Austin Area Chamber of Commerce members congratulate Craig Johnson, a partner with the Hoversten, Johnson, Beckmann and Hovey law firm in Austin, after he received the chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday at the chamber's annual fall meeting. -- Adam Harringa/adam.harringa@austindailyherald.com

Chamber honors Craig Johnson at annual meeting

Craig Johnson thought the hardest part of giving his speech at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual fall meeting Wednesday would be talking about his family, and he was right.

Craig Johnson gives a speech after he received the chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday.

Johnson, an attorney with the Hoversten, Johnson, Beckmann & Hovey LLP law firm since 1972, said his family has been instrumental in his success, and they are a big reason he received the Chamber’s lifetime achievement award.

“I have a very close family. (They are) wonderfully supportive. When you reflect on that … it gets emotional,” Johnson said of choking up while talking about his family.

Johnson, who also serves as executive director of Austin’s Mayo Clinic Health System Foundation, and is past chairman of the Development Corporation of Austin, said receiving the award was very humbling.

“It’s a true honor to be associated with the people who won this honor before,” he said.

Johnson has also served on the Austin Human Rights Commission and the board of directors of the Hormel Historic Home, Austin Symphony Orchestra, St. Mark’s Lutheran Home, Austin Community Scholarship Committee and the United Way.

“He’s just a great example of someone who genuinely improves the community he lives in,” said Sandy Forstner, Chamber executive director, prior to the meeting. “He’s not just very involved, but he’s very successful in a variety of ways. He is very much admired.”

During his speech, Johnson talked about how Austinites should take it upon themselves if they want to see the community improve.

“It’s easy to say they or someone else should do something to make our community better, but none of this will happen unless we, all of us, do things to make it better,” he said.

Chamber executive committee president David Olson, owner of Apollo Liquor & Superette, said Johnson is extremely deserving.

“Craig is a friend of mine and he’s always very visible in the public, whether it be with the Main Street Committee or with his Chamber leadership position, and I think he will continue to be a leader in the community,” Olson said.

The chamber also elected three members to its board of directors. Steve Gleason, a lender with US Bank in Austin, was elected to his second term. Mary Lynn Flaherty, co-owner Flaherty Paint, and Chuck Moline, president of CFS Companies, were both elected to their first term. They will each serve three-year terms, beginning Jan. 1, 2012.