Durbin Becomes First Woman to Lead Department of Alcohol Beverage Services

Kathie Durbin

Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) announced that the County Council confirmed Kathie Durbin as its new director.

Durbin, who served as the acting director of ABS over the last four months, will be the first woman to lead the department.

Durbin is a lifelong Montgomery County resident. Before working in local government, she served as executive director of the Montgomery County Restaurant Association.

She joined the department in 2002 as a community outreach manager and in 2007  she accepted the position of Division Chief of Licensure, Regulation and Education supervising alcohol licensing, policy, education and compliance.

For more than a decade she has worked as an advocate for legislative initiatives that support the county’s hospitality businesses.

“I am delighted to welcome Kathie as the new ABS director,” County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement. “Kathie’s passion for ABS’ mission, community partnerships and economic growth will help our County advance and rebuild when we need it most.”

She is currently is president of the Maryland Alcohol Licensing Association and a member of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association Regulatory Committee. She is a longtime board member of the Responsible Hospitality Institute and the Responsible Retailing Forum, national organizations that work to support nightlife. In 2016, Durbin was recognized by the National Alcohol Licensing Professional Association for Innovation and Leadership and again in 2017 by the Center for Alcohol Policy as Regulator.

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