When Alan Johnson joined the Board of Directors last March, he brought with him not only decades of professional expertise but also a strong personal belief that children thrive when fathers are engaged and present. When Alan was growing up, his father commuted from Massachusetts to New Hampshire for work, so he wasn’t always able to participate in Alan’s activities. “Now that I have my own children, I want to be involved as much as possible, by coaching their baseball and basketball teams, for example, and going to their school events,” he says.
A Boston native, Alan moved to New Jersey in 2008 to join NRG, where he works in regulatory compliance—“wearing three hats,” as he says. He brings that same level of multitasking energy to his role at The Father Center of New Jersey. He came to the organization after completing board training with Nonprofit Connect, an organization that matches nonprofit organizations to volunteers seeking purpose.
“I was looking for something that truly spoke to me,” he recalls. “Board service can be a lot of work, so it was important to me to feel connected to and passionate about an organization’s mission.”
After doing his research and speaking with people from his church, including Marc Warren, COO of The Father Center, he found that connection. “Given the times we’re living in, the need for stability in families is greater than ever. The programs at The Father Center really impressed me. I decided to toss my hat in the ring.”
What resonates most deeply with Alan is the organization’s commitment to fathers’ emotional well-being and stability. “There’s a lot of help needed out there, and The Father Center of New Jersey is meeting that need through job trainings, parenting classes and other services.”
As a board member, Alan is focused on understanding day-to-day operations and identifying where the board can remove barriers and strengthen staff capacity. “It’s important to know what’s happening in people’s lives today, so we can develop effective programs,” he notes.
His goal is to educate more people and create awareness of the services offered by TFCNJ and partner organizations. “Unless you know someone who has benefited, you might not realize how many services are available. A lot of people could truly take advantage of them.”
