WELLSVILLE, NY, September 18, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Amy Bennett has been recognized for achievement in manufacturing.

Amy Bennett has distinguished herself as a leader in product development, manufacturing operations and strategic development, bringing an uncommon combination of creative expertise, operational discipline and commercial leadership to the candle industry. Since 2020, she has served as chief operating officer of Northern Lights, where she helps guide the company's operations, product strategy and continued growth.

Northern Lights is part of the Zippo family of companies, and Bennett's leadership extends beyond the day-to-day operations of the business. As a member of the broader leadership organization, she contributes to Zippo's strategic planning, helping align Northern Lights' growth priorities, operational capabilities and market opportunities with the long-term objectives of its parent company. This involvement provides her with a broader perspective on organizational strategy while ensuring that Northern Lights plays an active role in the future direction of the overall enterprise.

In her role as COO, Bennett oversees a broad range of functions spanning product design and development, manufacturing operations, quality and compliance, supply chain and purchasing, sales and customer service, marketing and financial performance. Her responsibilities extend across both domestic and international operations, including factory visits, supplier relationships and manufacturing audits around the world. This broad perspective has enabled her to connect product innovation with the operational and commercial disciplines required to successfully bring products to market at scale.

During her tenure as chief operating officer, Bennett has achieved significant milestones that reflect both her professional acumen and personal values. She is particularly proud of successfully placing Northern Lights products in renowned retail outlets across the U.S. and welcoming Trapp Fragrances and Barber Street Candle Company to the Northern Lights portfolio of brands. These successes reflect a larger focus throughout her career: developing products and capabilities that create sustainable opportunities for the company and its customers.

Equally important to her is the strong leadership team she has built over the years. She considers building a strong leadership team to be equally important to the company's commercial achievements. Bennett takes particular pride in seeing directors and their teams develop professionally, take on greater responsibility and achieve milestones in their own lives. For Bennett, the success of an organization and the success of its people are closely connected.

Before entering the candle industry, Bennett worked as an independent ceramic artist, designing and producing vessels and other functional wares. She earned a master's degree in ceramic arts from Alfred University in Alfred, New York, in 2014. Her graduate education provided a deep foundation in materials, design, craftsmanship and production processes that would later influence her approach to product development and manufacturing.

From 2014 to 2020, Bennett helped develop products that supported Northern Lights' expansion into new customers and markets. Her ceramics background provided a distinctive perspective: she understood not only how an object should look and feel, but also how materials and manufacturing processes influence the finished product. As her responsibilities grew, she became increasingly involved in the challenge of taking concepts from small-scale development through mass production.

That progression ultimately led to her appointment as chief operating officer in 2020.

Today, Bennett draws on that product-development foundation to approach operations from both creative and commercial perspectives. Her expertise lies in connecting product development, manufacturing, supply chain and sales; understanding that successful innovation requires more than a strong idea. Products must also be manufacturable, scalable, cost-effective, compliant, deliverable and ultimately valuable to the customer.

In addition to her executive responsibilities, Bennett is actively engaged in industry-related organizations within her community. She serves as chair of the Wellsville Economic Development Board and is a board member of the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce. These roles allow her to contribute to local economic growth while fostering connections between businesses and residents.

Bennett also serves on the board of Jones Memorial Hospital and the Education Foundation at Alfred State College and volunteers at the Wellsville Creative Arts Center. These commitments reflect her belief that strong businesses, and strong communities are interconnected, and that leadership carries a responsibility to contribute beyond the walls of an organization.

Outside of her professional commitments, Bennett is devoted to her family life enjoying time with her husband and child. They enjoy making art and music, playing games, and traveling together.

Looking ahead, Bennett is focused on positioning Northern Lights for its next stage of growth. Her priorities include expanding distribution of Northern Lights, Trapp Fragrances, and Barber Street brands, building the company's direct-to-consumer and e-commerce businesses. She sees particular opportunity in developing branded products and channels that allow the company to combine product differentiation, customer experience and disciplined pricing with its manufacturing and product-development capabilities.

As retail, manufacturing and global supply chains continue to evolve, Bennett remains focused on identifying opportunities that can generate meaningful, sustainable returns while maintaining the quality and creativity at the heart of the company.

Amy Bennett's career, from ceramic artist to product developer to chief operating officer, reflects a consistent philosophy: understand how things are made, learn from and support the people who make them, and never stop looking for ways to make both the product and the organization better.

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