“Redemption isn’t a finish line. It’s something I wake up and work for every single day.”

Hi, I’m Wess Burgner — formerly known as Wesley “Wes” Burgner.

For years, I lived what looked like a stable life — successful in business, raising a family, keeping things together on the surface. But behind the scenes, I was quietly unraveling. In 2012, after the loss of my newborn son, I began numbing myself with alcohol. I stayed “functional” for a while, but by 2016, everything collapsed. My addiction spiraled, and within a single year, I lost almost everything — my freedom, my reputation, and nearly my family.

Today, I’m a long-term sober father, business owner, nonprofit founder, and soon-to-be law student — living proof that people can change, grow, and rebuild with purpose.

I created this page not just to share my story, but in hopes it might encourage someone else who feels beyond repair — or help reduce the stigma around addiction and redemption.

This site is my story of responsibility, recovery, and the purpose I found on the other side of rock bottom. Welcome.