⊳ Moreen Swingley , licensing bureau chief , Jay Gaughan , distribution bureau chief , Becky Schlauch , administrator , Steve Swanson , division pperating officer , Dacia English , outreach and education coordinator .
to serve golfers during play . Also , there is no longer the need to go through extra steps when adding a wine amendment to a beer license , as it is now combined beer / wine license .
To ensure people understood the implications of the new bills , the ABC Division hosted a series of town halls to share information , provide an overview of process changes and answer attendee questions .
Another way the agency has worked to improve efficiencies is to overhaul its license renewal system to include an automated license renewal process . This functionality , which launched in July 2023 , resulted in many improvements , including increased processing times for licensees and reduced workload for ABC Division staff .
“ We have a very small staff and a lot of work that needs to get done , so we need to do everything as efficiently as possible , and constantly look for new areas of opportunity and improvement ,” Schlauch says .
One innovative way the agency recently looked to improve overall efficiency was by forming an Alcohol Licensing Advisory Committee . Composed of legislatures , licensees , attorneys and other partners , the committee is designed to offer feedback to the ABC Division and generate opportunities for continuous process improvement . The committee has convened several times since launching in 2023 and meets on a quarterly basis . Schlauch says that she and her team have already received great feedback that they are working to implement .
Improved efficiencies have also benefited the state ’ s manufacturers . As has been the case across the country , the increase in local alcohol manufacturing has grown rapidly over the last several years . Montana currently has 106 breweries , 33 distilleries and 34 wineries , and with no restrictions on the number of manufacturers permitted across the state , that number is expected to continue growing .
One of the ways the ABC Division has achieved so many successes is because of the strength of its team . Schlauch emphasizes the demonstrated commitment of her team and has worked to ensure a transparent and empowering workplace culture for everyone .
“ The team has very high expectations to be helpful , but they are also asked and encouraged to routinely report back on things they hear about in the field or when talking to stakeholders , identifying things we can do to be more efficient or better serve our licensees ,” she says . Some of that feedback has resulted in additional reports created by the ABC Division and posted to its website for the benefit of its partners .
MOVING NABCA FORWARD
It ’ s easy to see why Schlauch is so well positioned to take on the role of NABCA chair .
Along with her extensive experience with the ABC Division , she has been a NABCA board member since 2017 , and has served on or chaired nearly all the organization ’ s committees over the years . Her theme for the coming year , “ Forward Together , Stronger Tomorrow ,” amplifies Schlauch ’ s personal and professional philosophies that have served her so well over the course of her career .
“ We are all in this together , working toward a better future ,” she says . “ I ’ m looking forward to building upon the great work of previous chairs to make sure we all work together , understand each other and ensure a strong future for NABCA , for our industry and for each of our member jurisdictions .”
Looking to what lies ahead for Schlauch this year as she
16 StateWays • Summer 2024 www . stateways . com