Modern Brewery Age: Mark Doll is named new NBWA chairman - National Beer Wholesalers Association

The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) has announced that Mark Doll, CEO of Doll Distributing Inc. in Council Bluffs, Iowa, as its 2003-2004 chairman of the board.

In his first address to the NBWA at their Las Vegas convention, Doll warned of continuing threats to the three-tier system. He recounted two statements made at the recent National Conference of State Liquor Administrators annual convention. "[At the national conference] Attorney Richard Blau asked, and I quote, 'Does the three-tier system remain viable when 24 states have legislated some form of direct shipping exception?" Doll reported. "At the same conference, a wholesale club executive told regulators that retailers should be allowed to at least explore the potential of direct shipping, to make the three-tier system, more, quote 'efficient.'"

Doll said that consolidation in the supplier, wholesale and retail tiers is changing the character of the beer business. "The threat of direct shipping, and more importantly, the threat to the right of states to regulate licensed beverages, is a critical issue for our industry, and one the NBWA is addressing head-on," Doll said. "The association is assisting states in legal and legislative battles, and educating legislators, media and the public on the purpose of the distribution system. Your national trade association is working to ensure the role of the wholesaler is protected."

As NBWA chairman, Doll will lead the national trade association, which represents more than 2,200 independent beer wholesalers. Doll will oversee NBWA's membership programs, government and public affairs initiatives and beer industry activities.

Doll has served on NBWA's Board of Directors since 1998. He has served as the Association's treasurer and chair of the State Association Committee, as well as participating on numerous committees, including Membership Development, PAC, Government Affairs and Technology.

Doll Distributing, where Doll serves as CEO, was founded in 1966 and currently employs 46 Council Bluffs-area residents. The company serves the counties of Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, C-ass, Adair, Adams, Montgomery, Mills, Fremont, Page and Taylor with Anheuser-Busch and Barton Beer products.

Doll began working with the company in 1981, and he and his siblings purchased it from their father in 1987. Doll is a member of the Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Advisory Panel, Peoples National Bank Board of Directors, Alegant Health Mercy Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and is co-chairman of the Mercy Hospital Century Campaign.

Doll is also a member of Ameristar Casino-Hotel Advisory Board and past chairman of the Iowa Beer Wholesalers Association. In 1991, Doll was appointed to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Commission by Governor Terry Branstad and served as Chairman from 1994-95.

Doll and his family reside in Council Bluffs, IA.