SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Honorable Frank J. Mautino, State Representative from Spring Valley, was presented with the prestigious Richard A. Mautino Industry Service Award which is the highest honor in the Illinois beer distribution industry. The presentation was made on September 17, 2013, at the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois (ABDI) 75th Annual Convention held at the President Abraham Lincoln Doubletree Hotel in Springfield, Illinois, which was attended by over 120 industry professionals.
Representative Mautino accepted an invitation to speak at the Convention, unaware he would receive the Award named after his father, the late Richard A. Mautino, who was Vice President of Mautino Distributing Co. in Spring Valley, Illinois, and served nine terms in the Illinois General Assembly.
The award is given for outstanding contributions to the beer distribution industry. “Like his father, he is a strong champion of the beer distribution business — his family has been in the business for over 100 years,” said Bill Olson, ABDI President.
“I’ve known Representative Mautino since he was appointed to replace his father in 1991 and has risen to the position of Deputy Majority Leader. For the beer distribution industry, he is the “go to guy” for our issues, which is why he sponsored SB 754 in 2011 and HB 2606 this year. Both bills, which Governor Quinn signed, strengthened the state’s three-tier regulatory system,” continued Olson.
Representative Mautino was at the Convention thinking he was going to provide an update on legislative issues. In accepting the award, Representative Mautino said he was “very surprised” and had “stayed up late last night finishing my presentation.”
Nominations are submitted by ABDI Distributor Members. The only qualification is that the nominee be an outstanding contributor to the beer distribution industry in Illinois.
About The Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois
The Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, a not for profit business trade association, represents, maintains, and improves the interests of its Members who distribute beer of all brewers. Distributors are licensed by the State of Illinois to import and distribute beer to licensed retailers. ABDI Members directly employ more than 3,300 people across the state. They collect and pay $63 million each year in excise taxes to the state and pay more than $280 million in direct wages and health care benefits. Additional information is available at www.abdi.org.