James Canepa Awarded John G. Tower Distinguished Alumnus Award

The Kappa Sigma Fraternity has announced that Brother James V. Canepa has been awarded the US Senator John G. Tower Distinguished Alumni Award, considered one of the highest honors Alumni can receive within the International Fraternity. 

Established in 1995, this award honors “Kappa Sigma Brothers who have shown a commitment to their business, family, church, philanthropy, and community activities.”  It is named for the late Brother John G. Tower, U. S. Senator from Texas, who served on the Kappa Sigma Supreme Executive Committee for six years and was Worthy Grand Master from 1971-73.

Brother Canepa is a 1983 Initiate of the Epsilon-Eta Chapter at Bowling Green State University. He has served the public in multiple capacities over the past 20 years, but today Brother Canepa serves as the superintendent of the Ohio Division of Liquor Control.

He joined Liquor Control in 2017 as a project leader of the Liquor Modernization Project, the state’s effort to modernize systems and processes across the liquor enterprise.  He has been a leader in Ohio with Barrel Program Whiskey Lotteries, which releases six exclusive single-barrel selections in 30 stores across the state. This program helps educate the consumer on special batches being produced and promotes distilleries. It also assists with expanding the state’s spirits sales.

He has fostered many relationships with industry leaders because of these efforts, and with these profits, world-class corporations, entrepreneurs, and talented individuals build careers in Ohio. Brother Canepa is also a national leader in his field, serving on the Board of Directors of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association.

James Canepa began his career in the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, serving as an Appellate Prosecutor and Senior Trial Prosecutor. Later, he served as Chief of Staff and Legal Affairs for Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency, as Chief Legal Counsel for the Ohio Department of Safety, and most recently as Deputy Inspector General and First Assistant Attorney General.

James has received an Outstanding Advocacy Award from the National Association of Government Attorneys, the Caulley Award for Outstanding Victim Service, and a Resolution of Recognition from former Ohio Governor George V. Voinovich.

Additional recipients of this honor can be viewed online at https://www.kappasigma.org/john-g-tower-award/