Stateways

able to help customers with their product questions and plans afoot for more employee education. The 2010 election ended 136 years of Democratic control of the state legislature in Alabama. The Republicans now hold a super-majority. "And most Republicans believe in less government," Gipson noted. But while there may be more interest in privatization than usual, "no one's come up with a plan to replace that $200 million's worth of funding the ABC generates for the state," he said. Gipson and Thigpen, both former legislators themselves, realize the importance of educating legislators about the ABC. "We are virtually unknown. From a legislator's perspective, money flows from its spending authority. Legislators don't really see what the board does and where the money comes from," said Gipson. "Some may be conceptually against control, but the devil's in the details." Under Gipson and Thigpen, the ABC has been distributing monthly reports about its financials to state legislators and inviting them to tour the ABC's facilities. "A lot of the 'zings' we hear from legislators are basically from ignorance," said Gipson. David Latham, the ABC's director of information technology (IT), who has been with the agency since 2005, agreed. "There's so much misinformation out there. The public doesn't know what we do. We are more than liquor sellers," he said. Enforcement T he law enforcement division of the ABC is in the happy position of being a highly desirable place to work. Though the state government is currently under a hiring freeze, when ABC Law Enforcement does list openings, it can receive hundreds of applications. And though there are requirements to "get in the door," such "W Standing in front of one the ABC's state stores is Debra Seagraves Moore, Assistant Stores Director, Southern Division; Tommy Cannon, Supervisor, District 5; and Debra Larison, Stores Director. as having at least two years' of law enforcement experience elsewhere, in reality, the ABC receives applications from officers with far more experience than that. "People want this job," said Jeff Rogers, chief of ABC law enforcement. "It's investigation-based, not callbased. You are not sitting in a patrol car, waiting for a call. It's a fun job. You get to do everything. Today, you might meet with business people but, at the same time, you are still in law enforcement." e talk wherever we're invit- illegal drugs. Reese, a police super- don't like to see it," said Rogers. "It's ed," said Jeff Rogers, chief of visor who retired from the ABC, was graphic because kids need to see to the Alabama ABC's law enforce- rehired to continue to bring his really identify." Audiences see ment division. "I've talked to MADD program, called "Save Teens," to things, such as video, taken with and to SADD, to high schools and to schools and other groups through- someone's smart phone, of a teen colleges. I've talked to seven peo- out the state. passed out at a party, watch the ple and to 700 people. At a junior As an officer, Reese has met other kids laugh at him, step over high, it might be about the evils of many families whose children have him, even draw on his face – and cigarettes and at a college, binge died as a result of substance abuse. then hear that the boy died. drinking." With the help of these families, he And the ABC has one agent, Lieutenant Mike Reese, whose sole job is to speak to teens about the dangers of underage drinking and 16 "Mike knew a lot of these kids; created his presentation, which lasts he knows a lot of these parents. He's about an hour and a half. very passionate and has reached Audience members end up crying. "I've only seen it twice, and I tens of thousands of kids," said Rogers. "We're very proud of him." StateWays I www.stateways.com I January/February 2013

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• From the Editor
• Dateline
• Brand Spotlight
• Profile: Alabama ABC Board
• Irish Spirits
• Moscato Madness
• Canadian Whisky
• Products & Packaging
• Ad Index