TABC Director Asks: Where Are My Minions?

Staff is pretty lean at the Tennessee ABC headquarters in Nashville. There are numerous high level vacancies. Most recently, Acting Assistant Director Melinda Arrington gave notice that she will be leaving at the end of the month. Former Assistant Director Carolyn Smith departed late last year. Senior ABC agents Mike Cawthon and Al Watson have been forced to retire because of budget constraints. Hiring freezes have left a number of key positions vacant.

The ABC is a thinly staffed agency charged with overseeing several thousand licenses. Director Danielle Elks is now filling the role of three staff attorneys and also leading the agency. ABC agents are sparse. Although licensees do not look forward to stings, ABC agents are vital to conducting inspections necessary for issuance of licenses to new businesses and changes of ownership.

So far, the ABC has done an admirable job of working through this tough time. We hope that help is on the way, as backlogs are certain to build up and morale can easily suffer.