For Josh Wervey, the path to success wasn’t linear; It took adaptability and hard work. Now, as the events and membership manager for the Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, he helps local businesses along their own journey to success.
This month, Ryan Cabaniss State Farm is proud to name Wervey as the recipient of the Niceville Good Neighbor Award, in recognition of his dedication to the Niceville/Val-p community.
Nominated by his colleagues at the Chamber, Wervey’s career began with service to his country.
“In 2014, I joined the United States Marine Corps,” Wervey said. “From there, I lived in California and I lived in Japan. Upon processing out, I served for about nine years in the United States Marine Corps.”
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Wervey returned to West Florida and earned a degree in pre-law political science. He wanted to become a lawyer, but chose to prioritize providing for his son after realizing how expensive law school would be. Wervey began working for the Chamber last October.
“I know everyone here now, it’s crazy,” Wervey said. “I was actually in Niceville for three years, and I didn’t know anybody, because I was actually planning on going back in the military. I got full custody of my son, and now I’m staying here.”
A Career Built on Hard Work
Wervey’s time in the Marines taught him discipline and time management, skills he applies in his work for the Chamber.
“Nothing’s ever given,” Wervey said. “You have to earn everything that you work for, because in the Marine Corps they definitely break you down to absolutely nothing, and it lets you build yourself back up to where they believe you’re something, you know? And I’ve just kind of lived by that. Never expect any kind of award or anything; just give back to the community in the best way you can.”
Seeing the community connections he helps foster is rewarding in itself to Wervey.
“Connecting people with the right people is definitely what I like doing,” he said. “Or definitely seeing the Niceville Young Professionals; having them bring people in that they would never organically be able to speak to.”
‘Unapologetically Me’
When asked what attributes make him a good neighbor, Wervey’s answer was simple: “I’m just me.”
“I’ve always loved to talk to people and get to know people that I don’t know,” he said. “I’m not one of those ones that can walk into a room and feel social anxiety. I just go up to everybody and talk to them. … I don’t want recognition, right? I’m just doing it for the community to help anyone I can, and fill whatever need they need, or for the business community. So that’s the only thing I can think of, honestly. I guess I’m just unapologetically me.”
Josh’s Other Job
To Wervey, the most important job he has isn’t with the Chamber — It’s the many roles he fills for his 7-year-old son.
“As a single parent you gotta play a lot of roles, and it’s very difficult because I got to be the fun parent and I got to be the hand of authority, you know?” Wervey said. “So it’s very difficult. But every decision I make is based on him.”
Wervey said he strives every day to show his son that his goals are in reach, no matter what path he takes.
“I want my son to know that in life you can choose whatever path, and you can always still be successful. … Like I went to the military, and there’s nothing demeaning about that at all, right? And then I graduated college, so it’s like, you can pick one of those two options. But I just want him to see that in my life I did those things, the things that the kids are going to, maybe, frown upon in graduating high school. Like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re going to the military,’ you know? But he can choose that path and still have an incredible life and still graduate and be a doctor, a lawyer — whatever he wants to be.”
Wervey is now obtaining a master’s degree in cybersecurity: national security. He hopes to return to government work for the National Security Agency — but any community would be lucky to have a neighbor like him.
