Kathy Johnson was appointed as the Director of Governor Riley's Alabama Broadband Initiative and Connecting Alabama--a statewide initiative to increase access to and use of high-speed Internet. Through expanded broadband infrastructure and use of enhanced communications technologies, every corner of Alabama will have the same opportunities to learn and earn on a global scale. She is also a state representative on the national Internet Innovation Alliance.
Kathy is the former director of public affairs for the Alabama Department of Finance, assistant manager of communications for Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, director and full-time children's lobbyist for Children First Foundation and director of the Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
She has worked with communities across the country to establish common ground and effective solutions on challenging issues. Her strengths lie in training, motivational speaking, organization, project management, building partnerships that honor diversity and promote collaboration, and empowering organizations for long-term sustainability.
Kathy is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Alabama, currently serves on the board of HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) and as Treasurer for the Character Council of Alabama. She served on the Governor's Task Force on Infant Mortality and as a mentor for Mentor Alabama. She was appointed by Governor Riley to represent the Second Congressional District on the Alabama Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board (Children's Trust Fund); served on the State QA Committee for the Alabama Department of Human Resources, the DHR education and advocacy sub-committee, the children's advisory board for the Alabama Department of Mental Health and the public relations advisory board for River Region United Way.
She has served on numerous other state and local boards and advisory committees, including the Alabama Partnership for Children's Zero to Five Initiative, the state planning committee to develop a 10-year strategic plan to reduce and prevent child abuse and neglect, and the state planning committee for Next Steps: An Action Plan for Alabama's Children. Johnson also served in several professional board capacities, including President of the Public Relations Council of Alabama - Montgomery Chapter; Secretary for New Start Ministries (an organization connecting adjudicated youth with mentors in local faith-based organizations); and Treasurer of Project ROBOT (Reading of Books on Tape for the Blind). She worked with national committees in the prevention of teen pregnancy and early parenthood; served on the advisory committees of the Alabama Unwed Pregnancy Prevention Program and the Jefferson County White Ribbon Campaign; and served 3 years on the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers of Montgomery.
During the past several years, Kathy has spoken to over 80,000 people across the state. A two-time Mrs. Alabama, she was a top ten finalist in Mrs America in 2001 and was selected as Most Photogenic of Mrs. United States in 2002. Committed to community service, she hosted a radio program for blind and visually impaired listeners on Troy Public Radio for five years, worked with incarcerated women through Aid to Inmate Mothers, and raised funds and awareness for issues she is passionate about.
Kathy attended Jones Community College in Ellisville, Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Bill and Kathy have three children: Kaleigh (married to Jeremy Flatt of Montgomery), Kaleb and Hayley.