Source: NCSLA
July 27, 2018
The National Conference of State Liquor Administrators, Incorporated (NCSLA) is pleased to announce the 2018 inductee to the NCSLA Hall of Fame, Mr. James Webster of the Chicago law firm Webster Powell, P.C. He is the eighth member of this elite group and was inducted in June at the 2018 Annual Conference in Waikoloa, Hawaii. “As you can see this is a very select and honored group of outstanding individuals. Since 1934 only eight have been so honored and it was my great privilege to present Jim as the newest member of the NCSLA Hall of Fame. Serving with James Webster on the NCSLA Executive Committee has truly been rewarding for me as Jim has helped guide NCSLA through many challenges and been an integral part of our organization’s success over the last decade,” stated NCSLA Immediate Past President A. Keith Burt of Oklahoma.
The NCSLA Hall of Fame honors any past or present state member or associate member of the NCSLA based on their contributions to the NCSLA and the beverage alcohol industry. Induction into the Hall of Fame requires a vote of no less than three-quarters of the current voting members of the Executive Committee in accordance with the NCSLA By-Laws. To learn more about the NCSLA Hall of Fame program visit www.ncsla.org for details.
James Webster has devoted his entire legal career to the practice of Beverage Alcohol Law and has long been recognized as one of the Industry’s leading experts. Starting over 35 years ago, and continuing today at Webster Powell, P.C., the firm he founded in 2000, Jim has worked tirelessly to expand his remarkable knowledge of the Industry, using it to advocate for a strong three-tier regulatory system.
Jim is a frequent speaker on beverage alcohol issues at Industry conferences and has served as the co-chairman of the American Bar Association Committee on Alcoholic Beverages. In 2005, he assisted the National Center for Alcohol Law Enforcement in training Wisconsin law enforcement agencies regarding alcohol-related incidents. Jim helped to found the Chicago Hospitality Resource Partnership, a non-profit resource group assisting Chicago neighborhoods in planning, managing and policing entertainment districts. Jim served two non-consecutive terms as the Industry Representative to the Executive Committee for the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators. In 2016, Jim was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award for Wine and Spirits by the Beverage Retailers Alliance of Illinois.
Along with his wife, Sally, in 2009 Jim established Moving Mountains, a volunteer program involving highly skilled and dedicated instructors who provide ski instruction and equipment to people with disabilities. Through Jim and his wife’s leadership, Moving Mountains has become the largest adaptive ski program in the Midwest.
Jim was born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. He received his B.A. from University of Wisconsin and his J.D. from DePaul University. Jim and Sally live in Chicago, where they raised three sons, two of which work in the beverage alcohol industry, with the third serving as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. In addition to his legal career, Jim is an avid skier and boater. He and his wife also own and operate a year-round resort in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
About National Conference of State Liquor Administrators, Incorporated:
A national, non-profit corporation founded in 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, NCSLA is composed of state regulators as active members, and associate members consisting of manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, law firms, associations, and other service-related organizations in the alcoholic beverages sector. Currently, regulatory agencies from 41 of 50 states and the District of Columbia are active NCSLA members. The primary focus of NCSLA is education on historical and current issues related to the regulation of alcoholic beverages. Visit www.ncsla.org for more information.