4 minute read
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
By Amy Falkofske
Meet Kathie Johnson, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce’s New Chairman of the Board of Directors. Kathie has been a board member with the Chamber since June of 2016. This month, she takes over for now Immediate Past-Chair Bishop Lyle Dukes.
A Wealth of Leadership Experience
Johnson brings a wealth of leadership experience to her role as chair. She is a nurse by profession and serves as the president of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. Prior to that, she served in several leadership roles in hospitals in North Carolina, including eight years as president of Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center in Thomasville. While in that position, she served as the Chairman of the Board of the Thomasville Chamber of Commerce.
Johnson’s leadership experience is what led to her being nominated as the chair-elect and then becoming the chair.
“I was on the Board of Directors working on various committees with them, and then they offered me the Chair-Elect nominee, and my work with them has progressed since then,” she said.
Past and Present
As chair-elect over the past year, Johnson has learned from and worked closely with the chair and immediate-past chair to “advance the agenda of the Chamber membership.”
“The combined skills and experience of three leaders offers tremendous benefit to the Chamber as a whole,” she said. In her new role, Johnson will be leading the Board of Directors meetings more regularly and said that she will be “building on what [she’s] done this [past] year to be able to do more on behalf of the Chamber.”
Johnson said what she most looks forward to during her term as chair is collaborating with businesses.
“My greatest satisfaction comes from the opportunity to work with other business leaders in our community. Improving the business climate and quality of life for everyone is an important role of the chamber, and we really have a wonderful board. I’ve enjoyed meeting all the different business leaders and having the opportunity to work with them so far, and I’m looking forward to that even more in the future,” she said.
A Passion for Helping Businesses
Johnson pointed out that Sentara is a special partner of the Chamber of Commerce and that’s part of what fuels her passion to work with the Chamber.
“Our hospital has been a member of the local Chamber since it was first established in this community in 1972. Both the Chamber and the hospital have grown and evolved significantly over the last number of decades,” she said.
She said that she feels strongly about supporting the Chamber’s mission, as well.
“As the Prince William area has experienced growth, facilitating the growth and success of our thriving business community makes
sense. Personally, I have always believed in and supported the probusiness mission of the Chamber of Commerce in communities where I’ve lived and worked,” said Johnson.
State of the Chamber
Despite current events, Johnson feels that the Chamber will continue to be strong during her term as chair.
“We are certainly facing a unique time in history in the economic and business climate as we recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately, in the Prince William region, we have long enjoyed a thriving business environment and I am optimistic about our future. The Chamber also has a solid financial foundation and is positioned to continue to grow,” she said.
Goals for the Coming Year
Johnson has big plans for her term as chair. She highlighted four areas that she intends to focus on. Her first goal is to continue working on the Chamber’s five-year strategic plan developed last year.
“We already have a very solid foundation to support businesses in our community,” she said.
Secondly, she plans to continue working with the other members of the board on establishing a 501(c)(3) Chamber Foundation and bringing that to a conclusion in the coming year.
Her third goal involves updating the Chamber’s infrastructure.
“We also are working to update our infrastructure, including modernizing the IT infrastructure, making it easier for our members to use,” she said.
Her final goal involves working with the Small Business Development Center.
“We had an exciting project this year. We’ve been working with the Small Business Development Center and Prince William County Department of Economic Development to provide access to free counseling and seminars to area businesses and future business owners,” she said.
Advice for Area Businesses
Johnson feels that being a part of the Chamber is beneficial for any business who might be considering becoming a member.
“Very simply, I encourage all area businesses and organizations to get involved! Invest in becoming a member. Like most things in life, you reap much more from any experience the more you become engaged! Through our advocacy efforts, the Prince William Chamber continually strives to make this region the best place to be in business,” she said.
A Strong Business Community
Lastly, Johnson believes that a strong business community is good for the community as a whole. “It’s important to understand that a robust business community offers not only resources and services to the communities where they are, but also contributes to the tax base of the jurisdiction, enabling the local government to provide expanded infrastructure and community services without raising taxes. A strong business community really offers a lot to the community in addition to the services offered by the individual businesses,” she said.
If you’d like more information about getting involved in the Chamber of Commerce, visit pwchamber.org.
Amy Falkofske is a freelance writer and photographer. She has a Master’s degree in Film-TV with a concentration in screenwriting. She lives in Bristow with her husband, two boys and two Beagle dogs. You can reach her at afalkofske@princewilliamliving.com.
