Steve Liga Celebrates 10 Years at NCADD

Steve Liga has been NCADD’s CEO and Executive Director since 1998. Quick calculation will tell you that he has been at the agency for ten years. Today, anyone who stays at any job for more than a few years is considered a lifer. For those who have shared several offices with Mr. Liga, he is considered the best.

To understand who Steve Liga is, all one needs to do is read his column in the summer 2008 issue of the quarterly Prevention Works. Following a return from his first vacation in years, Steve wrote on the NCADD gratitude board “(This is) a job and co-workers that I did not mind coming back from Hawaii to. Hawaii was wonderful, but I love what I do and who I work with. Besides…I missed my cats, too.”

So who is Steve Liga? Well, he is a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Prevention Specialist, and a Licensed Social Worker with fifteen years of experience in the field of addictions treatment and prevention. He has worked as a counselor in various treatment modalities, including inpatient, intensive outpatient and outpatient settings.

Steve obtained his Masters of Social Work in Administration, Policy, and Planning from Rutgers University. He capably moved from direct practice to work in the area of prevention and advocacy.

Steve is President of the New Jersey Prevention Network (NJPN). He has served on the Board of Trustees of several other organizations, including the New Jersey Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NJAADAC) and has brought the same spirit of advocacy to each board he serves. He is also an experienced instructor, having taught for several institutions, including Rutgers University, Rowan University, Mercer County Community College, and Burlington County Community College. He continues to serve as a CADC and CPS Course Instructor. Steve is a very capable and easy-going presenter. He has presented at the annual conferences of the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, New Jersey Prevention Network, and New Jersey Associated Treatment Providers.

His tenure at NCADD has been marked by many achievements. For example, he doubled NCADD’s budget and full time staff in his first two years at the agency. He developed multiple new programs and initiatives and secured funding from additional sources. Steve rewrote NCADD’s bylaws, personnel manual, and job descriptions for all staff and instituted a thorough performance appraisal process.

Steve rebuilt the NCADD Board of Trustees and organized several successful fundraising events which tripled the agency’s cash reserve in three years. Steve established and maintained working relationships with community groups, service providers, government offices, and other relevant agencies to further advocacy efforts, public relations for the organization, and provision of services to the community.

Prior to joining NCADD, Steve worked for two years at the Mercer County Office on Addiction Services as a County Alliance Coordinator. That job was preceded by a stint at Mercer County Community College were he served as Program Coordinator. Steve was also employed by Catholic Charities as an Addictions Counselor and started his professional career holding the same position at the Rescue Mission of Trenton for three years.
A measure of the man can be seen in an award he received while at Villanova University. In 1991, Steve was awarded The Dorothy Day-Thomas Merton Award which is named after Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton who were two outstanding American contributors on the journey toward peace and justice. Their lives of study, writing, prayer and action have encouraged others to become involved in furthering the cause of justice and peace in the world. This award is given to a graduating senior with a concentration or minor in Peace and Justice Education who has maintained academic excellence and made a significant contribution to the effort to further justice and peace during their four years at Villanova University.

Steve has maintained this passion during his ten years at NCADD. We and the rest of the community are lucky to call him boss and friend.

Steve Liga is recognized by NCADD Board of Trustees President Katherine Fallon (right) and Board Member Steven S. Polinsky.

Steve is also recognized by his staff including (standing on right) Alexandra Lopez, NCADD Program Director and (seated) Linda Surks, Coalition Coordinator.

Here are some images of Steve from the past ten years.