About The Author
Robert A. Mellion, Esq. serves as the Executive Director and General Counsel for the Massachusetts Package Stores Association (MASSPACK), the premier trade association advocating for the state's independent, off-premises beer, wine, and spirits retailers. In this dual role, he directs industry relations, government affairs, and legislative initiatives affecting the retail tier. As lead counsel, he represents the industry before municipal boards, state regulatory agencies, Massachusetts courts, federal courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Since 2018, Mellion has administered and provided the Massachusetts's leading Beverage Alcohol Training (BAT) program used to certify off-premises retailers. During the pandemic, he ensured stores could safely meet their essential service mandates by launching a virtual certification program that quickly became the industry benchmark. To expand accessibility, he developed and launched the BAT by MASSPACK on-demand online training and certification platform. Today, hundreds of retail stores that sell alcohol beverages across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts rely on this platform to educate and certify their staff.
Nationally, Mellion serves on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Advisory Council for the American Beverage Licensees (ABL). He is also the vice-chair of the Massachusetts Retail Merchants Workers' Compensation Insurance Group and sits on the Government Affairs Committee of the Federal Bar Association. Robert Mellion holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Massachusetts School of Law, a Master of Arts in American History from Providence College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
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