Growing up in Byron, Illinois, Mark Cotter didn’t dream of building a spirits empire. He dreamed of getting better at football, showing up for his teammates, and figuring out what came next. Now, more than two decades later, he’s a husband, a father of three, and a co-founder of Grey Duck Spirits, one of the fastest-growing vodka and bourbon brands in the Midwest—built on grit, timing, and a whole lot of relationships.

After graduating from Byron in 2000, Mark headed to Winona State University, finishing his degree in 2004 and moving to the Twin Cities. For the next 15 years, he worked in insurance, running his own agency under Country Financial. It was reliable, steady work. But in the background, something else was brewing—literally.

The idea for Grey Duck Vodka came in 2017, sparked by a viral moment in an NFL end zone. Kyle Rudolph, tight end for the Minnesota Vikings, scored a touchdown against the Bears and celebrated with a game of “Duck, Duck, Goose”—or so he thought. Minnesotans corrected him quickly: it’s “Duck, Duck, Grey Duck” up north.

That quirky cultural note struck a chord with Mark and his business partner, who also worked at Country Financial. “If there’s a Grey Goose, why not a Grey Duck?” the partner asked. The idea stuck. And with help from another Byron alum—Sean Considine, former NFL safety and Super Bowl champion—Mark connected with Vikings legend Chad Greenway, who became both partner and brand ambassador.

In 2018, Grey Duck Spirits was born.

Mark spent three years juggling both businesses—insurance by day, vodka by night—before shifting full-time into the spirits world. Since then, Grey Duck has expanded beyond vodka into bourbon and seltzers, partnered with the University of Minnesota’s NIL program, and donated more than $600,000 to causes across the Twin Cities, including Masonic and Gillette Children’s Hospitals.

“It’s always been about giving back,” he says. “We’re not just selling a drink—we’re building something people can rally around.”

Even with the celebrity connections, the brand's success is built on something much more foundational: relationships. “Business is business,” Mark says, “but it’s always people-first. That’s what we learned growing up in a small town like Byron.”

His upbringing shows in the way he talks about his coaches—Coach Steines, Coach Baker, Coach Hartman, Coach Spalding—men who taught him about work ethic, adversity, and accountability. “Sports were huge for me,” he says. “You learn to win, lose, and lead. All of that translated into business.”

Now based in Prior Lake, Minnesota, Mark and his wife are raising three daughters—ages 11, 9, and 6—in a very different environment from the one he grew up in. Byron had about 600 students in the district when he graduated; his current district has 3,500.

“There are advantages to both,” he says. “But there’s nothing like growing up in a small town where everyone knows your name—and wants to help.”

When asked what advice he’d offer to Byron’s Class of 2025, he promised to text a quote, wanting to get it just right. But you get the sense he already lives by the advice he’d offer:

Bet on your people. Back it up with hustle. And remember where you came from.