Stephanie O'Brien Voted Incoming Chair-Elect To NABCA Board

Jan. 28, 2015 - PRLog -- Stephanie O’Brien, chair of the Vermont Department of Liquor Control (VDLC), was voted chair-elect to the NABCA Board of Directors. She will assume responsibilities of this position in May 2015, when current chair-elect Steve Larson, administrator, Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, becomes chairman. Ms. O’Brien joined the NABCA board in Sept., 2011 and among other responsibilities has chaired the Education, Governance, Public Affairs, and Public Health Advisory committees for the association

Governor James Douglas appointed her, the first female member, to the State of Vermont’s Liquor Control Board in 2007. In 2011, Governor Peter Shumlin appointed her chairman; a position for which she is also the first female to hold. Ms. O’Brien has been a driving force to professionalize the Vermont board, and was instrumental in the Department’s move to simplify its markup process. She also was involved with the branding and launch of 802Spirits.com.

She has worked to accomplish the ability to allow tasting events for the consumer at Vermont agency stores and on- premise licensee professionals.  She expanded the listing committee to include licensees and professionals that work alongside the department in listing decisions. She is involved with the Commissioner’s Office on legislative matters and has spoken before committees in the Statehouse. Ms. O’Brien was instrumental in Vermont hosting a statewide event, The Vermont Experience with Alcohol Regulation: 80 years of control. She strongly believes in the Control State model of alcohol regulation.

“Stephanie will bring a variety of experiences, professional and personal, to the NABCA board. We look forward to her leadership in the next few years,” said Jeff Anderson, NABCA board chairman and director of the Idaho State Liquor Division.

Ms. O’Brien is a licensed Vermont real estate broker, a Realtor® and agent with Geri Reilly Real Estate, a Vermont premier agency. She is the former president and CEO of O’Brien Brothers Agency, where she was employed for 20 years. Her community activities have included serving as an annual campaign ambassador for The United Way of Chittenden County. She also served as a board member of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and on the non-profit board of Common Roots. Ms. O’Brien graduated from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire.

For information about NABCA, visit www.nabca.org.  For information about the VDLC visit www.liquorcontrol.vermont.gov; for Idaho, visit www.liquor.idaho.gov; for Iowa, visit www.IowaABD.com.