The board of directors for Plumas Rural Services has appointed Paula Johnston as the agency’s new executive director. The board made the appointment at its Dec. 10 meeting. The agency reports that the decision was the culmination of six months’ consideration of the position, the agency’s needs going forward, and Johnston’s vision for the agency as it moves into its 45th year.
Johnston joined PRS in 1991 in a clerical and bookkeeping position. After three years getting to know the agency from that perspective, she moved into the position of human resource director, which she held for the next 12 years. In 2006, she added chief operating officer of the agency to her duties while continuing to oversee human resources. By 2016, her duties were wholly engaged as the COO until the retirement of former executive director Michele Piller in May 2024. Paula stepped into the interim executive director position at that time.
“I am incredibly pleased to move forward with PRS in this position,” Johnston said. “After working with PRS for over 33 years, I am very excited to further engage our community and partners and provide opportunities to our staff to grow and develop. I look forward to supporting all individuals and families living in Plumas, Sierra, Lassen and Modoc Counties with a variety of services to meet their specific and unique needs. One thing I’m particularly interested in focusing on is increasing our service delivery for the elderly and teen populations in our counties.”
During her time with PRS Johnston has championed the agency’s staff, developing a professional climate that balances life and work for its employees, values them and their families, and encourages flexibility and recognition for hard work, the organization said. She has been an advocate for building collaborative relationships with partners across the agency’s 4-county service area, dedicating countless hours to participating with councils and advisory groups to determine how PRS can best support community-based initiatives and serve its neighbors. Most recently, Johnston was the driving force behind the PRS response to the Dixie Fire, coordinating services and distribution of resources to fire survivors across Plumas County. The board of directors for Plumas Rural Services has appointed Paula Johnston as the agency’s new executive director. The board made the appointment at its December 10 meeting. The agency reports that the decision was the culmination of six months’ consideration of the position, the agency’s needs going forward, and Johnston’s vision for the agency as it moves into its 45th year. Johnston joined PRS in 1991 in a clerical and bookkeeping position. After three years getting to know the agency from that perspective, she moved into the position of human resource director, which she held for the next 12 years. In 2006, she added chief operating officer of the agency to her duties while continuing to oversee human resources. By 2016, her duties were wholly engaged as the COO until the retirement of former executive director Michele Piller in May 2024. Paula stepped into the interim executive director position at that time.
“I am incredibly pleased to move forward with PRS in this position,” Johnston said. “After working with PRS for over 33 years, I am very excited to further engage our community and partners and provide opportunities to our staff to grow and develop. I look forward to supporting all individuals and families living in Plumas, Sierra, Lassen, and Modoc Counties with a variety of services to meet their specific and unique needs. One thing I’m particularly interested in focusing on is increasing our service delivery for the elderly and teen populations in our counties.”
During her time with PRS, Johnston has championed the agency’s staff, developing a professional climate that balances life and work for its employees, values them and their families, and encourages flexibility and recognition for hard work, the organization said. She has been an advocate for building collaborative relationships with partners across the agency’s four-county service area, dedicating countless hours to participating with councils and advisory groups to determine how PRS can best support community-based initiatives and serve its neighbors. Most recently, Johnston was the driving force behind the PRS response to the Dixie Fire, coordinating services and distribution of resources to fire survivors across Plumas County.
