.
Under Navi’s leadership, Steelbound is fostering innovative partnerships across various industries. “We believe in the power of community and creative collaboration,” Navi explains. “Our upcoming partnerships extend beyond the brewing industry to include local food producers, artists, event organizers, and other businesses. These collaborations aren’t just about creating new products – they’re about building stronger community connections and offering unique experiences to our customers.”
“I’ve learned that success comes from seeing opportunities others might miss,” Navi notes. “That’s exactly what we’re doing at Steelbound – while others focus solely on the saturated craft beer market, we’re strategically expanding our award-winning spirits program while maintaining our championship reputation for both beverages and wings.”
The brand’s expansion particularly energizes Navi. “We’re not just running restaurants – we’re building a hospitality brand that delivers exceptional experiences through our spirits, craft beers, and award-winning food. Having recently opened our Williamsville location and now launching our fourth location in Las Vegas this week, we’re proving that our concept resonates across diverse markets. This is just the beginning of what Steelbound can achieve.”
Looking toward 2025, Navi envisions continued growth and innovation. “What makes me most excited about Steelbound’s future is our ability to consistently raise the bar. Whether it’s our nationally recognized wings, craft beer selection, or our decorated spirits program, we’ve shown we can deliver excellence across every aspect of our business.
According to Navi, the Steelbound brand represents more than just great food and drinks – it’s about creating memorable experiences. “When you see how our customers respond to our championship wings, how they embrace our award-winning spirits alongside our craft beers, and how each location develops its own unique community connection – it’s clear we’ve built something that has tremendous potential. We’re looking forward to an incredible year in 2025.”