Chamber Staff

Jenny Johnston

President

Jenny Johnston is President of the Northland Chamber and has been with the organization since 2016 where she spent five years as the Events & Communications Director. Jenny is a lifelong Northlander, and a proud graduate of North Kansas City High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Communications at Park University and is currently enrolled at the Institute for Organization Management through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at Villanova University. She also works for the KC Current as a cheerleader. Prior to her commitment to the Chamber, Jenny was also a Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader and worked for the City of Riverside, Northland Neighborhoods, Inc., and McCrite Plaza at Briarcliff. She and her dad Tim co-founded their non-profit organization, Briarcliff Trails of Our Community in 2009, that has funded more than $2 million in public improvement projects, community events, and trails throughout southern Clay County.

Jenny has held several volunteer leadership roles throughout the Kansas City region. She currently serves as a Commissioner of the KCMO Planned Industrial Expansion Authority (PIEA) appointed by Mayor Quinton Lucas, and as a Public Engagement member of Kansas City’s Comprehensive Plan. She is also a board member of Northland Health Care Access, North Kansas City Schools Education Foundation, and has been a long-time member of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri.

Kathy Ludwig

Membership Services

Kathy Ludwig has worked at the Northland Chamber since 2016 in Membership Services, and loves to promote her chamber clients. She grew up in the Northland, graduating from Winnetonka High School and earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Missouri. Before working at the chamber, she retired from the Kansas City Star in Retail Advertising, working with businesses throughout the city.

She is active in Club North and Northland Professionals in Aging, and likes to support charities including her church, Synergy Services, Feed Northland Kids and Kaw Valley Center. She also enjoys volunteering at Project Warmth, Boy Scouts, KVC and Holy Family Giving Tree. Kathy is married to Rick Ludwig and has two children and three grandchildren.

Pam Roberts

Director of Operations

Pam Roberts started with the Chamber in April 2022 as the Director of Operations. In her current role, she supports managerial activities by maintaining the membership database, executing accounts payable/receivable and bookkeeping duties, preparing committee meetings and assisting in the coordination and execution of Chamber events. Prior to working for the Chamber, Pam completed 20 years of service with North Kansas City Hospital where she fulfilled roles such as secretary to nurse managers, secretary to director of finance, administrative assistant to the Sr. Vice President & CFO as well as two Vice Presidents, and her latest role as administrative assistant to case management. In addition to these roles, she worked part-time-on-call for admitting, assisted accounting and patient accounts, and taught adult dance classes through NKCH Health and Wellness.

Pam was born and raised in the Northland and graduated from Winnetonka High School where she was on the Pom-Pom squad, Dance Drill Team, Orchestra and a cellist for the Liberty Symphony. Pam received her BBA from MidAmerica Nazarene University where she graduated with honors and became a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success. Pam enjoys spending her time with her husband, sons, and grandchildren.  She has a passion for helping others and donates much time to her church and programs focused on helping our aging population.

Gena Claxton

Director of Programs

Gena joined the Chamber team in January 2024. Her first passion is her family, and she feels very fortunate to have the most amazing parents, married over 50 years. Blessed with three beautiful girls that are all still local and thriving, Gena has a deep passion for leading and empowering high-performing teams. With a career spanning 17 years as a National Account Sales Manager, she honed her skills in cultivating talent and driving exceptional results.

Gena’s approach to sales management is centered around the belief that success is a collective effort. She is committed to creating an environment where each team member can thrive, leveraging their unique strengths to achieve our common objectives. Gena considers herself not only a manager but also a mentor, offering guidance, training, and support to help my teams reach their full potential. 

Throughout her journey, she had the privilege of working across various industries and market segments, enabling her to gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of sales. She is passionate about translating this knowledge into effective strategies, ensuring that our teams consistently meet and exceed their sales targets.  First year in a new territory she pushed to make Rookie of the year.  With never ended hard work, Gena lead their National account team to grow 26 percent the first year. What truly sets her apart is her commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. She firmly believes that successful teams are those that are motivated, engaged, and equipped with the right tools and knowledge.  If you’re looking for a sales process read 7 Levels of Communication.

Gena is eager to connect with professionals who share her dedication to sales leadership and team development. Whether you’re interested in discussing best practices, or simply networking within our industry, please feel free to reach out! “Let’s connect and collaborate to drive the Northland Regional Chamber to new heights.”