StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions
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StateWays | www.stateways.com | May/June 2017 20 The results of these efforts are quite apparent: not only have the licensing improvements been effective in improving overall agency effi ciency, they've also contributed to dramatically in- creased liquor sales in Michigan. Businesses no longer have to wait as long to receive permits, thereby allowing them to begin selling product sooner. Currently, the MLCC oversees a total of 17,207 retail-tier businesses holding nearly 27,344 licenses for on- and off-premise consumption. Additionally, the MLCC regulates more than 13,800 manufacturer-tier and whole- sale-tier licenses, and approximately 7,200 special one-day li- censes were issued in 2016 to various non-profi t organizations. With so many operational licenses, sales for the fi rst three- month period of fi scal year 2017 amounted to $370,058,934--an increase of 18.5% over the last three years. Deloney is quick to point out that improving the licensing system is an ongoing project, with the MLCC's goal to contin- uously maintain and improve processes to ensure the system evolves along with changes in the marketplace. One of the latest enhancements is the ability for select license applicants to receive a conditional license, which allows them to operate temporarily until the full license is granted. Although the condi- tional license law has been in place for the past three years, the state recently expanded it to include license location transfers as well. Deloney says this is another example of how the state is committed to constantly reevaluating processes to make im- provements benefi ting both the state and its many licensees. Additional MLCC projects that are currently underway in- clude a thorough review of the agency's regulations. Deloney says that he and his team recently completed the wholesale review and reform of a signifi cant rule set which led to several major changes, including the decision to now allow on-premise establishments to install table taps. This new regulation became effective in December 2016. Another upcoming large-scale project is to create a new online licensing system designed to meet the unique needs of the MLCC. "The legislature has appropriated some tax dollars to make sure we can update the system as best we can, and we're cur- rently working with an outside vendor to implement a new system that addresses the needs of our applicants and our staff," Deloney explains. "We have not announced a go-live date, but we're making sure that what we come up with is exactly what we need, so we won't hit the go button until we know it's ready." Deloney credits his staff at the MLCC for the successes the agency has experienced over the past six years. He stresses the importance of fostering a work culture of employee engage- ment where everyone is encouraged to suggest and embrace new suggestions, and where management lets staff know that their ideas are encouraged and valued. "I consider it an honor to have been appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to take on a responsibility like this," he says. "We have an amazing staff here, and they all do a great job on a daily basis. So much of the positive work we've done here is not a result of my ideas, but of theirs. I will continue to be receptive to their suggestions." Deloney was appointed to lead the MLCC in June 2011. "We have an amazing staff here, and they all do a great job on a daily basis. So much of the positive work we've done here is not a result of my ideas, but of theirs. I will continue to be receptive to their suggestions." agency agency profile INCOMING CHAIRMAN PROFILE