Ericka Evans was appointed by Governor Spencer Cox in July 2025 to serve as Executive Director of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS). The department, tasked with the regulation, retail sale, and distribution of alcoholic products in the state, employs over 900 staff members, provides licensing and compliance support to over 4,000 Utah businesses licensed to sell alcohol, and oversees 53 state liquor and wine stores that generate over $500 million annually in gross sales, a large portion of which is sent to state and local communities to fund public safety, roads and infrastructure, education, and health programs.

Ericka brings more than a decade of legal and public sector experience across several branches of government to her role. Most recently, Ericka served as Executive Officer and Internal Services Counsel with the Office of Legislative Services, overseeing internal operations for the legislative branch, including human resources, finance, and IT functions, and providing guidance on procurement, employment law, and records management. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at DABS, advising on legal and policy matters impacting DABS and overseeing licensing and compliance efforts across the state.

Earlier in her career, Ericka served as Managing Associate General Counsel with the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, where she drafted legislation related to alcohol policy, business regulation, criminal justice, and behavioral health. She began her legal career in California, practicing in probate and trust litigation.

Ericka lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and two children.