conform to what you think the men in the room want to see or hear . The ones who look past your sex to fully appreciate your knowledge and abilities are the ones you truly want to work with . I have seen too many women change who they are and jump over a million barrels to appease someone in power only to discover all that hard work only benefited that person and not the woman who helped them climb the corporate ladder .
For folks looking to get into the industry , I would suggest not to wait for the dream job or the opportunity of a lifetime to come along . Instead , seek to enter the industry through any job , even if it ’ s not your first choice .
This way , you ’ ll at least be in the industry and / or by proximity , can begin to figure out what space you really would like to be in within the industry and can make moves towards that .
KRISTIN BELTZER
Chair , Michigan Liquor Control Commission
How did you get into the beverage alcohol business ? Prior to joining the Michigan Liquor Control Commission ( MLCC ) in 2022 , I spent many years working with the business community at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce , as well as in several leadership roles in the Michigan political arena . Stepping into the nuances of the beverage alcohol industry was a natural fit for me . My background in executive management has provided me the tools and relationships to help move the industry forward and to understand the regulation and governance of the three-tier system .
Did you have a mentor in the industry ? Have you been a mentor to others ? I have been very fortunate to have mentors who have influenced me throughout my entire career . Many of them have been successful women who faced their own challenges in the workplace and in the boardroom .
The communication that we have shared and continue to share , helps me in my journey to be a life-long learner .
Just as important , I find great fulfillment in watching others succeed and assisting them in their journey . A sense of pride for me is being instrumental in guiding people along their career path and watching them flourish in their career goals .
For example , just this week , I was a reference for a young man who worked with me in former Gov . Rick Snyder ’ s administration . He is leaving the legislature to venture into the world of lobbying , a great step for him and an opportunity to contribute his talents in a new and exciting way .
Have you faced challenges as a woman in a leadership position in what ’ s still a male-dominated industry ? My experience has been that the alcohol industry is very open to women leaders . The reception that I have received from my fellow commissioners , industry stakeholders , legislators and business owners has been overwhelming . I ’ ve spent a great deal of time connecting with people , and being open to new ideas , processes , and how we can improve and grow the beverage alcohol industry in the state of Michigan .
I ’ m surrounded by very strong women in my office . All four of the directors at the MLCC are women , and they are exceptional at their jobs .
Our business manager / chief of staff , Kerry Krone , is the key to our administrative system and is in an essential role to run the day-to-day operations of the office . She came from the political arena as well , and she knows how to navigate bureaucracy to find solutions .
How has your company benefited from having women at the table making decisions ? I believe all companies / organizations benefit by having women at the table . Women are great collaborators , they enhance and inspire creativity and productivity , and they are naturally good listeners . Women also have a strong ability to promote employee engagement and work collaboratively to be problem solvers .
In Michigan , Gov . Gretchen Whitmer is getting national attention because of her “ find the partners , build the coalition , and get the thing done ” approach . She is at the top of a long list of women leaders in Michigan .
The attorney general and secretary of state are women , the governor ’ s chief of staff and chief operating officer are women . We also have the first female Senate Majority Leader in Michigan history , as well as 40 women legislators who are transforming the way we set public policy .
Do you think the beverage alcohol industry has improved as far as women and gender DEI in the past five years ? I find quite a bit of diversity in the industry . Our team has had the opportunity to visit with minority-owned businesses , as well as to grant licenses to entrepreneurs from a variety of backgrounds . As with diversity of brands , it ’ s critical that we have diversity of voices and representation for all consumers .
The MLCC team is filled with people who have unique and diverse talents that they bring to work every day . This outstanding group is passionate about customer service , they want to provide knowledge and work in a proactive way to educate licensees on how to establish their business in a regulated and protected environment .
What advice do you have for people ( women in particular ) looking to get into the spirits industry ? My advice for anyone wanting to get into the spirits industry is to network . It ’ s astonishing the amount of people who have told me they got into the spirits business because of a connection to someone already working in the industry . It ’ s really about people and connecting with them .
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