Ashley Johnson

Hometown: Louisville, KY

Education: Ashley has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Murray State University. 

Community Support:  Ashley is involved in the community with Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors), West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance (McCracken County representative), GPEDC Finance Committee, Heartland Church, and Charity League of Paducah (associate member). In the past, she has also been involved with the United Way of Paducah-McCracken County, Easter Seals of West Kentucky (Board President) and Barkley Regional Airport Authority. 

Occupation: Ashley is the Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer with Paducah Bank.

Family: Ashley is married to Michael and has three children; Isaac, Grant and Claire. 

How was volunteerism encouraged in your family or community? My mother retired from a career at United Parcel Service in Louisville and my father owned a commercial collection agency. Both served in the Vietnam War, and dad retired from the Army National Guard as a Lt. Colonel. In retirement, they have continued to stay active in volunteerism. Dad currently serves on the Louisville Merit Police Board, and Mom regularly speaks to veterans’ groups and first responders on her experience as a nurse during the war. They have both been inducted into the Kentucky Veteran’s Hall of Fame, and this November, my mom was the first female Grand Marshall of the Kentucky Veterans Day Parade. Service was an expectation during my childhood and a requirement through my schooling and was naturally carried into my college years and adulthood. I have served on a variety of boards from our EAS funded airport, to local non-profits including the United Way and Easter Seals West Kentucky, to business-focus through the Chamber and GPEDC committees.

How does healthcare support a thriving community? Healthcare is essential for a community’s success, and a key industry in Paducah. Personally, when my daughter was born in 2006 at Baptist in Paducah, we did not have a NICU, and she had to be sent to Kosair Childrens Hospital for two weeks. While we had the financial resources and job security to travel and remain with her during that time, we were with several babies whose parents did not have that luxury during their extended stays. Having access to resources such as a NICU and specialized care, families and individuals do not have to travel outside our community for most treatment. Access to specialized care helps people stay employed and attracts employers and residents to a community.

How can gratitude help heal you spiritually, physically and emotionally? In 2020, our son Grant spent three days in the hospital after a head-on collision with a semi. Two weeks after he was released, he insisted we drop him off at WKU to begin his freshman year – with a broken right-hand and broken left-shoulder, among other minor injuries. He is the most positive person I have ever known, and I know that outlook was key to his recovery and perseverance. Our son, Isaac, was orphaned in China from age 2 to 14 when we adopted him in 2015. He has been through many challenges, including physical disabilities, and has shown incredible resiliency throughout his life. I have witnessed a significant change in his health, academic performance, and personal independence as his ability to feel and express gratitude manifested. Our daughter, Claire, recently signed her NLI to play basketball at Samford University. I have seen her continually choose her attitude as she has faced adversity and challenges throughout her life and grow into a maturity and faith beyond her years. In addition to the example our children have been, we have several family members and friends who have triumphed through health issues – my mother-in-law is a cancer survivor, my father experienced a heart-attack and triple-bypass surgery in 2002 – and choosing their attitudes during the challenges were key in their holistic recoveries.