 2025-2026 |
Kathie Durbin joined the Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) in 2002 as the Community Outreach Manager. In 2005, she became the Division Chief of Licensure, Regulation, and Education, where she supervised alcohol licensure, policy, education, legislative initiatives, and compliance. Currently, Kathie is the Director of Alcohol Beverage Services, which, in addition to its regulatory role, serves as the wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits in the county and operates 27 retail beer, wine, and spirits stores. Early in her career, Kathie played a major role in developing the certified alcohol beverage server training for the Restaurant Association of Maryland. She also occupied the role as the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Restaurant Association, fostering community and business collaborations and successfully lobbying for meaningful alcohol legislation to support small businesses. Additionally, she worked for the Montgomery County Health and Human Services as a substance abuse prevention specialist, managing state grants, mini-grants, and developing the county substance abuse prevention network. Kathie has held prominent leadership roles, including serving as the longtime President of the Maryland Alcohol Licensing Association (MALA) and as current Chair Elect and Executive Board Member of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA). She is also a veteran board member of the Responsible Hospitality Institute and the Responsible Retailing Forum. Her contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards, including the National Alcohol Licensing Professional Association (NALCP) Award for Innovation and Leadership in 2016 and the Regulator of the Year Award from the Center for Alcohol Policy (CAP) in 2017. In addition, she has also received multiple accolades locally as well as nationally. With extensive experience in both the hospitality industry and substance abuse prevention, Kathie is considered an expert in alcohol regulation, education, and policy. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore County with a concentration in Social Work/Psychology and additional state certifications in prevention and responsible server training. Kathie's extensive background and commitment to the field of alcohol regulation has made her a respected leader and innovator, and her work continues to positively impact Montgomery County and beyond. |
