Associations:

Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA)
Ben is active on MBOTMA festival committees and has been MBOTMA President twice.

Guild of American Luthiers (GAL)
Ben is a member of GAL.

Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (ASIA)
Ben is also an ASIA member.

Friends:

Gary Bartig: G. Edward Lutherie, Minneapolis, MN
Gary is a graduate of the violin program at Southeast Technical and builds the Eminence Bass and Dahlia 5-string fiddle (sorry, Violin).

David Vincent, Minnesota Southeast Technical College, Red Wing, MN
David runs the guitar program at Southeast Technical and is an accomplished builder in his own right.

Tom Nechville: Nechville Musical Products
Tom is the inventor of the revolutionary Heli-Mount banjo.

Bluegrass Forum
Run by Mark Anderson of Monroe Crossing, "the Upper Midwest's Premier Bluegrass and Gospel Quintet"

Long Time Gone - bluegrass band
You may recognize the guitar player.