AnneMarie Johnson

Staff relations manager, ChildServe

Age: 38

Education: Bachelor of Arts – general communications; Bachelor of Arts – Spanish from the University of Northern Iowa; Spanish Certificate from the University of Oviedo, Spain; Gallup - certified manager; Leadership: Beyond Management Certificate

Children: Celia Jane (CJ) , Kendall, Luci

__________________________

Tell us four of your proudest accomplishments or accolades.

I have forged invaluable partnerships with service leaders, offering my expertise and empathetic ear during the most intricate of situations. My dedication shines brightest in the health care sector, where I have provided support amid the tumultuous recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing burnout, fatigue and staff shortages that have affected direct care workers.

For the past two years, I have served on the executive leadership team for the Go Red for Women initiative with the American Heart Association, championing heart health and advocating for women's well-being.

I embody the spirit of ChildServe, dedicating my time and talents as a designer for the annual Bubble Ball, engaging in Trunk or Treat and contributing to the success of the Golf Fore! the Kids events.

My commitment extends to my local community, where I am an active member and volunteer of the Sacred Heart School and Church.

What's your biggest passion, and why?

My greatest professional passion is employee engagement. Engaged employees are more productive, vested in the mission and have positive impacts on goals. Engaged employees drive innovation and foster new thinking within any organization.

How do you define success, both personally and professionally?

Success, to me, means creating a positive, lasting impact while staying true to my core values and beliefs.

Tell us about an issue you think more people should know about.

Organizational culture is vital, even with flexible schedules. Synergy among employees drives extraordinary results. To grow, we must attract and retain top talent by offering personal and professional development and ensuring access to quality child care and health care benefits for working parents.

What's an experience or memory that influenced how you saw the world or what you wanted to do in life?

My parents taught me the value of dedication and partnership. Saturday mornings with my dad at the Waveland Café and the office inspired my focus on communication and employee engagement. My mom, our rock, balanced supporting my dad's career and our activities, showing me the importance of teamwork. She remains my go-to for balancing work and family.

What are your aspirations for the future?

The impact ChildServe employees have on the children and families we serve is truly something to celebrate. As a team, we aim to continue developing a robust employee engagement and recognition program to ensure staff work is seen, valued and appreciated, giving team members the space to excel every day. Additionally, I aspire to be a role model for my three daughters, demonstrating the importance of hard work, dedication and giving back to the community.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to a young professional?

Be authentic to who you are. Sometimes, an easier or faster way may seem tempting, but if you lose yourself in the process, it's not worth it. Stay true to your core values and beliefs, and when you reach your destination, it will be far greater and more rewarding than you could have imagined.

What's one regular habit that's made you successful?

I enjoy selecting a word of the year and aligning all my goals with it. This practice has significantly affected both my personal and professional life. Each year, I reflect on the previous year's word and choose a new one. This year, my word is gratitude.

What is one thing you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address, and why?

I encourage business leaders to recognize the critical importance of pediatric health care and its profound impact on their employees and families. By partnering with ChildServe, business leaders can play a pivotal role in advocating for improved access to health care. Together we can engage providers, engage with policymakers and payers, driving health care innovation and pushing for better payment systems. Together, we can ensure that every child receives the care they deserve.

What's one fun fact about you?

I love coaching youth sports. Watching young athletes grow and learn through team sports is incredibly rewarding. They gain invaluable lessons in teamwork, grit, dedication, handling heartbreak and celebrating wins. A coach once told me, "You only control two things: your attitude and your effort." This wisdom has stuck with me, and I now pass it on to the athletes I coach, always emphasizing the importance of positive contributions and giving their best effort.

Hobbies:

When I am not working, you can find me spending time with my family, catching one of my daughters’ sporting events — probably cheering the loudest, or reading a book.

What is one word that best describes you?

Devoted.

What’s one food (meal, snack, dessert, whatever!) you think people must try in the Des Moines area?

Birria tacos from Flame the Taqueria.

What’s the funniest or most surprising thing that’s happened to you recently?

I have a 1 1/2-year-old goldendoodle who never fails to entertain us. We often laugh at her antics — sitting on the couch like a cat, riding in the car like a human or leaping into a lap for a hug. She keeps us smiling, on our toes and always on counter-watch duty!

What’s your favorite tradition to participate in locally?

The Holiday Lights Run with Capital Striders — I love a slow run with friends, making new ones and taking in the glow of the lights through Beaverdale