Olivia Johnson has been named the new executive director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
Johnson said she is a native of Jackson County and earned a marketing degree from Tennessee Tech. Johnson said her decision to pursue the chamber position ultimately came down to her love for the community and a desire to see it continue to grow.
“I really love my community,” Johnson said. “That’s the main reason that I wanted to do this. I care about how things go. I care about how we thrive. I want us to be way bigger than just empty buildings.”
Before taking the role, Johnson said she built a diverse background through freelance marketing and design work, collaborating with several local businesses. She said those experiences have helped her better understand the needs of business owners across the county.
“I’ve been just a little bit of everywhere, and the freelance work has really given me the opportunity to meet a lot of different people and different business owners,” Johnson said. “It taught me to be flexible and always ready to tackle whatever.”
As she steps into the role, Johnson said she is already working to gather input from chamber members.
“I’ve sent out a survey to all of our chamber members, just asking them their experience with the chamber and if they felt like communication was clear,” Johnson said. “I want to hear everyone’s opinion.”
Johnson said she plans to use that feedback to guide future decisions and collaborate with the chamber’s board to improve events, communication, and services.
Looking ahead, Johnson said her long-term goals center on strengthening the local business community and increasing the chamber’s visibility.
“I want to support small businesses, encourage collaboration between those businesses, and build a strong, recognizable brand,” Johnson said. “I want people to know about the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.”
Johnson also emphasized the importance of connecting directly with business owners, saying those relationships will be key to the chamber’s success.
“We thrive off of our businesses, so I want to make sure that I can provide every essential need that I possibly can,” Johnson said. “I want them to feel like the chamber is somewhere they can go, and they know that stuff will get done.”
Johnson said Gainesboro is currently in the best condition she has ever seen and credited previous director Hope Vargas. Johnson said that while there are big shoes to fill, she is eager to take on the challenge and contribute to the county’s economic growth.
“I’m super excited,” Johnson said. “I love my town, and I’m very excited to be a part of the economic growth.”
