Members of the Liquor
Control Board Commission
include, from left front row,
Stephanie O'Brien, Chair;
Wesley Lawrence, new
Board Counsel; Melissa
Mazza, Board Member; John
Cassarino, Board Member;
Tom Gallagher, Board
Member; and back row, John
Spardella, Board Member;
Ron Schmucker, retiring
Board Counsel; and Michael
Hogan, Commissioner.
Meet the Vermont Liquor
Control Board Members
O
ne of the most unique aspects of the Vermont Department of Liquor Control (VLDC) is the
diverse group of citizens that make up the members of the Liquor Control Board of
Commission. According to Michael Hogan, Commissioner of the VLDC, the fact that the board
members come from many different professional backgrounds, represent a wide variety of ages, and hail
from different areas of the state all contribute to a well-rounded board which accurately represents the
people of Vermont.
Here's a breakdown of the current board members and a bit about each of them:
Stephanie M. O'Brien
Member since September 2007,
Chairperson since February 2011.
From South Burlington, O'Brien has a background
in real estate. Her father was Chairman of the
Vermont Liquor Control Board of Commission for
25 years.
John P. Cassarino
Member since February 2007.
The former Mayor of Rutland, Cassarino is currently an alderman in the same town. He founded a
soup kitchen in his community back in 1965, where
he occasionally still serves as cook.
Melissa D. Mazza
Member since June 2012.
A resident of Essex Junction, Mazza is a bookkeep10
er who grew up in her father's retail beverage business. Her father, State Senator Richard Mazza, is a
longtime liquor agent from Colchester.
Thomas Gallagher
Member since July 2012.
President and CEO of the Peoples Trust Company,
a Vermont community bank, Gallagher lives in St.
Albans. He comes from a family of dairy farmers
and has served on various community and banking
industry boards.
Julian Sbardella
Member since July 2012.
Sbardella recently retired from Southern Wine and
Spirits of New England. A Fair Haven resident, he
spent many years working in the spirits industry,
including a stint as a licensee in the state of New York.
StateWays I www.stateways.com I July/August 2013
