2024 Most Influential Women: Jennifer Johnmeyer

As director of communications for Alamo Drafthouse Cinema franchises in the state, Jennifer Johnmeyer has found ample opportunity to amplify the mission and message of worthy organizations.

“In this role, I am able to connect with organizations both large and small and form partnerships to raise both funds and awareness for causes and needs for those in our community,” she says.

She notes she has spearheaded multiple fundraisers for nonprofits and has organized live events for community leaders, while also creating donation events and ticket add-ons to provide needed funds for worthy causes.

But her work in giving voice to others is not merely focused outside the doors of Alamo Drafthouse. Inside, she created a program called the Employee Council that welcomes representatives of each department in the company to express grievances.

“The program has been very successful and has led to employees understanding that they all have a voice and that their concerns are valid and will be addressed,” she says. “The program was successful to the point of being presented to the rest of the company and is currently implemented in several locations.”

Johnmeyer also created and currently leads a film club that brings community members together to view and discuss movies that she describes as off the beaten path.

“In this endeavor, I have brought together a population that has largely been afraid to use their voice, and it has been a huge reward to watch them learn that they can speak up and be heard and that their voices are meaningful and their thoughts and opinions important,” she says.

Outside of the movie world, Johnmeyer continues to work to give voice to others, in part through her website and company, Freelance by Jen.

“I’m incredibly proud to have written two books, as well as having created and continue to maintain my writing website,” she says. “I am currently working on my third book – a children’s book about overcoming shyness.”

She also serves as an election official who coordinates community events, fundraisers and voter registration drives. She says she works to educate voters about ballots and issues so that they can make informed opinions that align with their beliefs and needs.

Johnmeyer has been a member of the League of Women Voters since 2020, and she also helped to create the Alamo Voters program, connecting League of Women Voters chapters with Alamo locations to create voter drives in theater lobbies during busy opening weekends.

Other volunteerism has been with the Ozarks Literacy Council, for which she is past president and a five-year board member, and with The Kitchen Inc., which she serves as a foundation board member and an upcoming vice president.