An Introduction From Ben Nordstrom

Hello! I'm just getting started here, so I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself.  My name is Ben Nordstrom, and I am the new Executive Director of Responsibility.org.

First off, I have to say that I am excited and thrilled to be here. This organization has a wonderful reputation and has made amazing progress in improving the safety of our roads and the lives of others.  I'm deeply appreciative of everything Ralph Blackman and the whole team has done to put the organization on such enviable ground.  I'm honored to have been asked to lead the efforts as put forth in the missions and values of Responsibility.org to inspire a lifetime of responsible alcohol choices for everyone of age who chooses to drink.

I’ve come to Responsibility.org from Phoenix House, which is a national nonprofit drug and alcohol
treatment organization that provides evidence-based care to teens, adults, and families, as well as unique programming for mothers with young children and the veteran community.  By background I am a Board-Certified Addiction Psychiatrist and a former clinician-educator who has taught psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and criminology at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. I've also worked with problem solving courts, advisory boards and state governments on issues pertaining to addiction treatment.  

I understand the serious effects of alcohol misuse and I am looking forward to putting my experience to work towards preventing drunk driving and underage drinking.

I am impressed by the member companies who have funded our organization for more than 27 years as
well as the members of our National Advisory Board, Educational Advisory Board, and Judicial Education Advisory Board.  The passion and commitment of these groups is infectious, and it drew me to want to continue the great work that they have done for the past nearly three decades.

Together, we will:

• Lead the efforts to eliminate drunk driving and work with others to end all impaired driving
• Lead the efforts to eliminate underage drinking
• Empower adults to make responsible alcohol choices as part of a balanced lifestyle

I hope that you will join us in continuing to be a part of these missions.

April is Alcohol Responsibility Month, and I am hitting the ground running. Thank you for being part of
this community and for welcoming me into it. Although we have made great progress in reducing underage drinking and drunk driving, there is still much more work to be done.

Please drop me a line—I'm really looking forward to getting to know you and working with you as we continue toward our shared goals.

Best regards,
Ben Nordstrom