Join us for a day of empowering responsible alcohol choices.
Wednesday, April 22 | Responsibility.org Office | 101 Constitution Ave, NW Suite 375-E Washington, D.C. 20001
Throughout the day, experts will guide us in conversations and thought leadership to inspire, instill pride, and expand upon the progress that has been made over decades of work. Responsibility starts with each of us. It starts here. And it continues together.
The day’s agenda will consist of the following speakers and panels:
12:00 PM
Light Lunch and Networking
1:00 PM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Leslie Kimball, Executive Director, Responsibility.org
Chris Swonger, President & CEO, DISCUS and Responsibility.org
1:10 PM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Bruce Holsinger, Bestselling Author of “Culpability”
Stories of Responsibility: Our Changing Characters, Our Changing Selves.
Envisioning the future is not a hard thing to do when you are able to create the change you wish to see. How can we mold a future of responsibility for all—make it inevitable, standard, and part of our daily existence?
2:00 PM
The Next Wave of Drunk Driving Technology
A candid conversation on the impact of impaired driving and the future of road safety. Topics will include drunk/impaired driving technology and how legislation is trying to keep up, public education needs, and how highway crash data is used to make us safer.
- Kristin Poland, PhD, Deputy Director, Office of Highway Safety, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
- Andrew Rogers, Managing Partner, Boundary Stone Partners, Executive Director, Modern Analytics for Roadway Safety (MARS) Coalition, Former Federal Highway Administration Deputy Administrator
- Tess Rowland, Roadway Safety Advocate and Impaired Driving Survivor, and Member of Responsibility.org National Advisory Board
- Ryan Smith, Senior Director, Traffic Safety Research and Innovation, Responsibility.org
- MODERATOR: Leslie Kimball, Executive Director, Responsibility.org
2:45 PM
Cultivating Conversations with Kids
Engage with this parent-led dialogue that touches on ways to start honest conversations about alcohol, safety, and decision-making. Learn the best ways for parents to model responsibility and their impact and influence on the lifestyles of their kids and young adults.
- Harlan Cohen, NY Times Bestselling Author & Expert on College, Career & Life Transitions
- Kier Gaines, Licensed Therapist, Professional Speaker and Author
- Erin O’Malley, Responsibility.org Educational Advisory Board Member and School Counselor at Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, MD
- Monica Sakala, Founder, Soma Strategies
- MODERATOR: Kristin Bodenstedt, Vice President, Government Relations, Bacardi
3:30 PM
Break and Brief Networking Session
3:45 PM
The Flavor of Responsibility: Pairing Alcohol with Culinary Experiences
In Washington, D.C., where diplomacy meets dining and every meal tells a story, alcohol can be more than a beverage; it’s a flavor enhancer, a cultural connector, and a tool for culinary artistry. This panel explores how hospitality tastemakers use spirits, wine, and cocktails to elevate the dining experience while championing responsible drinking and hospitality principles.
- Tom Sietsema, Former Washington Post Food Critic and Author of “Next Course with Tom Sietsema”
- Natalie Migliarini, Author of Beautiful Booze
- Fernando Sousa, Beverage Director, Diageo North America
- MODERATOR: Kelly Poulsen, Responsibility.org
A reception will follow on the rooftop overlooking our nation’s capital starting at 4:45PM and concluding at 6PM.
April is Alcohol Responsibility Month, the perfect time to come together to advance conversations, knowledge, and actions that will keep us moving forward in achieving our three missions