TALLAHASSEE, FL, December 03, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Paula DeBoles-Johnson has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. DeBoles-Johnson has established herself as an expert in nonprofit leadership, talent development and organizational excellence, demonstrating a career marked by innovation, strategic collaboration and service to her community. Since 2022, she has served as human resources manager for Leon County Government in Tallahassee, Florida. From 2018 to 2022, Ms. DeBoles-Johnson held the position of employee engagement and performance manager at Leon County Government.

Ms. DeBoles-Johnson is also the founder and executive director of Capital City Youth Development Corporation, a youth-focused nonprofit organization she established in 2004. Under her leadership, the organization has thrived for more than two decades, providing critical support and opportunities for young people in the Leon County community. Her commitment to youth empowerment is further evidenced by her ability to sustain and grow this organization over time, while simultaneously helping others establish nonprofits and for profit organizations.

Between 2006 and 2018, Ms. DeBoles-Johnson served as AmeriCorps program manager and LeaderCorps manager at Volunteer Florida. She created the nationally recognized LeaderCorps program during this period, which became a model for leadership development within national service programs. Her work at Volunteer Florida solidified her reputation as an innovator in volunteer management and civic engagement.

Prior to these roles, Ms. DeBoles-Johnson worked as a consultant for the Florida Department of Transportation from 2004 to 2006, where she contributed her expertise to various organizational projects. Earlier in her career, she was administrator for the Board of Pharmacy at the Florida Department of Health from 2002 to 2003, overseeing regulatory compliance and administrative functions. She also worked with the Florida Department of Children and Families, Leon County Schools and several nonprofit agencies during her career.

Ms. DeBoles-Johnson's academic background has played a significant role in shaping her career achievements. She earned a master's degree in public administration from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Florida, after completing a bachelor's degree in political science and government at the same institution. These academic credentials provided a strong foundation for her work in public service, policy development and organizational leadership.

She has pursued extensive professional certification to enhance her expertise, including her recent completion of the ICMA Leadership Institute on Race, Equity and Inclusion fellowship. Ms. DeBoles-Johnson completed certificate programs in trauma and resilience at Florida State University, equipping her with specialized knowledge to support individuals facing adversity. She holds mediation certification from the Florida Supreme Court as well as designation as a county mediator through the same body. Her additional credentials include recognition as a Top 100 Local Government Influencer by Engaging Local Government Leaders in 2021; certification as a Personality Styles DISC facilitator from Take Flight Learning; ReDiscovering Conflict certified facilitator from Take Flight Learning; True Colors certified facilitator from True Colors International; and OJJDP NTTAC consultant status with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Her professional affiliations include membership in the International City/County Management Association, National Forum for Black Public Administrators and the Society for Human Resource Management, underscoring her commitment to ongoing professional development and industry engagement.

Ms. DeBoles-Johnson attributes her success to strong mentorship throughout her life, a commitment to curiosity, a willingness to seek guidance when needed, an empathetic yet strategic approach to problem-solving and an unwavering dedication to fostering community connections through collaborative solutions. Inspired by those who invested in her personal and professional growth, she entered her profession out of a desire to give back, an ethos shaped by early experiences with juvenile justice and dependency programs, public health initiatives and community intervention efforts.

Her civic involvement is extensive and reflects a deep commitment to service across multiple sectors. She has served as student affairs chair for Southern Scholarship Foundation while also holding executive board membership with Elder Care Services Inc. since 2020. Ms. DeBoles-Johnson contributes as a committee member on the Tallahassee Police Department Citizens Advisory Committee and is a founding member of the board of directors for the DeBoles-Johnson Foundation since its inception in 2019. In addition, she has been an advisory committee member for the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's Center for Ethnic Psychological Research & Application (CEPRA) program since 2017 and was an advisory council member for the Tallahassee Human Relations Council from 2014 to 2020 and board member of the Timothy Training and Development Center.

Her affiliations include membership with the NAACP since 2018; participation in the National Achiever's Society Parent Alliance from 2003 to 2016; commissioner and former chair of the Tallahassee/Leon County Commission on the Status of Women & Girls from 2015 to 2018; committee member on the Airport Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2020; New Leaders Council member from 2019 to 2021; board member for Leadership Tallahassee from 2021 to 2025; former club president of Club 25 during 2021 to 2022; and board member with the League of Women Voters (Tallahassee) during that same period.

Ms. DeBoles-Johnson's contributions have been recognized through numerous awards. The most recent Leadership Tallahassee, Distinguished Leadership Award for Servant Leadership. Other awards include induction into the Tallahassee Community College Hall of Fame in 2023; SHE'S Evolving Community Award from SHE Academy in 2022; Cherry Hall Alexander African American History Calendar Honoree by Tallahassee Community College in 2021; Spirit of the Community Award from Florida Commission on the Status of Women in 2018; inclusion among "25 Women to Know" by Tallahassee Democrat in 2018; Trailblazer Award from Oasis Center for Women & Girls in 2018; Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction Award from Girl Scouts of the Big Bend in 2017; Trailblazer Award during Women's History Month at Tallahassee Community College in 2017; Phenomenal Woman Awardee by Where Are My Sisters Inc. (WAMS Inspired to Inspire) in 2017; and the United States Presidential Volunteer Service Award (Gold) presented by The White House in 2015. She has recently penned her first standalone novel entitled, "NERVE, and other 'Ish it Takes to Run for Public Office."

Ms. DeBoles-Johnson finds fulfillment outside of her professional life through mentoring young people, infusing passion for education and service into others' lives, reading, engaging with women's and girls' issues and travel. Looking ahead, she remains dedicated to expanding her nonprofit organization further while contributing meaningfully to Leon County's growth by supporting its staff and community members through effective public communications aligned with her leadership responsibilities.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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