(Columbus) -- Director of Commerce Gary C. Suhadolnik has appointed Rae Ann Estep as Superintendent of the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Liquor Control. Ms. Estep will begin serving as Superintendent on Monday, May 10, 1999.

As Superintendent of Liquor Control, Estep will manage the division responsible for controlling the manufacture, distribution and sale of all alcoholic beverages in the state. The division sells spirituous liquor through nearly 400 private, contract liquor agencies, and generated sales of $407.8 million in FY 1998. Liquor sales and tax revenues are returned to the state's General Revenue Fund, and are also earmarked for a number of other state services including alcohol and drug education and prevention, and state liquor enforcement.

Division regulatory functions include the issuance of liquor permits to nearly 24,000 permit holders in the state, and industry compliance of the laws relating to products containing less than 21 percent alcohol by volume in Ohio.

"Rae Ann Estep's outstanding management skills, coupled with her knowledge of the liquor industry and previous regulatory experience, will be a tremendous benefit to the Division of Liquor Control," Director Suhadolnik stated.

Immediately prior to her appointment, Estep was Executive Director of the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. From July 1995 to July 1997, she served as Executive Director of the Ohio Student Aid Commission where she led the seamless closure of that agency and the devolution of its functions to the U.S. Department of Education. She also previously served in the Commerce Department as Superintendent of the Division of Consumer Finance from April 1991 to July 1995, following nearly 10 years of retail banking experience with Star Bank in Columbus.

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