Will Matteson Receives 2025 Aspiring Leader in Prevention Award

“We are proud to announce that Will Matteson, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Aspiring Leader in Prevention Award, honoring his exceptional leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the field of substance use prevention and behavioral health.”

Will Matteson currently serves as the Associate Program Manager at Healthy Lincoln County (HLC), where he helps coordinate and oversee all substance use prevention work for the organization. Will has been with HLC for three years, beginning his career in 2022 as the Substance Use Prevention Coordinator before being promoted in 2025 in recognition of his leadership, professionalism, and growing expertise. In his role, Will has overseen multiple federal, state, and local prevention initiatives. He previously managed HLC’s Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant until its conclusion in September 2025. He continues to oversee work funded through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) grant, Maine Prevention Network (MPN) funds, and the Lincoln County Opioid Response grant awarded to Healthy Lincoln County.

Through these projects, Will leads and supports a wide range of programming, coalition-building efforts, school partnerships, and community outreach activities across Lincoln County.

Will is a graduate of Kenyon College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. Although he does not come from a traditional public health background, he made a significant career shift into prevention in 2022 after several years working in the hospitality industry. Since joining Healthy Lincoln County, Will has completed extensive professional development in prevention science.

Will has spent the past three years with Healthy Lincoln County, first as the Substance Use Prevention Coordinator and now as the Associate Program Manager. In these roles, he has built a strong prevention portfolio that has expanded programming, strengthened partnerships, and increased access to evidence‐based resources across Lincoln County.

As the Prevention Coordinator, Will led the Lincoln County Substance Use Prevention Partnership through the final years of the Drug‐Free Communities (DFC) grant, which ended in September 2025. He brought together youth, schools, law enforcement, healthcare partners, and community members to implement aligned strategies to reduce youth substance use and increase resiliency, maintaining strong engagement through the closeout of federal funding.

Will also serves as the primary school‐based prevention educator for Lincoln County, delivering consistent, developmentally appropriate lessons on substance use, decision‐making, and mental health in every middle and high school. He co‐facilitates instruction with Lincoln Health’s Tobacco Prevention Coordinator to ensure accurate, evidence‐based messaging.

Will provides technical assistance, materials, and support to schools, youth groups, municipalities, law enforcement, and treatment and recovery partners. His work includes supporting youth‐led prevention groups, coordinating community outreach, and maintaining strong cross‐sector relationships.

Will is also HLC’s a highly effective Narcan trainer. He delivers regular overdose‐prevention trainings to schools, municipal departments, businesses, and residents—including rural and island communities—integrating stigma‐reducing, prevention‐focused messaging throughout.

Promoted to Associate Program Manager in 2025, Will now helps coordinate all substance use prevention work and oversees major grants including CARA, Maine Prevention Network funds, and the Lincoln County Opioid Response grant. He also managed the final reporting and closeout of the DFC grant. Will supports local coalition development, including relaunching the Wiscasset‐area coalition, implements Prime for Life restorative programming, is a Certified Retailer Beverage Selling (RBS) trainer, and collaborates with cannabis retailers to promote safe storage and strengthen community prevention

messaging.

"What sets Will apart is how he strengthens the work of those around him. He treats prevention as a shared effort and brings people together with patience, respect, and an authentic interest in understanding their needs. He consistently identifies realistic ways to expand access to information and supports partners without seeking attention for himself. His focus remains on improving community wellbeing, not personal Recognition.

Will’s adaptability also distinguishes him. As grants shifted, staffing changed, and new responsibilities emerged, he adjusted quickly while keeping prevention work grounded and consistent. His ability to remain level‑headed during uncertainty has been reassuring to colleagues and partners and reflects maturity beyond his years in the field."

Congratulations, Will!

Learn more about the Maine Prevention Certification Board Here!