PJ Harris Volunteer Profile

PJ Harris is a “Double Hoo” from UVA, a former Associate at Woods Rogers PLC, current Founder /COO of Totem Systems, a suite of software tools that support the nonprofit industry.

With a law degree, PJ has been able to work with people such as Lee Goodman, the former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission, and Judge Reggie Walton, the presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Even with an English and Law degree, PJ has found a passion for innovative technologies. He previously co-founded RouteMine.

PJ loves to support the Charlottesville community. Previously, he has volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters and CIC, speaking at the Tom Tom Founders Festival Youth Summit, co-teaching the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic at UVA Law, working pro bono for the Charlottesville Legal Aid Justice Center, and serving as a Board Member for Charlottesville Tomorrow, Meals on Wheels, and 100 Black Men of Central Virginia.

PJ explains that he “feels very passionate about supporting people who are brave enough to take the plunge and bring something new and valuable to the world, especially having been through the process”. At first, PJ offered his services to the CIC students by providing legal advice, then he became a Discussion Leader, speaking to our Entrepreneur Workshop about legal issues for small business. He claims that CIC is a perfect way to give back to the community, especially since so many people helped him while he was just starting out. Becoming a Workgroup Leader was just the next natural step and he feels it provides him with an excellent opportunity to practice teaching/facilitating entrepreneurship. In fact, PJ says that being a Workgroup Leader is just as much of a learning experience for him as it is for the entrepreneurs. Every week, he says he looks forward to meeting and discussing the businesses and processes of his workgroup. PJ says he finds it extremely gratifying to hear about their success stories and is constantly encouraged by how everyone works through their challenges with such perseverance and passion.