EDITOR’S NOTE StateWays
Getting the Message Across
M
essaging is paramount in business and politics, two arenas control state personnel are intimately familiar with. It’s no coincidence that this year and last year’s NABCA Conference themes deal with choosing words and actions to articulate
the right message.
Last year outgoing NABCA Chairman Dan Gwadosky of Maine chose “Collaboration Through Communication” as his theme, urging states to commit to improve technology usage and customer service. Incoming NABCA Chairman Patrick J. Stapleton III of Pennsylvania chose “Acknowledging the Benefits of Control” as the theme for the 74th Annual NABCA Conference (see “An Explanation of Benefits” on page 10). During difficult economic times, the control states weathered the storm by learning from
each other, keeping an open dialogue with customers and working to make internal systems more efficient and user-friendly. Now, states must continue that focus while also turning their attention to decision-makers who, in many cases, are proposing changes to the control systems in their jurisdictions. It’s not enough in today’s political climate to run an efficient operation; control state agencies must actively promote their advantages over a privatized system.
Emphasizing responsibility is one counter-argument against privatization, and the
industry is doing its part to help states on that front. The NABCA’s Industry Steering Committee members are working to ensure control states and industry leaders work together to face the most important issues facing the beverage alcohol industry. Once again, the committee members participated in a virtual roundtable (page 20) where they shared insights into their control state operations and how they’ve collaborated with control states by communicating over the last year.
This issue debuts at the annual NABCA Conference, which will provide beverage alcohol industry members with the information they need to modernize infrastructure and technology, grow and satisfy their customer base, and continue to emphasize the benefits of control. Together, the industry can proudly shed light on its accomplishments and continue to succeed and thrive under the control system.
Vice President, Circulation and Collateral Services
Joanne Juda-Prainito
Research Director Eric Schmidt
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Executive Vice President and Group Publisher Charles Forman Tel: 845-426-6072 Fax: 845-426-6423 email: cforman@m2media360.com
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M2MEDIA360 President/CEO Marion Minor Vice President, Finance & Operations Gerald Winkel
is published by Jeremy Nedelka, Managing Editor
The Beverage Information Group, a division of M2MEDIA360 Editorial and executive offices are at 17 High St., 2nd Fl., Norwalk, CT 06851 Telephone: (203) 855-8499 Fax: (203) 855-9446 e-mail:
jnedelka@m2media360.com 6 StateWays www.stateways.com May/June 2011
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ays