A job well done

It’s said every challenge is nothing more than a chance to make things better.

Marla Johnson didn’t know it at the time, but in 1992, shortly after graduating from Texas State University with an MBA — and plans on becoming a CPA — her career path changed. She learned of a job at the Hays County Women’s Center, leading her to apply.

Her challenges … only just beginning.

“The board of directors had been advised they needed someone with a business background,” said Johnson, who currently serves as HCWC's executive director. “I had no experience with issues of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse or with social services agencies, but they hired me.”

She said it was “awful” at first. But, after witnessing how important HCWC services were to families and the community, she decided to stay to see how they could work together and make things better.

Following a name change to the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center that came later, and 28 years of dedicated service, Johnson has made it better as she's preparing to retire soon. Just ask the people she’s worked with.

“I had the great fortune to be part of Marla’s staff and then later serve on her board,” said Laura Dupont, senior vice president of development and operations at Corridor Title. “She has been a lifelong mentor and friend and was especially impactful in my life when I was a young, working mother. On the days when life overwhelmed me to the point of tears, Marla would welcome me into her office, share some of the candy she always had sitting in a bowl on her desk, and tell me stories about when her children were little.”

Dupont said she didn’t give advice but rather gently, in her kind and calm Marla way, made her feel normal — that everything was going to be okay.

“I have carried her words with me throughout my life and, like many others, will forever be grateful for her continued presence in my life,” Dupont added. “It’s hard to imagine the HCWC without her, but the solid foundation she has laid will last beyond us all, there is no doubt.”

On its website the mission of the HCWC is clear. It’s to create an environment where violence and abuse are not tolerated in the communities they serve. The center provides education, violence prevention services and crisis intervention to victims of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Over the years Johnson said the center has become a special place.

“It’s a place where miracles happen, and it’s a crisis center, so it’s very fast paced and operates 24 hours daily, so it is intense,” she said. “I have been privileged to witness thousands of examples of personal strength and triumph and shared some heartbreaking moments.”

Cindy McCoy, who worked with HCWC prior to Johnson joining the center, agrees with her remarks but says it’s only through Johnson's leadership that the center has become the success story it is today.

“She should be known as the ‘hero’ in helping keep the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center open for so many years, providing comfort and protection for so many women, children, and some men, in their times of distress,” McCoy said.

McCoy remembers being on the board of directors and the hiring committee when Johnson came to interview.

“Marla was our first person to interview that had a Master’s in Business Administration. In the interview I could tell she was a very humble person and very smart — willing to help the people at the women’s shelter,” McCoy said. “We all felt she was a person of high character and integrity. I just ‘connected’ with her when she answered my question, why she wanted to work at the shelter with — ‘I don’t know, I just feel called to this job.’ We all knew right away, and she was hired quickly.”

McCoy refers to Johnson as sweet, kind, gentle, very caring, and comforting — but firm and tough when she needs to be.

“We’ve had a lot of fun with each other at auction fundraisers, board and committee meetings, and retreats,” McCoy said. “She knows how to provide much needed direction. She is non-judgmental and wise in who she has hired throughout the years and knowledgeable in how to keep this nonprofit financially going. Hence, she is our humble hero.”

McCoy said Johnson is smart and resourceful in how she has been able to build and grow the center with a new family shelter, a sexual assault center — and one for children, administration offices, counseling offices, and the current transitional housing being built for the women and children.

“Yes, she has worked long and hard hours, but her family always came first,” McCoy said. “She has such a deep love for her whole family. I really respect that. I am so happy that she is a new grandmother now. Her retirement is very well deserved and is coming at the right time to enjoy her husband, children and new grand baby and her whole family.”

McCoy said Johnson has not only been a gift to her family, but also to her employees and all her friends as well as all those that have been associated with her. But even more, she has been a gift for all of San Marcos and surrounding areas.

“I am so very happy and grateful that she came in that day, following her heart, and doing something that she felt ‘called to do,’” McCoy said. “Thank you for all your hard work and dedication through all these years, Marla. We all love you.”

Johnson said looking back what she will remember most is the resilience of the survivors they work with and how strong and courageous they are.

“The campus we have built at HCWC demonstrates the community’s concern for survivors and a deep understanding by our staff of the needs of victims of abuse,” she said. “Creating places where people can heal and then seeing that happen in those spaces has been a powerful experience.”

Support comes from “everywhere,” Johnson said. About 70% of their funding is from state and federal grants.

“About 10% is the value of in-kind donations (volunteer hours, donated food, furniture, etc.),” Johnson said. “The remaining 20% is from local sources such as cities and counties, foundations, churches, civic organizations, businesses, and individual donors. The local funds allow us to bring in the state and federal funds. We need to show that our community supports us.” Johnson said the service

they provide couldn’t happen were it not for the tremendous support they receive from volunteers.

“We can’t provide services 24-hours daily without our volunteers,” she said. “This year has been tough with the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, but we had 417 volunteers who provided 6,737 hours of service through HCWC.”

Johnson said they also have a robust internship program with several area universities and many active community volunteers that keep things moving.

Marsha Moore, who has served on the HCWC board for many years, said she’s in awe of Johnson’s abilities.

“I have been on the board close to 20 years and have thoroughly enjoyed working with Marla,” Moore said. “My experience with her is varied: president of the board, treasurer for several terms, and a member of two separate capital campaigns. I have been in awe of her ability to keep multiple balls juggling and appear to be calm as can be when there was a crisis. She always keeps the board more-than-informed on any issues and has led the way in both capital campaigns.”

Moore said Johnson is always the most concerned about their clients, whether they are the clients receiving counseling services, the clients in the shelter, or children being seen because of sexual abuse.

“She is a leader by example for her staff, which has grown considerably during her tenure as our services have expanded,” Moore added. “She's not afraid to admit she doesn't know the answer to a question and will always come back with

an answer once she has researched the question. She has allowed numerous staff to learn skills that have allowed them to either move up at HCWC or move on to better opportunities elsewhere. She is the reason that HCWC has such good relations with other nonprofit entities in town; she fosters those relationships and is concerned about our interactions with them as we all strive to improve the lives of our clients.”

Johnson said the center offers counseling, legal advocacy and advocacy services to adult and child victims of family violence, sexual assault and dating violence.

“We operate a children’s advocacy center (Roxanne’s House) which is a child-friendly facility serving possible child abuse victims,” she said. “We provide forensic interviews of the children for law enforcement and CPS, provide forensic medical exams on-site and offer counseling for the children and the non-offending family members. “ Johnson said they operate

a 24-hour HELPline, that responds 24-hours daily to local hospitals for family violence and sexual assault calls. They also offer a prevention education program in schools and the community.

“It’s a busy place,” she said. “We are also building transitional housing for victims of abuse now so that will be another service starting in 2022.”

Melissa Rodriguez, director of community partnerships at HCWC, said she’ll miss her friend.

“I will remember Marla for always being our strong and steady leader who also is one of the smartest and most compassionate people I’ve had the honor to work alongside over the years,” Rodriguez said. “She has been my mentor and has taught me so much over the years and believed in me in ways that helped me grow both as a person and leader. “One of the best things about Marla is that she always thinks of all the ways to take care of the people we serve daily and all the staff who are here to serve them. Her legacy and all she’s done for HCWC has had a significant impact in the community — one that we hope we can continue to grow and nurture.”

Johnson is scheduled to retire in April.

lwinter

@sanmarcosrecord.com

Twitter: @LanceWinter

“She should be known as the ‘hero’ in helping keep the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center open for so many years, providing comfort and protection for so many women, children, and some men, in their times of distress.” - Cindy McCoy