The main goal of this paper is to explain the link between the algebraic and the Kripke-style models for certain classes of propositional logics. We start by presenting a Priestley-type duality for distributive lattices endowed with a general class of well-behaved operators. We then show that finitely-generated varieties of distributive lattices with operators are closed under canonical embedding algebras. The results are used in the second part of the paper to construct topological and non-topological Kripke-style models for logics that are (...) sound and complete with respect to varieties of distributive lattices with operators in the above-mentioned classes. (shrink)