The schedule of events and seminars at the NABCA’s 66th Annual Conference is meant to shed light on a variety of control state issues, under the theme, Progress Through Partnerships. After the opening night Welcome Reception at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 14, the conference kicks off on Thursday morning, May 15, with General Session I at 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Bill Bradley, retired U.S. Senator from New Jersey and a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, will address the gathering on “America: The Path Ahead.”
The LaQuinta Resort & Club, in LaQuinta, CA,
is once again the host of the NABCA annual conference.
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Business Session I tackles the important subject of “Partnering with the Control States.” Philip Bowman, chief executive of Allied Domecq, will discuss his company’s new Control States Sales Division and strategies. Also presenting will be Patrick Thomas, group managing director for William Grant & Sons, who will similarly highlight his company’s approach to working with the control states.
From 11 a.m. to noon, Seminar 1 will address “The Opportunities of Partnership.” Leading the discussion are Marcus Grant, president of the International Center for Alcohol Policies, and Dr. John C. Luik, professor from the University of Toronto.
Following lunch (noon to 1:30 p.m.), the program continues with Seminar II (2 p.m. to 3 p.m.), titled, “Partners in Regulation.” Jim Goldberg, NABCA general counsel, and Art Libertucci, administrator of the Tax and Trade Bureau, will report on the political, legislative and judicial changes in the regulatory landscape, as well as answer questions from conference attendees.
Seminar III (3 p.m. to 4. p.m.) immediately follows, mining the same partnership theme. “Partners in Prevention” discusses a range of programs that help reduce beverage alcohol abuse and improve enforcement efforts. The presenters include Matt Cook, licensing administrator, Colorado Division of Liquor Enforcement; John Moulden, president, National Commission Against Drunk Driving; and Ralph Blackman, president and ceo, The Century Council.
Running concurrently with the seminars is the Industry Trade Show (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.).
From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the NABCA is hosting a “Sweet Home Alabama” dinner and casita hospitality.
On Friday, May 16, the conference continues with General Session II, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., featuring retired Lt. General Hal Moore, author of the best-selling, “We Were Soldiers Once…And Young.”
Business Session II, called “Analyzing Industry Partnerships” (from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.), features the financial analysts John Wakely, managing director, Lehman Brothers, Inc.; and Caroline Levy, managing director, UBS Warburg, who present their thoughts on the strategies employed by the major beverage alcohol corporations.
From 11:00 a.m. to noon, Seminar IV presents “Balancing the Internal Partnerships.” This session addresses the unique situation that most control states find themselves in: the need to sell product and generate revenue while balancing that with regulatory and educational efforts to fight abuse.
Once again, following lunch (and casita hospitality), the program picks up with Seminar V (1:30 to 2:30 p.m.), called “Losing Our Partners? Canadian Privatization Efforts.” During the past few years there have been several attempts, some successful, to privatize the Canadian provinces. Three “control” officials from north of the border describe how the different provinces have responded to these efforts to end or modify the control system, a reality that is ever present in the U.S. control system.
“Tequila Sunrise (2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.) is this year’s Product Knowledge Session. Ana Maria Cesena and Peter McDougall, from Grupo Cuervo, are conducting this effort to give attendees a better understanding of tequila, from its history and ingredients to its production, taste and uses. As usual, this promises to be a tremendously popular meeting.
A Mariachi dinner and casita hospitality follows from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 17, begins with General Session III (8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.), featuring Dr. John Tickell, who has been rated among the world’s Top 10 speakers.
A fitting conclusion to this information-packed conference comes Saturday night with the parting cocktail reception at 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by the 66th Annual Banquet, where the incoming NABCA President Dyke Nally will be welcomed by all at the beginning of his year-long tenure.
