My name is Jordan Mattes, and I am an Accountable Recovery Specialist with Accountable. I've been in recovery for over a decade, and if you had told me back then that I would one day make a career out of helping others find recovery, there is absolutely no way that I would have believed you.

Like everyone in this field my passion for helping others comes from my own experiences. During my active addiction, I lost two of my best friends. Those losses hit me hard and forced me to take a hard look at where my own life was headed. Even after finding recovery, I carried those losses with me. They became a reminder of how serious addiction is and how important it is that people have support when they're struggling.

As I got more time in recovery,I began to realize that I possessed a talent for talking to people. Whether it was someone struggling with addiction, someone that I just met, or even strangers that I would strike up a conversation with at the grocery store, those conversations seemed to come naturally to me. I became a huge believer in meeting people where they were without judgement, because I had been judged when I was using. I made a promise to myself not to treat others the same way.

That realization eventually led me into the recovery field professionally. I started working for a nonprofit organization outside of Philadelphia, where I spent the next four and a half years working as a mobile recovery specialist, helping individuals navigate recovery and connect with resources and support. During that time, I learned that an individual's recovery is similar to their fingerprint. It is unique to them and only them. I kept my promise to meet people where they were, often meeting people in diners, libraries, and even in a treehouse once.

After my tenure working as a mobile CRS, I was on the lookout for the next opportunity. I heard about You Are Accountable through a family member who is also working in the social services field, and was immediately intrigued with the prospect of working with clients all over the country. I am a believer that technology, when utilized thoughtfully and responsibly, can be one of the most impactful tools to reach out and help someone. Reaching out and connecting with someone who sometimes only has a wifi connection to engage with the world around them can be unbelievably meaningful, and is something that I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do.

What I enjoy most about this work is getting to see people start believing in themselves again. Recovery can feel overwhelming when you're first getting started, and it's easy to think that change isn't possible. I've been there. That's why I try to bring honesty, empathy, and understanding into every conversation. 

Today, I have over 10 years in recovery, and I don't take that for granted. Recovery has given me opportunities, relationships, and experiences that I never thought I'd have. It has also given me a purpose. The losses I experienced and the struggles I went through don't define who I am, but they do help me connect with the people I work with every day.

I believe in Accountable’s mission to help as many people as we possibly can and keep people awesome while doing it. I’m proud to be here, with this team, doing this work. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else!!