Youth Addiction Prevention Coalition

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• Full Name: Gwendolyn A. Bork
• Title: Financial Advisor, Impact Strategist
• Name of Organization you represent: The Legend Group, Queen City Collaborative
• Strengths: Non-profit Entrepreneur, Community Leader and Business Owner. NYS Certified Addiction Recovery Coach and Trainer of Trainer.  Organizational Development. Public Speaker. Founder of FOCUS.
• WHY  you wanted to be on our board: I have a personal passion to empower our youth into becoming the leaders they were meant to be through community  collaboration and support. I have a personal story that identifies with  their struggles from leaving home at the age of 15 and almost dying in a  car accident at the age of 18 after losing my sense of “self”. I know  where they are because I’ve been there and my legacy will be in pouring  my life into them.

• Full name: Deborah LaBounty
• Title: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
• Name of Organization you represent: Spectrum Health & Human Services  
• Strengths: Several years of experience working effectively with children and youth  both voluntarily and professionally. Creative and hard working with a  solid commitment to reaching goals that have far  reaching impact on the whole community
• WHY you wanted to be on our board: My heart is always with the most vulnerable among us and I believe it is  my purpose in life to do my best to support and help them through  compassion, education and opportunity. 

• Full Name:  Gianna Ryniec
• Title: Depew High School Student
• Name of Organization you represent: Depew HS Student, 716 Dance Lab, Goldfish Swim School
• Strengths: Organization, Volunteering, Leadership.
• WHY you wanted to be on our Board: Leadership is something I've been recognized for and is a passion of mine to assist and give back to others. 

• Full Name: Jessica Walker-Mead
• Title: Administrator
• Name of Organization you represent: FOCUS
• Strengths: Compassion and patience for others, quick witted and excel at problem solving.
• WHY you wanted to be on our Board: I want to be able to make a difference in our local community.

• Full name: Debbie Glowny
• Title: VP/Community Office Manager
• Name of Organization you represent: Bank on Buffalo
• Strengths: I have been a successful dedicated leader & mentor in  the financial world for over three decades. I’m active in numerous Not  for Profits and have countless connections in the business world
•  WHY you wanted to be on our Board: I wanted to be a part of the  organization because…. I love to make a difference and give back  whenever possible. If I can help to deter one student from going down  the wrong path and getting a bad start in life… then it’s all worth it.

• Full Name: Mindy Nowak
• Title:  Business Owner & Parent,  Certified Drug Counselor 
• Name of Organization you represent: Hair Shop 777

Strengths:  Persistence, Motivation, Attention to detail, and unstoppable optimism  that allows me to pursue my life goals with successful results. 

WHY you wanted to be on our board:  Children are our future, and preserving their blossoming minds in an  unaltered state is an honor that I am blessed to be a part of.  

• Full name: Audrey Hamernik
• Title: Village of Depew Trustee
• Name of Organization you represent: Village of Depew
• Strengths: I have been a resident of Depew for the past 57 years. I  currently serve as Trustee for the Village of Depew and have been a  highly motivated community outreach coordinator for over 38 years. I  advocate for positive change by bringing the community together to  address social issues affecting our residents.
• WHY you wanted to  on our board: As part of community development chairman of village of  Depew, I wanted to be involved in something that is creating positive change for the youth in our community.

2024

 REST IN PEACE AUDREY 

 January 29, 1942 – October 5, 2024.