January - Municipal Association of South Carolina

BLOA members receive designations
The Accreditation in Business Licensing (ABL) and
Master’s in Business Licensing (MBL) designations
demonstrate an expertise in the field of administering and
enforcing local business and professional license taxes.
Harper of Seneca, Laurie Lane of Hartsville, Patricia Fowler
of Williston, Deborah Blanton of Loris, Allen Eleazer, Jr.
of Columbia and Melvin Curtis of Sumter.
Officials seeking the designation make a threeyear
commitment to the program. They must
complete a training institute offered by the
Municipal Association of SC each spring, follow
the ABL Code
of Ethics and pass an exam.
Each year, participants complete four hours of
training on general licensing subjects and two
hours on problem areas such as alcoholic beverages,
bail bondsmen or fireworks.The exam is
based on the training explained above and the
Business Licensing Handbook, available through
MASC.
Those who want to further their professional
development can work toward the MBL. Officials
must first earn the ABL, then attain 50 experience
points within seven years immediately
preceding their application for the MBL
designation. Eligible points include work
experience and participation in training
sessions.
(L-R) Sherri Tiedemann, ABL, City of Columbia; Blake Foster, ABL, City of Belton;
Patricia Fowler, MBL, Town of Williston; and Debra Bivens, ABL, City of Georgetown
received their ABL plaques at the Annual Meeting. (Not all recipients are pictured.)
Eleven business licensing officials received
their ABL designation after completing the
three-year institute and passing an examination.
ABL recipients are Debra Bivens
of Georgetown, Jean Brunson of Mullins,
Sally Dubose of Sumter, Tiffany Smalls of
North Charleston, Derrell Blake Foster of
Belton, Patricia Fowler of Williston, Sharron
Gleaton of Columbia, Lisa Holden of
Anderson, Sherri Tiedemann of Columbia,
Kim Vargo of Barnwell and Kathy West of
Lancaster.
Six business licensing officials went on
to receive their MBL desgination. Belinda
(L-R) Belinda Harper, MBL, City of Seneca; Laurie Lane, MBL, City of Hartsville; Patricia Fowler, MBL,
Town of Williston and Deborah Blanton, MBL, City of Loris received their MBL plaques at the Annual
Meeting. (Not all recipients are pictured.)
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