Dive Summary:

• Beam Inc., the top bourbon producer behind the brands Jim Beam and Maker's Mark, opened its Global Business Services Center on Monday in the Fourth Street Live! entertainment district of Louisville, Ky.
• The company is starting the facility—which it spent $1.7 million to retrofit—with a corporate staff of 30 employees in roles ranging from finance to human resources, but the company plans to double that number in the next 18 months.
• Other Beam operations in bourbon's home state have long been focused primarily on distilling, aging and bottling, though the company opened its Global Innovation Center last fall in Clermont, Ky., just south of Louisville.

From the article:

... "I couldn't be more proud that Beam has decided to grow its presence right here in Kentucky," said Jim Beam master distiller Fred Noe, a descendant of Jacob Beam.

Noe added that the Beam name has "come a pretty far ways" since his pioneer forefather started making whiskey in Kentucky. ...