StateWays Q www.stateways.com Q July/August 2014 26
He pointed out that "the pressure to modernize
is felt by every organization, be they governmental or
private. Our job is to remember our dual mission…and
to modernize not just one area of responsibility, but both.
We hope that our business partners will also partner with
us in our social responsibility and regulatory efforts as
we believe the abuse of alcohol is our collective problem.
The reduction of harmful and abusive use of alcohol is
benefi cial to us all."
This year, the conference kicked off in the evening
with an open-air dinner and the opening of supplier lanais,
giving attendees ample opportunity to begin networking
with colleagues and business partners. The next morning,
NABCA Chairman Anderson negan the conference by
noting that businesses and governments are constantly
adapting to new technologies that have disrupted older
technologies. In the same way, he said, control states have
been adapting to evolving circumstances, particularly in
their dual responsibilities of "protecting and serving." In
that light, he introduced the General Session I keynote
speaker, Robert Mueller, who led the FBI for 12 years
until he stepped down in 2013. His job, Anderson said,
was also to "protect and serve," though in a different
context, and his years there refl ected a transformation to
"an intelligence-driven organization."
In his presentation, titled, "National Security and
Counter Terrorism," Mueller noted that he'd been
appointed the week before September 11, 2001, which
obviously changed everything. "The FBI had always
been in the business of investigating after an incident had
occurred; now it was put in the business of anticipating
and preventing terrorist attacks. Previously, it had been
a reactive organization; now it had to be a proactive,
anticipatory organization."
Tony Foglio, Chairman of Anchor Brewers and
Distillers, also spoke in Business Session I, where
he explained how the explosion of craft distillers
is affecting the overall spirits marketplace.
In General Session II, artist
Eric Wahl wowed attendees
with his creative presentation,
titled, "The Art of Vision."
"A Global Perspective" on alcohol policies was the subject of Busi-
ness Session II. The panelists included, from left, Mark Brown, Presi-
dent and CEO of Sazerac; Jan Westcott, President of the Association
of Canadian Distillers: moderator Jeff Anderson, NABCA Chairman;
Marcus Grant, President/CEO of International Center for Alcohol
Policy; and Ivar Arndal, President of the State Alcohol & Tobacco
Company of Iceland.
From Beam Suntory were Rachel Roberts, general
sales manger, control states, and Julious Grant,
VP, general sales manager, American Region/
Canada/Mexico.
