Our Founders

Richard Johnson — Leadership and a Commitment to Change

Richard grew up in the small Mississippi community of Valley Park and graduated from Mississippi State University in 1991 with a degree in accounting.

After beginning his career in public accounting, he spent approximately 20 years as a financial executive, management leader, and equity partner at Southern Diversified Technologies. During that time, he helped grow the company from $2 million to $35 million in annual revenue before its acquisition in 2018.

He subsequently served in senior executive leadership at Unitek Global Services, including roles as Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations and Chief Strategy Officer. During that period, the organization grew from approximately $150 million to $370 million in annual revenue while achieving significant improvements in financial and operational performance.

Throughout his career, Richard learned the importance of confronting difficult realities, building effective teams, and bringing people together to solve complex problems.

After retiring from corporate leadership in January 2026, he began dedicating much of his time to nonprofit advocacy and building the foundation for Katie’s Light.

Today, he hopes to apply decades of leadership experience to a mission far more personal than any business accomplishment: helping unite Mississippi’s communities and organizations to protect young people and save lives.

Kimberly Johnson — The Heart Behind the Mission

For much of her adult life, Kim dedicated herself to raising the couple’s three daughters, Natalie, Katie, and Lindsey, while supporting their family and remaining deeply involved in their lives.

During the family’s years in Brookhaven, Mississippi, she also served her community through approximately ten years of involvement with the Junior Auxiliary, supporting children and families in need.

More recently, Kim became a licensed Mississippi real estate salesperson and began helping manage the family’s real estate business.

But Kim’s greatest strengths have always been her compassion, devotion to family, Christian faith, and determination to help others.

Following Katie’s death, Kim felt increasingly called by God to do something meaningful in her daughter’s memory.

In August 2025, that calling became action.

Kim called Richard and announced that they were going to organize a Walk for Lives fentanyl awareness event in Mississippi.

There were only five weeks to prepare.

Richard, drawing on decades of business experience, might have spent considerable time analyzing the obstacles and reasons such an ambitious undertaking could not be accomplished so quickly.

Kim saw things differently.

She wasn’t asking whether they could organize a walk. She was telling him they were going to do it.

That determination helped bring families, volunteers, and community supporters together for a meaningful event honoring lives lost and raising awareness about the fentanyl crisis.

More importantly, it helped ignite a larger vision.

Without Kim’s faith, compassion, and willingness to act, Katie’s Light might never have become the mission it is today.