Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO of QCC or Queen City Collaborative, Gwendolyn A. Bork is a proven living example of Impact. She had a story of hope, and has made it her life legacy to create social, cultural and environmental impact. After almost dying in a car accident at the age of 18, and having a near death experience; Gwendolyn rose like a phoenix, rising above poverty, abuse, and the trauma from rape, after leaving home at the age of 15 and dropping out of high school in her Senior year.
Since her brush with Death, she has made it her goal in life to shine the light of social, cultural, and environmental impact in all that she does and with everyone she sees. Published Author of “Walking the Fine Line: The Path Between a Peak a Valley” documenting the 10 hardest years of her life (ages 14-24), peaking at a full account of her near death experience, and ending with the death of her first born sons Father, that was just the beginning of telling her story. Recording Artist “The Red Revolution”, independently published after turning down Capitol Records at age 21, EMI Records at age 24, and having to cancel her contract with SONY Records (age 24) after her sons Father died; she’s decided to make her life a testament to overcoming barriers and raising up those who feel defeated because of being less fortunate or forgotten.
Her community has become her family and her love for helping them is the foundation for QCC. President of her own Federally funded Youth Addiction Prevention Nonprofit called FOCUS: For Our Community & Support, Inc. and overseen by the White House Office of Drug Control Policy; she knows that it means to have data-driven, evidenced-based approaches to measuring impact, seeing a return on investment, and affecting the lives of those she seeks to help; making her an effective choice as your Impact Strategist and Guide to creating your Legacy.
CREDENTIALS
- Financial Advisor
- Impact Strategist
- University of Buffalo Graduate of Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership School of Management
- 2x Nonprofit Founder & President of FOCUS: Addiction Prevention Nonprofit
- Keynote Speaker
- New York State Certified Addiction Recovery Coach & Trainer
- Recording Artist “The Red Revolution” aka “The Red Rebel”
- Lifetime Movie Actress
- Public Policy Advocate
- Published Author “Walking the Fine Line-The Path Between a Peak and a Valley”
AWARDS
- 2017 “Women Who Move the City Leadership Award” Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Erie New York
- 2018 “40 Under 40 Young Leader Award” by Buffalo Business First
- 2019 “Agent of Change Public Policy Award” by Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
- 2020 “Woman of Inspiration Award” by Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
- 2021 “Chairman’s Award” National Runner-Up for FOCUS by CADCA
- 2021 “Gold Key-Community Achievement Award” by WNY Chemical Dependency Consortium
- 2022 “Catalyst Award-Honorable Mention” by Invest in Others National Charitable Foundation
- 2022 “NYS Senate – Woman of Distinction Award” by The New York State Senate
- 2023 “Athena Leadership Award Finalist” by Buffalo Niagara Partnership