by KYLE SWARTZ

From managing a control-state spirits distribution system to balancing regulatory oversight with supplier and retailer needs, Graham’ s role carries significant influence across the industry. As consumer preferences evolve and operational demands grow, his leadership shapes how products enter the market, how retailers access inventory and how suppliers engage with one of the South’ s key control jurisdictions.

All this comes in handy as he prepares to step into the role of chairman of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association( NABCA).

A DIVERSE BACKGROUND

Graham brings a deep professional background to his role leading the Mississippi

Department of Revenue. After graduating from college, Graham began his career in banking before deciding to pursue law school. He entered legal practice in the early 2000s and spent several years working as an attorney.

Around 2008, Graham transitioned into public service, joining a small state agency as assistant director and counsel. After a brief return to private practice, where he handled administrative cases involving state agencies— including the former Mississippi State Tax Commission— he gained experience representing clients navigating regulatory and tax matters.

Graham later moved to the legislative branch, working with leadership in the Mississippi State Senate and serving alongside the state’ s lieutenant governor at the time. That role provided direct exposure to policymaking and executive leadership. In 2020, following the retirement of the previous commissioner, Graham was appointed by the governor to serve the remainder of the term as commissioner of the Department of Revenue.

After completing those two years, he was appointed to a full six-year term, and has continued serving in the role since, overseeing tax administration and the state’ s Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control operations.

GOALS AS COMMISSIONER, CHAIRMAN

As he took over as commissioner, Graham had to balance numerous goals across the array of departments and responsibilities that he now oversaw.

“ We do a lot of different things here at the Department of Revenue,” he says.“ We collect about $ 11 billion a year; we ' re the primary revenue collection agency for the entire state. So it ' s hard to take everything we do and say,‘ Okay, here were my goals’. But as it relates to alcoholic beverage control, I knew coming in, that we needed to modernize our systems.”

In his prior work at the legislature, Graham had been in meetings where previous commissioners had talked about

16 StateWays • Summer 2026 www. stateways. com