Ryan Wertepny, Executive Director of Prevention Services for Hanley Foundation, recently was honored with the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professional of the Year Award. The award is designed to recognize those under the age of 40 whose work and community service demonstrates a commitment to the Palm Beach North region by inspiring community-wide support through influential positions and roles served in their profession and community, and reflect a high level of character, integrity and personal/professional values.
Left-Right order):Ryan Wertepny and John Hamma; hoyto Credit – Johnny Simmons Photography
“Ryan Wertepny, Executive Director of Prevention Services for Hanley Foundation and John Hamma, Marketing and Events Coordinator for Harbourside Place, at the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Leadership Awards ceremony on May 16 at PGA National Resort & Spa. Wertepny, 38, was honored with the Chamber’s Young Professional of the Year Award for his work managing more than 35 educators who present evidence-based substance abuse prevention and life skills programs to middle and high school students in 21 counties. In the Palm Beach North area, he and his educators have reached more than 4,243 students since 2017 at Palm Beach State College, William T. Dwyer High School, Jupiter High School, Independence Middle School, Howell L. Watkins Middle School and Watson B. Duncan Middle School through the Foundation’s Alcohol Literacy Challenge (ALC) program. The ALC program challenges perceptions about alcohol use and helps young people make informed choices, which can delay the age of first use and lessen alcohol and other substance addiction issues later in life.
