When Tristan White talks about beer, you can hear the pride in his voice. But when he talks about leadership, growth, and investing in people, you realize that his passion for brewing is matched only by his commitment to becoming the best leader possible.
As the Founder, Owner, and Manager of Dragoon Brewing Company in Tucson, Arizona, Tristan wears many hats—coordinating sales, distribution, and taproom operations, while still carrying the stories and lessons from the company’s earliest days. Dragoon began in 2011 with a simple but powerful belief: when you share a creative endeavor, you can’t help but share a part of yourself. For Dragoon, that endeavor is beer—crafted with passion, integrity, and uncompromising quality.
Over the years, Dragoon has grown from a small team of three to a family of more than 20, producing about 30 different beers a year while keeping 11 on tap at any time. Yet, despite this growth, Tristan found himself in 2021 feeling like he was “just treading water” in his role. That’s when fellow business leader and Tucson Vistage Chair Steve Weaver introduced him to Vistage.
Vistage: Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
Tristan was intrigued by Vistage’s unique format—only one member from each industry, ensuring a space free of direct competition. After attending a trial meeting and lunch, he knew it was the right fit. “It resonated with me,” he recalls. “I can be disorganized and always running late. Having the regular cadence of Vistage helped me grow both personally and professionally.”
The experience, he says, was intense and transformative. Meetings were structured to tackle big issues head-on, and the relationships built within the group left a deep mark. “It wasn’t just professional—it affected me on a personal level,” Tristan says.
“It’s good for me to step out of my comfort zone. I’d come home from meetings exhausted, but we’d have worked through really tough problems in a meaningful way.”
Executive Coaching And
The Blueprint Process
With Vistage opening new perspectives, Tristan and his co-owners turned to 3 Pillars Performance Group for executive coaching—particularly to support their management team. Of their five-person leadership team, only one had prior management experience.
Through coaching and the Blueprint process, they’ve introduced key performance indicators, accountability systems, and improved communication with staff. “We’ve already seen improvements,” Tristan notes. “We have a lot of room to grow, but we’ve only gotten better.”
For Tristan, coaching isn’t just about business tactics—it’s about becoming a better teammate and leader.
“The best coaches teach you how to be the best version of yourself,” he says. “At the end of the day, no matter what industry you’re in, you’re dealing with people—employees, customers, vendors. Coaching helps you interact in a way that brings out the best in yourself and others.”
Leading With A Lifelong Learner’s Mindset
Tristan describes himself as a lifelong learner, always open to hearing new ideas and perspectives. “If you’re not growing, you’re losing,” he says. “I’ll always listen to someone who has a different idea about how we do things. It leads to questions and good ideas.”
That openness—to feedback, to learning, to personal growth—has become as much a part of Dragoon Brewing’s culture as its beer recipes. It’s what drives Tristan and his team to continually refine their leadership skills and their craft.
And just like the perfect pint, it’s a process of patience, care, and constant improvement.
