Latest news with #CraigPrins
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission director hired to clean up bourbon-hoarding scandal to retire
The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission oversees the state's liquor stores. (Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission/Flickr) The state administrator Gov. Tina Kotek picked to stabilize the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission in the wake of a bourbon-hoarding scandal announced his retirement Thursday. Craig Prins will leave the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission effective July 1, he said during the commission's Thursday meeting. Kotek urged commissioners to hire Prins, formerly the state prison system's internal watchdog, in February 2023 to correct the commission's course after she requested the resignation of its former director, one of six high-level employees implicated in diverting rare bottles of bourbon for personal use. Prins described his decision to retire as difficult but right in a statement to commissioners. 'We have reached major milestones in modernizing the OLCC's operations and rebuilding the public's confidence in our mission,' he said. 'Having had the honor to work with this organization's dedicated public servants, I have complete faith in their ability to build on this progress.' Commissioners appointed current deputy director Tara Wasiak to replace Prins beginning July 1. Before joining OLCC, Wasiak was the interim director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Kotek press secretary Roxy Mayer said the governor wished Prins the best and knows Wasiak will follow his example of leading the commission with integrity and accountability. 'Executive Director Craig Prins jumped into the leadership role at OLCC at a time of tumult for the commission,' Mayer said in an email. 'He delivered exactly what Oregon needed: stability, consistency and a dedication to excellent customer service.' Before Prins took over, the commission was reeling from revelations that six top-level employees, including then-director Steve Marks, had used their positions to obtain rare, expensive bottles of bourbon for their own use. Oregon is one of 17 'control states,' where state agencies regulate where and how liquor can be sold. Wine and beer are available in grocery stores, but hard liquor is kept in state warehouses and distributed to local liquor stores. The state also sets liquor prices. And opportunities to buy rare bottles of liquor, such as Pappy Van Winkle, are supposed to be distributed in quarterly lotteries. Instead, investigators found that OLCC employees abused their positions by ordering rare bottles be sent to specific stores where they or their representatives could purchase them. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission settled cases with two former OLCC employees in April, fining them each $500. The ethics commission last week rejected a proposed $500 settlement with Marks, saying he should face a higher penalty as the former director. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
OLCC executive director retires after leading agency through time of ‘tumult'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Craig Prins, the executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission announced his retirement on Thursday following his appointment to the position as the agency faced an ethics scandal. Prins announced his retirement during a regular OLCC meeting on Thursday. His retirement will be effective July 1. 'This has obviously been a tough decision to make,' Prins told commissioners. 'I am grateful for your trust and partnership over these last two years. While difficult, I also believe this is the right decision at the right time. We have reached major milestones in modernizing the OLCC's operations and rebuilding the public's confidence in our mission. Having had the honor to work with this organization's dedicated public servants, I have complete faith in their ability to build on this progress.' Investigation leads to search warrants at Oregon Coast animal safari park 'We have steadied the organization and placed the OLCC not just on a path to restore public trust but to enhance and expand the confidence Oregonians can have in us,' Prins told commissioners. Prins started his public service career as a deputy district attorney in Multnomah County, prosecuting criminal, delinquency and child dependency cases. Prins also served as inspector general of the Oregon Department of Corrections. Under his leadership at the OLCC, the agency recently broke ground on an $87 million warehouse in Canby and started 'a major technology overhaul' of the agency's distilled spirits retail and distribution infrastructure, the OLCC said, noting Prins said he accepted the position to 'steady the agency' and build a foundation for future success. California-founded Southern food chain expanding to Oregon The goal to 'steady the agency' came after Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called on then-OLCC Director Steve Marks to step down in February 2023 after an internal investigation found Marks and five other . After , OLCC commissioners followed Kotek's request and voted to appoint Prins as interim director. Prins was later appointed as the agency's leader in October of that year. During his time at the agency, Prins faced his own investigation by the Department of Administrative Services for allegedly leaving a work trip to attend the Orange Bowl, as first reported by The Oregonian. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In response to the investigation, Prins released a statement, explaining, 'I am aware that an allegation was made to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) about my attendance at the Orange Bowl game on January 9th, 2025. It was alleged that I misused state resources and time to do so. This allegation was thoroughly investigated by the Chief Human Resources Office (CHRO) of DAS. The CHRO investigation found the allegation to be unsubstantiated. I personally paid for the ticket, transportation, and other associated costs and took vacation time. Chair Doherty and I conferred, and he did not need me to staff him for the committee meetings that were held on the afternoon I traveled. I received no per diem on the day of the game. It is also important to note that I cooperated fully with this investigation.' The OLCC also announced Thursday that commissioners appointed Tara Wasiak as the agency's new director. Before joining the OLCC, Wasiak was interim director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation. 'I'm excited by what lies ahead for the OLCC,' Wasiak told Commissioners. 'I'm committed to building on our recent successes and demonstrating to Oregonians the value of our agency's work.' 'On behalf of my fellow commissioners, I want to thank Craig for his distinguished service to the OLCC and to the state,' said Commission Chair, Dennis Doherty. 'The revenues raised by the OLCC help keep our communities beautiful, safe, and prosperous. The innovative programs and projects Craig has initiated mean that we will be able to deliver these benefits to Oregonians for decades to come. This is a well-deserved retirement, and we wish Craig well.' In a statement shared with KOIN 6 News, Roxy Mayer, a spokesperson for the governor's office added, 'Executive Director Craig Prins jumped into the leadership role at OLCC at a time of tumult for the Commission. He delivered exactly what Oregon needed: stability, consistency, and a dedication to excellent customer service. The Governor wishes him the best in his retirement,' adding, 'The Governor knows Tara Wasiak will continue the example Director Prins set and will lead the Commission with integrity and accountability.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OLCC breaks ground on new, 347,000-square-foot Canby warehouse
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Construction crews have finally begun work on the Oregon Liquor Cannabis Commission's new, 347,000-square-foot warehouse. The agency and lead contractors with JE Dunn Construction broke ground on the facility on Wednesday. The distribution center is expected to help meet the demand for distilled spirits. 3 Portland bars are up for Tales of the Cocktail Foundation's Spirited Awards According to Executive Director Craig Prins, the current warehouse has been operating at full capacity and therefore affecting the commission's ability to generate revenue. 'This new facility, with its advanced material handling systems and expanded footprint, will allow us to better serve Oregon businesses and consumers efficiently and responsibly,' Prins said. OLCC reported that the warehouse will replace the pre-existing space that has been opened for operations in Milwaukie since the 1950s. Officials previously planned on constructing a new headquarters in addition to the warehouse, but it decided to relocate its headquarters to a Portland office in early 2024 after . The agency and Oregon's Department of Administrative Services agreed to pay the contractors a for the new facility last December. OLCC Chair Dennis Doherty said the purchase is a 'long-overdue investment.' 'It ensures we can meet growing consumer demand while maintaining our commitment to responsible alcohol regulation,' Doherty said. 'With JE Dunn's expertise, we're confident this facility will serve Oregonians well for decades to come.' SERT activated in NW Portland after standoff suspect found, taken into custody Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas added that the distribution center also has the potential to increase Canby's workforce, in addition to the 65 jobs it has already provided. JE Dunn Construction is expected to finish preparing the site sometime this month. The facility is projected to be partially complete by June 2026, and fully operational two months later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
