A true leader. Talented and dedicated.
Those are just a few descriptions of Hollister resident Kathy
Johnson, who has been named the 28th Assembly District’s
”
Woman of the Year
”
for 2004 by Assemblyman Simon Salinas (D-Salinas).
A true leader. Talented and dedicated.
Those are just a few descriptions of Hollister resident Kathy Johnson, who has been named the 28th Assembly District’s “Woman of the Year” for 2004 by Assemblyman Simon Salinas (D-Salinas).
After only three and a half years in San Benito County, Johnson has spent much of her time volunteering with local organizations such as the United Way, Hazel Hawkins Foundation, the Community Foundation, and is a founding member of the San Benito County Ambassadors.
She will be honored at the State Capitol in Sacramento on March 15, at the 18th Annual “Woman of the Year” ceremony.
“I’m the kind of person who usually shies away from things like this,” Johnson said. “I hope that the work I do is honor enough.”
Johnson owns her own consulting firm in Hollister called Kathy Z. Johnson & Associates, which works with individuals and organizations to achieve their charitable or philanthropic goals.
Along with her professional contributions, she has a long history of accomplishments and public service to the community.
“Kathy Johnson is a true leader and has focused her entire career and life around service to the community,” Salinas said. “I am pleased to pay tribute to such a talented and dedicated woman, and I applaud her contributions to the San Benito County community.”
Her passion for leadership and her instrumental work in implementing a new program called Leadership San Benito County was a chief reason she was chosen for the honor.
The leadership program, which will begin in September, is a comprehensive training program that will teach leaders different skill sets and give them an opportunity to learn more about the community, Johnson said.
Johnson grew up in Minnesota and also spent some time in Florida, where she was highly active in community activities.
She had always wanted to live on the Central California coast, and when she and her husband finally made the move to Hollister, she threw herself into volunteering immediately, she said.
“If you invest in your community… you feel like it’s a part of you,” she said. “Already, San Benito County feels like home to me. As a result I feel ownership for this community.”
Having the spotlight on her isn’t something she’s used to, but if it highlights the community then it’s worth it, she said.
“I feel that I must share this honor with the many other amazing women in San Benito County who have given so much to our wonderful community,” she said. “If it gives San Benito County a chance to shine statewide, I love to be a part of that.”
