Free Write

My internship project is centered on liquor license processes and procedures that is an active function of my office. Last week I was able to attend a training session that was hosted by the Arizona Department of Liquor License and Control (ADLLC) – Compliance and Regulation Department. A co-worker and I drove to Scottsdale Public Library and attended a 4 hour training session with other local jurisdictions that are also required to process liquor license applications for the State of Arizona.

The gentleman that was the main speaker for the training was a compliance officer for ADLLC. It was interesting to learn that compliance officers with ADLLC are sworn peace officers that have the same authority as police officers and sheriff’s deputies. They are able to arrest people and issue citations as needed. Additionally, duties of the compliance officer are liquor license violations such as serving without a license or serving to underage individuals.

Some interesting things that I learned from the training session were that there are 2 brand new types of liquor licenses that are being issued. A series 20 license is for alternating proprietors and a series 21 is for custom crushes. Alternating proprietors are issued to allow different wineries to make wine with someone else’s equipment. For example, a warehouse might hold wine making equipment and each winery will bring their fruit to the warehouse to make wine. A custom crush license is issued to an existing winery and allows people to bring their own fruit so that the winery can make wine for them.    

Free Write

There comes a time when you have to leave the company that you work for in search of new and better opportunities. I feel like I might be at that point in my career. I have worked for my current company for over 4 years. When I interviewed for my company, I had just started school to obtain an Associate’s Degree. I was able to advance quickly within my small department but unless I make on a management role (which will not be available until someone vacates the position) there is no room for further advancement with my department.

Next May I will graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree in Public Service/Public Policy and I am excited to see what doors open now that I have a degree. I was able to advance within my current department without the required degree because I was able to use time on the job in lieu of a degree. Also, most of my co-workers do not have 4 year degree and only a couple have a 2 year degree.

My company emails new job posting to all employees company email each Thursday. I usually scan through each job posting to see what the requirements and pay are for each job. All job postings that are comparable to my current salary required at least a 4 year degree and several years of experience. These requirements have deterred me for applying in the past but I plan to start applying for a new job within the next few months.

Strenght of my Organization

I feel that the main strength of my organization is customer service. The customers that our office serves are members of the public, various government entities and other Maricopa County Departments. Our job is to answer any questions that the public might have related to Maricopa County and more specifically the Board of Supervisors. My office answers phone calls and emails and accepts walk-in customers that need help or services from Maricopa County. Often our office is not the correct office that can assist them but before we can send them away, we must find the correct agency that can help them.

 

My Director has strict rules for excellent customer service. We are not allowed to forward phone calls without first introducing the customer to the correct department. If the correct agency is located within our 10 story building, we must accompany the customer to the correct agency that can help them. It may seem like a lot of work but I think it is an example of excellent customer service. Other places might respond with “sorry we can’t help you” and turn the customer away. Our office is required to research the customer’s request and find the correct answer to their question.

 

One thing that I would do differently if I were in charge would be to streamline some of the office procedures. Our Director has been in place for almost 25 years and some office procedures have not changed since she first started. Technology has changed so much over the last few years and our procedures are not updated to match these improvements. If the procedures could be updated, it would save our office time and resources when completing day-to-day office functions.

Free Write 3

As this year comes to a close, it is a very hectic time for my office.  My office is the Clerk for the Board of Supervisors so that means we work for them and handle all the administrative functions for them. At the beginning of each year - a new Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is elected. This means that when the new Chairman starts, all processes and procedures that our office has been doing for the last year will change. This will be my fifth chairman change and for my experience, each chairman and their staff like to do things different from the last chairman.

For example, one chairman will allow you to walk into their office and speak with them in person when a situation arises. However, another chairman may require that you send their staff an email to explain the situation and wait for them to respond to you. This can cause frustration when you are trying to get a quick response.

Additionally, the dates and times for weekly meetings that have been the same for the last year are now going to change. Our office will now have to change our schedule so that it works with the new chairman's schedule. This will be confusing for the first few meetings.

Public Service

As you know, I work for Maricopa County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. I am also doing my internship with my employer. My office is in charge of many different things that serve the public.

Here are some of the things that my office is responsible for:

• process liquor license, firework, bingo, off-track betting applications
• special taxing districts (irrigation, water, fire, street light)
• public records requests for Maricopa County information
• Boards and Commissions in Maricopa County
• Franchise (cable tv, phone, etc.)
• Accept process of services for Maricopa County
• minutes and agendas for public meetings

Those are just some of the responsibilities of our office. Our office has a main phone number that the public uses to reach our office. We provide the public with answers to questions regarding all departments within Maricopa County. So our office has to be very knowledgeable about that department does what so that we can better serve the public.

Maricopa County is an extension of the State of Arizona so that means our office is governed by Arizona Statutes. Our office is required to preform certain functions (such as what is listed above) as prescribed by statute.

For example, our office is required to process liquor license applications for individuals or organizations that want to sell or serve alcohol. Some licenses require a public hearing before a license can be issued and our office makes sure the public hearing is scheduled and held within a timely matter.

Free Write 2

My regular job and my internship is with the Maricopa County Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. I came from the world of retail and this is my first "office" and "professional" type job. My supervisors took a chance when they hired me because I did not have any experience doing what I am doing. I had just started community college and I still worked for Wal-Mart.

When I started here 5 years ago, I was hired to attend meetings and write the summary and minutes after each meeting. My writing skills were terrible and definitely not what this office was looking for. Luckily after just a couple months of doing the minutes, a person decided to leave the department and I was able to fill her position. My new position required me to review old documents and determine if they had significant value and needed to be kept or if they could be disposed. Apparently I excelled in that job because I have had 3 promotions since then.

Currently I am working with another person to publish 100+ item agendas every 2 weeks for Board of Supervisor meetings. This may not seem like a lot of work but IT IS! I have to read each item and make sure the same information is stated in the contact that will be signed. I also have to work with departments to make sure they meet statutory regulations and deadlines. I have to coordinate presentations and award ceremonies that will be at a meeting. Occasionally I work with highly confidential agenda items that require special handling.

Free Write

I received some good news regarding my internship project. The Arizona Department of Liquor will be hosting 4 training sessions in the next couple weeks for government agencies and individuals in the liquor industry.

When my internship first started, I had plans of attending bi-weekly meetings with other local jurisdiction agencies. After just a few meetings, this plan was put on hold until security system issues could be resolved. I was very nervous because I did not know what direction my internship project would go in.

I am happy that these training sessions are happening now because I need more information to add to  my final project proposal. My proposal will consist of what I learned from my internship and how I can improve the liquor license processes and procedures in our office. I feel that the training sessions will give me a better understanding of the entire liquor license process because the information is coming from a liquor license officer.

The first training session is next week for 4 hours and I am really looking forward to the presentation!