From Rock Bottom to Redemption

Wess Burgner’s Journey from Addiction and Legal Crisis to Advocate, Business Leader, and Community Voice

Atlanta, GA – For many, a Google search reveals a name. For Wess Burgner, it used to reveal only his worst day — a snapshot of a man in the depths of addiction, spiraling after years of unresolved grief. That moment led to serious legal trouble, public shame, and a long road to redemption. But today, Wess is telling the whole story — because his past doesn’t define him anymore. His actions do.

Born Wesley (Wes) Burgner, Wess legally changed his name after that painful chapter — not to run from it, but to give his children and loved ones a future free from the constant echo of outdated headlines. “I didn’t change my name to hide,” he says. “I changed it to protect my family. What shows up online doesn’t tell the whole story — and I needed space to live the life I was working hard to build.”

Before his life came apart, things looked solid from the outside. He had built a successful career in hotel and restaurant management, earned respect in his field, and provided real stability for his family. But in 2012, Wess and his family experienced an unimaginable loss — the death of their newborn son. That tragedy became the quiet catalyst for what would later become a full-blown addiction.

Wess held things together for a few years, managing life while privately battling alcoholism. But by 2016, everything caught up with him. His addiction spiraled, and in the span of one year, he lost nearly everything — his freedom, his reputation, and nearly his family.

The turning point came when he was arrested for driving under the influence with his children in the car — a moment he describes as “the most shameful and defining” of his life. “I didn’t just hit rock bottom — I shattered there,” he says. “But I made a promise to myself and my kids that I would never be that man again.”

Wess’s recovery journey began before the legal system stepped in. In the wake of his lowest point, he voluntarily entered intensive inpatient treatment and went on to live in a structured sober living community for a full year — laying the foundation for lasting change. Nearly a year into his sobriety, he was accepted into the Fulton County Accountability Court program, which became a crucial piece of his continued growth. The court’s structure, transparency requirements, and emotional accountability further reinforced the work Wess had already begun. His commitment and transformation eventually made him one of the program’s standout success stories.

His transformation didn’t go unnoticed. Wess has received letters of praise, recognition, and recommendation from multiple judges in both Glynn and Fulton Counties, as well as from the Fulton County Board of Commissioners — acknowledgments of his dedication, integrity, and perseverance.

Wess is quick to credit one thing above all else for his strength and progress: his family. “The support, faith, and unconditional love my family has shown me is the reason I’m standing here today,” he says. “Through the worst of it, they never stopped believing I could come back from it all — and that faith became my foundation. I don’t take it for granted for a single second.”

Today, Wess is living a life that stands in powerful contrast to where he once was. He is now a homeowner in the affluent Buckhead community of Atlanta and an active member of the Peachtree Park Civic Association, where he participates in neighborhood initiatives and remains engaged in local civic life.

He’s also built and grown a successful eCommerce business, returned to college at Georgia State University, and is preparing to enter law school — all while raising his children and prioritizing his family above all else. He remains actively involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and continues to mentor others on the path to recovery.

His proudest accomplishment? Founding The Artemis Council — a nonprofit created to provide resources and emotional support for children of alcoholic and addicted parents. “After everything I put my own kids through, I wanted to be part of the solution,” Wess says. “Artemis is about breaking cycles, giving kids hope, and making sure no child grows up without someone fighting for them.”

While the internet may never forget who Wess once was, he’s now determined to ensure it also reflects who he is today. “I know what people see when they search my name,” he says. “But I hope they also see the work — the years of change, the recognition, the service, the love I pour into my kids, my business, and my community. This is what redemption looks like. It’s not a finish line — it’s something I wake up and work for every single day.”

In a society quick to condemn but slow to forgive, Wess Burgner’s story stands as proof that people can fall — hard — and still rise to do something extraordinary.