About GEM Talks:
Designed for the Entrepreneur, these events are patterned after "TED talks" and are called "GEM Talks" - Gilbert, Entrepreneurial, Motivational. Each GEM Talk will feature an interactive session with a successful and motivational entrepreneur who will share his/her success story and provide insightful tips on how others can succeed in business and life. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle, network, and interact with the featured speaker.

Students, the public and Gilbert Chamber members are encouraged to attend - all ages are welcome. Casual networking will occur following the presentation. Meet entrepreneurs as well as experienced business people and make your business or business idea prosper!

About the Speaker:

An Arizona native, William Johnston currently serves as the CEO for Johnston & Co., which is a multi-disciplinary development firm that focuses on agriculture, manufacturing, food and communities. Working alongside his retail team, Johnston helps lead the development of Epicenter at Agritopia®. Additionally, he works with other commercial properties to contribute to the long-term growth of the company. His career path began after graduating from Arizona State University?s W.P. Carey School of Business with a degree in Business Administration. The first 10 years of his professional life started in the restaurant industry, where he worked at both Joe?s Farm Grill and Liberty Market. After many successful years as a General Manager for Liberty Market, Johnston entered the real estate industry as Business Manager for Johnston Properties. Since then, Johnston has served many roles within the company, being involved with multiple projects that have helped transition Johnston Properties into the large commercial real estate company it is today. He is also a proud board member of the Johnston Family Foundation for Urban Agriculture.

As a loving husband and proud father of three, Johnston is an avid golfer who enjoys cooking at home. One of his proudest accomplishments was when he obtained the opportunity to be a steward of the land his grandparents bought in the 1960s. Johnston?s involvement with his family?s business in the farming and restaurant industry began from the early stages of his childhood. Still to this day, Johnston works passionately to carry the family legacy and create a long-term positive impact on the community. Whether it?s in food, retail or real estate, every business decision he makes is to improve the lives of others.