Julie Baumgardner said Wednesday that as she dreamed as a ninth-grader of becoming a counselor, it never crossed her mind that 41 years later she’d head a nonprofit dedicated to helping families.
But as CEO of First Things First, the Chattanooga organization has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives over the two decades since it was launched, she said.
“Seeing obstacles as opportunities for growth, not a reason to throw in the towel, can keep us moving forward versus stopping us dead in our tracks,” said Baumgardner, who accepted the Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year award at a ceremony.
The 55-year-old manager, who received the 32nd annual award from a collection of business groups, cited her late brother for providing inspiration.
Lee Munz Jr., who died a couple of years ago at age 56, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at four months old and a physician said he’d be a quadriplegic and never walk, according to Baumgardner.