After nearly six months on the job, New Hanover County’s ABC Board CEO Marnina Queen says she’s on track to reach one of her current goals: $40 million in sales for the year, an increase of $1.5 million over last year. That’s just one of the projects Queen has on a list that’s strong on customer and community service.

“I hear people talk about privatization. People don’t understand that it’s not tax dollars we run on; we run on the money we make through the sale of alcohol,” said Queen, who took over as head of the county Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in September.

Additionally, she said, all 164 ABC boards across the state give back money to their communities. New Hanover County is fifth in the state in alcohol sales dollars but comes in third in the money it returns to its municipalities. 

“Last year we gave $840,975 to New Hanover County. Wilmington received $590,724, Wrightsville Beach $192,139 and Carolina Beach $120,945,” she said.

Despite not having a store in its town limits, Kure Beach received $3,662.

ABC funds also help to pay for seven New Hanover County’s sheriff deputies who are on the downtown task force and the ABC team. 

“If we no longer had this, that’s seven officers taken off the street,” Queen said. “Most communities have the same situation.”

It’s one of several reasons she says she, her staff and her board take their fiduciary duties very seriously.

Queen came to the Wilmington job after several years working in the ABC system in Raleigh and Greensboro. 

Born in Oregon and raised in Sylva, North Carolina, she began her college education while serving as a medic in the U.S. Air Force. Queen followed her grandfather, father and sister into the service. She was the first female staff sergeant to run her own emergency room at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California. 

After serving almost 12 years, she left the Air Force and returned to Sylva where she received her bachelor’s degree in business law with a minor in marketing from Western Carolina University. 

“They have the greatest program there,” she said. “My hat is off to Western Carolina. They’ve grown so much and have an extraordinary staff.” 

Going to school as an adult rather than fresh out of high school was also beneficial, Queen added.

“You look more at an education when you’re paying to sit in the seat,” she said.

After graduation she went to work for the N.C. ABC Commission in Raleigh as an education specialist. She had primary responsibility for 32 western counties but taught ABC laws and regulations throughout the state. 

“I taught at universities and grade schools. I did school prom presentations every year to try to get our youth to make better decisions,” Queen said.

She also did programs for bar and restaurant employees. 

“I was on the road a lot. An opportunity came up in Greensboro for personnel director,” she said.

In the six years she was there, she progressed to assistant general manager.

When she heard about the Wilmington job, she toured the area. 

“I looked at the ABC stores and Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach and pretty much fell in love with the area. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be here. I have an excellent staff from the store level up. They’re professionals, hard working. They want to serve this community,” Queen said.

As important as the staff is, Queen says the local board is critical. 

“The board brings so much experience and direction to the table that it is a pleasure to work with them and for them,” she said.

Appointed by the county commissioners, the board provides oversight to the entire operation. Queen makes daily operational decisions, but the board is involved in most directional and financial decisions. 

“As with any good CEO or professional, I’m always in constant communication with my board. We’re a quasi-governmental agency. Even though we run on our own, we run by certain state rules. When it comes to finances, it goes through the board – unless it’s like buying a vacuum cleaner,” she quipped.

The board meets monthly. Ideas are taken to the board for oversight. 

“If there’s a policy change or a project, it has to have board approval,” she said.

Through the staff and board, Queen is reviewing the possible need for more store locations. Modernization of existing stores to better serve locals and tourists is also on her agenda. Renovation of the 17th and Castle streets store, which formerly housed administrative offices, is underway. 

“I cannot wait for the community to see the store when its finished. It will be one of the most modern stores in the county and will offer a greater selection to the community,” she said.

That location will also have a larger area for bar and restaurant pick up. There’s already a large area at the administrative offices off Market Street and a smaller one at the Carolina Beach store.

Some stores are beginning to offer boutique items such as higher priced limited editions. “Bourbon is booming right now. A boutique item we’re offering is the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, which is a 10-year-old bourbon” sold three to a case, Queen said.

“My executive staff is in a dead run trying to get some of this done before tourist season,” she added.

Queen also hopes to offer a course she created a few years ago called “Serve It Right” to bar and restaurant staff. The free program reviews North Carolina rules and laws for responsible alcohol sales and service.

Asked about long-term goals, Queen says it’s too early in her tenure here. She’s focusing on the tasks at hand.

She’s also enjoying her introduction to the area.  

“I’ve moved a lot in my lifetime with being in the military and my jobs, but the Wilmington community has been the most welcoming,” she said. “They’ve reached out their hand to me to be so supportive. I’ve been so impressed with the service industry in this community. People are nice and kind and helpful. I’m very excited to be a part of this community.”