NEA C-Suite: Pat Johnson

How would you describe your company? We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Eddie Mae Herron Center is a museum and community center dedicated to education and preserving African American history in Randolph County. It’s named for Eddie Mae Herron, a longtime pillar and educator in the African American community in Randolph County. She taught us how to read, write, do math and everything else. The center opened in 2000 and is a living history museum. The building started off as a church, built in 1919, and a deal was eventually struck with the Pocahontas School District to use it as a school for African American students. Several thousand visitors come to the museum each year, according to our sign-in rolls. Local school districts send students to the museum to learn about the area’s history. Students take part in activities sponsored by the museum, such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

How significant to you is developing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) culture within your organization? This is quite significant because the mission of the Eddie Mae Herron Center is to foster widespread appreciation and understanding for African American history and culture. We have ongoing cooperation with local organizations and communities to create an inclusive environment.

Which skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership? Friendliness, vision, hard work, teamwork, and fundraising experience are all essential for nonprofit leadership. In addition, it is important to be a face in the community.

If you could change one thing about your leadership style, what would it be and why? I would like to be more adaptable to new technology and social trends to best communicate with the public. In the past 20 years, social media has evolved significantly. I believe being an active presence is important, however I am still working to realize this goal in online spaces.

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? I would support homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and drug rehabilitation shelters.

What is the best business advice someone has ever given you? I think it’s important to both have a vision and be a team player to realize that vision.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? Michelle Obama, because she is a down to earth, family-oriented wife and mother, and has not forgotten where she started even after becoming a national figure. I would like to visit their home at Martha’s Vineyard and meet many interesting people there.

What’s your favorite movie or television show? “Good Times” is my favorite television show.

What are your thoughts on working from home? It is a new convenience, but it can take away from communication in the workplace.

Do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) can take jobs in your industry? We are a living history museum that is supported by volunteers. I am a former student of the Pocahontas Colored School, which this museum tells the story of. I started going to school there in 1954, and Eddie Mae Herron was my teacher. Community members and volunteers continuously shape visitor experiences that are very personal, so cannot easily be replaced.

What is the most used app on your phone? Facebook is my favorite app on my cellphone. It helps me connect and communicate with the community.