“I owe my life today to recovery and the best thing I can do is pay it forward.”
Last month, the ABC Recovery Center hosted the 19th annual Firestone Awards, honoring Northbound CEO, Michael Neatherton for his tremendous contributions to the recovery community.
Previous honorees include Betty Ford, NFL sportscaster and recovery advocate, Pat Summerall, nationally-renowned surgeon and former Betty Ford Center Medical Director, Dr. Jim West, internationally-recognized addiction specialist, Kevin McCauley and Physician Director of the Betty Ford Center, Dr. Harry Haroutunian.
Mike has been working in the addiction treatment field for over 35 years, and previously served in various executive positions at the Betty Ford Center, where he worked for over 20 years. Mike is a nationally renowned speaker, mentor, and coach and serves on the board of directors of several nonprofit organizations.
Throughout his career, Mike has been a great example to those working in the addiction treatment industry promoting a culture of transparency, authenticity and accountability. At Northbound, he emphasizes the importance of organizational health, transformational leadership, and living life with balance. Mike frequently talks about the fact that organizational health is a “top down process,” and at Northbound “that starts with Paul Alexander and myself.”
Mike’s deep-seeded passion for recovery is based in the belief that everyone can recover from addiction. At Northbound, he promotes the principle that “mission trumps margin,” and “spiritual precedes the material.” “Our number one priority is to carry the message of recovery to those who’re still suffering – everything else comes second.”
Mike Neatherton at the Firestone Awards Gala with Northbound’s Eloise Gene-Black (left), Jimmy Weiss (right) and Missy Weiss (far right)
He credits his love for his family, strong faith, spiritual values, and sustaining a healthy work-life balance as the key reasons for his professional success. He states “everything of value in my life is because I’m sober and I’m truly living the dream.” “I owe my life to recovery and the best thing I can do is pay it forward.”
About Northbound
Northbound Treatment Services is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations-JCAHO, specializing in treating young adults struggling with addiction and co-occurring disorders. Northbound offers a full continuum of care and evidence-based therapies and helps their clients effectively transition back into the life after treatment.
