Listed, Priced, and Delisted: Navigating the Product Lifecycle in a Control State   

Every product follows a lifecycle—but in a control state, that journey involves far more than simply being listed and sold. This session examines the operational processes behind product submissions, approvals, system onboarding, pricing changes, product maintenance, and eventual delisting.

Closing the Loophole: THC Products in My Control State?  

Following the passage of the 2026 Appropriation Act which to close the hemp THC loophole, administrators will face news challenges to enforcement and operations around the subject of THC products after the changes go into effect later this year. Control state regulators will learn the context behind this new legislation and the nuances of how it will affect control states that have legalized adult-use cannabis and those which have not. Hear from the public health community, alcohol regulators, and cannabis regulators for a sneak peek of what the world of THC products will look like in control states after the loophole closes in November.

Morning General Session: 
FIFA Fever and Large Celebrations – What Exceptions Are American Regulators Making to Host Large Domestic and International Crowds  

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 11 U.S. host cities, and many states will participate in hosting America 250 celebrations. COVID was the first experience that tested state legislators and existing regulations to make many exceptions to accommodate businesses and communities. They loosened beverage alcohol regulations, many of which have become permanent today. With these large events, bringing in temporary large crowds to communities that may not have experienced them before, what must states, legislators and regulators do now to protect communities and for visitors to have a good experience? Will these exceptions last?

Too Much Inventory, Not Enough Growth: Are We Measuring the Right Things?

Control states are facing a familiar but increasingly complex challenge: driving sales growth while managing elevated inventory levels. Traditional metrics like inventory turns and days of supply provide part of the picture—but may not fully reflect today’s operating realities, shifting consumer demand, and expanding product assortments.

This session will explore how control states are redefining operational efficiency in the current environment. Panelists will discuss the tradeoffs between availability and working capital, the role of assortment and product mix, and how metrics can better align with both financial performance and customer expectations.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how to evaluate inventory more holistically, prioritize the right levers, and make informed decisions that support both growth and operational discipline.

Turning Adversaries into Partners: Working with Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Recovery Organizations

Too often it is assumed that those who work in the alcohol misuse prevention and recovery professions are opposed to, or even advisories to those in the alcohol control and spirits industries. But what if these two fields could work together? Alcohol misuse prevention is more effective when there is open dialogue and when resources and messages can be directly brought to the consumers we serve. In the session, we will explore how to develop relationships with the misuse and recovery industry and show some examples of successful message campaign and events that benefited all partners..

Beyond the Bottle: How Experiential Retail Drives Traffic, Engagement, and Growth

As consumer expectations evolve, retail is shifting from transactional to experiential, and control states are uniquely positioned to lead this change at-scale. By leveraging exclusive products, supplier partnerships, and in-store events, experiential retail events can create meaningful brand interactions that drive traffic and influence purchasing behavior beyond a single product.

This session will explore how experiential retail strategies—such as brand ambassador visits, special releases, and coordinated in-store events—can be used to increase store traffic, strengthen supplier relationships, and drive broader category growth. Panelists will share how these programs are executed across large retail networks, how digital and in-store engagement are integrated, and what data reveals about their impact on both featured and core products.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how to design scalable event strategies, maximize supplier collaboration, and use experiential retail to enhance both customer engagement and overall system performance.

AI use in Distribution Center Warehouses: From Automation to Intelligent Operations

Explores how AL is used today, and what’s realistically next. From inventory accuracy, optimize picking and replenishment, identify bottlenecks, labor planning and decision-making.

Modernization & Innovation

Establishing a culture of innovation can be a challenge, especially in small organizations, but it’s crucial for business success. This session will present a structured/repeatable framework to help you identify, assess, prioritize, implement, and measure the impact of modernization and innovation initiatives across your organization.

Health and Consumption Trends
TBD
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION
Offline: Managing Operations When Systems Fail

Control states rely on many interconnected systems to manage inventory, ordering, and retail execution. But what happens when one (or more!) of those systems become suddenly unavailable? Whether caused by a cybersecurity breach, infrastructure failure, or external disruption, the inability to access critical systems can halt operations, impact revenue, and erode public trust.

This session will walk through a realistic disruption scenario and explore how control states can plan for maintaining operational continuity when systems go offline. Panelists will also discuss leadership decision-making under pressure, communication across stakeholders, and practical approaches to keeping product moving while systems are being restored.

  • What do you do in the first hour, the first day, and beyond?
  • What processes continue manually vs. stop temporarily?
  • Who makes the call to resume operations?
  • What plans can you make today to reduce the impact of a failure tomorrow?


Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the risks, key decision points, and how to build a playbook for navigating operational disruption to their organizations' systems.