FRED WOOTON BECOMES NABCA CHAIRMAN
by MELISSA SHERWIN
Fred Wooton is widely known among colleagues as “ The Commissioner of Change .” Currently serving as Commissioner of the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration ( WVABCA ), he has devoted his entire professional career to the beverage alcohol industry , and has a reputation of being a leader who always gets results . In May 2023 , Wooton will assume a new leadership role when he becomes Chairman of the National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association ( NABCA ).
His theme for the upcoming year , “ New Horizons , New Opportunities ,” illustrates his plans to apply his get-it-done mantra on a national level .
FRED WOOTON BECOMES NABCA CHAIRMAN
FOCUS ON MODERNIZATION AND COLLABORATION Wooton has been connected to the beverage alcohol industry throughout his career . Early on , he worked in the hospitality industry as a bartender , lounge coordinator and , eventually , as an assistant manager of a Holiday Inn hotel . In 1991 , he joined the Charleston-based WVABCA , and held multiple roles within the agency ’ s Enforcement Division , before Governor Jim Justice appointed him to serve as commissioner in 2017 .
“ My career has allowed me to experience this industry from a variety of angles , and also helped me understand the different aspects of the WVABCA ’ s work from the perspective of a server and as a regulator ,” Wooton says . “ Part of our responsibility as an agency is to look out for the public health and safety of the citizens of West Virginia , but it ’ s also to help put people in business and to support them along the way .”
A year prior to Wooton ’ s arrival to the agency , the WVABCA privatized its retail stores , which it now bids out every 10 years in partnership with the state ’ s Retail Liquor Licensing Board . As part of the rebidding process , the agency also reviews overall sales performance to determine if any areas of the state are currently over- or underserved , and makes licensing adjustments as needed .
StateWays | www . stateways . com | Summer 2023 13