From left : Wendy Gregorio , Master Data / Associate Buyer , Nate Patterson , Associate Buyer , Beth Grevious , Associate Buyer , Alex Baca , Buyer and Linda Skorcz , Purchasing Manager .
licenses more than 1,100 direct brokers , along with wholesalers , several distilleries and charter transportation ( such as limousines that serve alcohol ). During the 2021 fiscal year , the division lost about 10 % of its licensees , but they have now bounced back to normal levels .
While the pandemic resulted in many challenges , it also paved the way for new opportunities .
The division currently has 1,428 total retail licensees , an increase after losing so many of them earlier in the pandemic . The division also has more than 1,100 direct wine shippers , along with 41 malt beverage wholesalers , 230 industry representatives , 14 manufacturers ( distillers / rectifiers ) and five importers .
In 2021 , the state legislature passed a new law permitting local alcohol beverage deliveries by food delivery companies , as long as they meet specific statutory requirements . Additionally , the government allowed curbside alcohol delivery during the pandemic , given that the products were sold in sealed packaging .
Curbside delivery has now been made a permanent state law . As business continues to normalize after recent years , retailers have found new ways of doing business , and these laws are helping them succeed . The division noted that no violations related to these new laws have been reported to date .
FOCUSING ON MODERNIZATION Despite staffing shortages , the division is very focused on the future . By far , its largest priority is implementing a new enterprise resource planning ( ERP ) system , a comprehensive technology and process overhaul that includes a new online ordering platform .
Once the new system is complete , all information across the division will be captured and stored in a central database , which will lend itself to sophisticated new reporting models and opportunities for data-driven decision-making .
The project was informed by feedback gathered from internal and external stakeholders , including a series of surveys , listening sessions and town hall meetings held in 2021 . Montoya led the request for proposal process , which launched in July 2021 .
StateWays | www . stateways . com | Winter 2022 13