The five-member Oregon Liquor Control Commission today unanimously appointed Stephen A. “Steve” Pharo executive director of the state agency, replacing Teresa Kaiser, who resigned in May. His appointment is effective today.

The 12-year OLCC veteran oversees the 211-employee agency and its key program areas of public safety, distilled spirits sales/distribution, and support services. The OLCC is headquartered in Portland with regional offices in Medford, Eugene, Salem and Bend, and 242 contracted liquor stores around the state.

Pharo, 57, had been acting executive director of the agency for the past four months, while continuing as distilled spirits program director. His previous positions were director of wholesale operations and distribution center manager.

“I appreciate the commissioners’ show of confidence in me to continue the important work ahead,” said Pharo. “The OLCC is one control system, which means we focus on our core mission of public safety, in the way we deal with licensees and deliver the distilled spirits and services that Oregonians have come to expect.”

Pharo has a B.A. degree from the University of Alabama and an MBA from George Fox University. He served 31 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a colonel.

Previously, he held management positions in private business in Portland and Vancouver.

The OLCC’s gross distilled spirits sales are $722 million per biennium, with 4.7 million cases of 1,300 different products shipped to liquor stores and sold to licensees and consumers. In 2005-07, the OLCC will distribute an estimated $289 million to the state general fund and local governments in liquor and other revenue.