by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Ivy Philon Johnson has come a long way from being a “paper pusher” for the Navy as a Yeoman 2nd Class. She’s been with IBM and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and today she’s the City’s Chief of Equal Business Opportunity & Contract Compliance.
What’s that mean?
“We seek out small businesses for City jobs,” said Johnson, an Alabama native who earned her bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University in 1995 and her master’s from the University of North Florida in 1999.
The job sounds easy, but it isn’t. And, since her division falls under the City’s procurement department, the recent bad publicity regarding City Information Technology contracts isn’t good for anyone in the division.
Before worrying about how small businesses get City work, Johnson says it’s important to understand what constitutes a “small business” by the City’s definition. There are 364 certified small businesses in Jacksonville, all eligible for City jobs and contracts.
“There has to be 51 percent ownership by the person seeking the business. They have to live in Duval County,” explained Johnson. “Their personal net worth has to be less than $605,000 and their gross receipts have to be less than $6 million (annually).”
Meeting those requirements isn’t enough. Johnson and her staff of eight take each potential business through a certification process which includes teaching business owners how to write the correct proposals for specific jobs and how to properly bid on those jobs. Once that’s been completed, the City and area independent agencies including JEA, the Jacksonville Port Authority and the School Board may use the qualified businesses.
Nearly everything Johnson has done professionally has helped further her career and prepared her for the next step. She was in the Navy until 1987 and was stationed at Kings Bay.
“I handled officers’ service records,” she said. “I was a paper pusher.”
She then spent seven years with IBM only to become a victim of downsizing.
“My position was being moved to Atlanta and I didn’t want to relocate because I was finishing my undergraduate degree,” she said.
Johnson then moved on to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority where she managed its DEB program. Two-and-a-half years ago, Johnson joined the City.
So, what does the future hold?
“Ultimately, I’d like to be the CEO of a business that gives back to the community,” said Johnson, who has two small children, 8-year-old David and 6-year-old Bethany.